Email: j.southern@kingscollege.school.nz

Why do Chemistry?

From the earliest times people have been interested in their material surroundings and have tried to modify materials to their own advantage. Half a million years ago man had mastered fire, but it was less than 8000 years ago that chemists first discovered how to use fire to obtain metals from ores. By 1500 BC a host of other chemical processes had been mastered, from glass-making to the tanning of leather.

Just as in the past, Chemistry today is concerned with the accumulation of knowledge about the behaviour of substances and their conversion into new substances. The past and the present lead into a future where Chemistry has a special place. Many of the evils, which disfigure this present world, cannot be put right by Chemistry alone, but it is equally sure that they cannot be put right without it.

With the different assessment courses that are now available it is important for students to be able to select a pathway that is most suitable for them and their background knowledge of the subject. Pupil demand will in the end determine if a particular pathway is possible. These pathways are detailed at the end of this information.

Chemistry Yr 9 - 13

Students are taught Chemistry as a specific subject in Years 9 and 10.
At this level the subject is compulsory and in Years 9 and 10 students are taught Chemistry for one third of the year. The work in these two years covers the basic ideas and material the students will need to be able to cope with Chemistry at Year 11. The work covers theory and practical skills. It also looks at the history of the development of Chemistry as well as looking at how Chemistry is important in today’s world.

The CIE IGCSE syllabus is taught at Year 11

The work here intially recaps the material covered in Years 9 & 10 and then prepares the way for study for the CIE AS exams at Year 12 and the CIE A2 exams at Year 13.

The IGCSE course is examined at the end of the year where students choose to sit
either at Extended level.

Three papers 1, 3 and 5 are sat where students can achieve a grade A* - G, 90+ down to 30 in steps of 10%.

Paper 1 Multiple choice 30%
Paper 3 Short answer 50%
Paper 5 Practical 20%

or at Core Level
Three papers 1, 2 and 5 . With this combination students can achieve a grade C - G.

Paper 1 Multiple choice 30%
Paper 2 Short answer 50%
Paper 5 Practical 20%

The CIE AS syllabus is offered in Year 12

Students who have completed the IGCSE Extended course at C grade, or above, are well prepared to the CIE AS course.

Students who have completed the IGCSE course at below C grade or come from an NCEA Level 1 Science course will find the course tough going. They will need to work very hard to keep up with the topics that are covered.

The course involves sitting three external assessments.

Papers, 1, 2 and 3, two theory and one practical, at the end of the year.
Paper 1 Multiple choice 31 %
Paper 2 Structured questions 46 %
Paper 3 Practical 23%

From the results of these three papers students will be awarded a grade A - E and have to reach 40% to achieve a grade E. A University entry for this subject requires a grade D. +50% as a minimum.

The CIE A2 syllabus is offered in Year 13

Students who have gained a C grade or above at CIE AS level in 2008 should be able to complete the CIE course by taking the CIE A2 course.

This involves two further papers, 4 and 5.
Paper 4 Structured questions
Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

The final A Level Chemistry grade is a summary of the results of Papers 1 - 5.

Other Year 13 options

a. The Year 13 students also have the opportunity of resitting the CIE AS papers 1,2
and 3 once more in order to improve their final A Level Grade.

b. Students who took a one year CIE AS course in 2008 but failed to gain a grade of C
or more could consider retaking the CIE AS once more

c. Students who did not take Chemistry in 2008 could consider doing a one year CIE
AS course, but would find it tough going.

d. The most able students could consider taking the NCEA Level 4 Scholarship exam.
This is a three hour paper which covers much of the A Level course content plus a few
other topics. However the style of the questions are different and more open ended.


All courses are supported by excellent websites which provide basic material, extension material, past tests and exams and links to other topics. There are valuable resources which are being upgraded on weekly basis.

So where does Chemistry lead?

Medicine
Dentistry
Biological
Engineering
Aquaculture
Teaching
Pharmacy
Manufacturing
Food Technology/Science
Veterinary Science
Chemical Engineering
Agriculture and Horticulture
Forensic Science
Environmental Engineering
Technical Marketing/Management
Biochemical and Medical Research


Four principal options now exist for the continued education and training of students in Chemistry, once they leave school:

i. Technical training at a Polytechnic can lead, after a period of study, to the National
Diploma of Science

ii. Polytechnics now offer a three year Bachelor of Applied Science degree (BAppSci)

iii. Training at all Universities can lead to a BSc degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry or a
related discipline after a minimum of three years full time study

iv. Students can undertake study at Auckland, Massey or Canterbury Universities for a
Chemical Engineering degree.