Previous knowledge
Whilst the course is designed so that it can be taken without any previous knowledge, it is desirable that students who wish to study Chemistry at Standard Level have gained at least a grade C in Chemistry or a relevant Science course at GCSE level or equivalent, and students who wish to study the Higher Level have gained an grade B or above. All students studying IB Chemistry should at least be studying Mathematics at Standard level. Students who have not studied Chemistry immediately before Diploma level, or who have not achieved the desired grades and who wish to study Chemistry, will only gain access to the course after an interview with the IB Coordinator and the Head of Chemistry to assess their suitability. (See ‘Who is the IB Diploma Programme for?’)

Chemistry SL
The SL Chemistry course is designed to have 150 hours of teaching with theory covered in 110 hours and practical work including the Group 4 project taking 40 hours.
The SL course is divided into core theory: 80 hours, options theory: 30 hours, practical work investigations: 30 hours and Group 4 project: 10 hours.

Students will study the following core theory topics:

Quantitative Chemistry
Atomic Structure
Periodicity
Bonding
Energetics
Kinetics
Equilibrium
Acids and Bases
Oxidation and Reduction
Organic Chemistry
Measurement and Data Processing

JESS students will study the optional topics:

Option C: Chemistry in Industry and Technology
Option E: Environmental Chemistry

Chemistry HL only
The HL Chemistry course adds depth and breadth to the SL course. It is designed to take 240 hours of teaching with theory taking 180 hours and practical work including the Group 4 project taking 60 hours.
The HL course is divided into core theory: 80 hours, additional higher level theory: 55 hours, options theory: 45 hours, practical work investigations: 50 hours and Group 4 project: 10 hours.

Students will study core theory topics as listed above plus extension work within the same topics at Higher Level as follows:

Atomic Structure
Periodicity
Bonding
Energetics
Kinetics
Equilibrium
Acids and Bases
Oxidation and Reduction
Organic Chemistry

JESS students will study the optional topics:

Option C: Chemistry in Industry and Technology
Option E: Environmental Chemistry

Assessment
All students will be formally examined at the end of the two-year course. In addition students will be required to undertake Internal Assessment of their practical skills over the duration of the two-year course, where their Experiment Design, Data Collection and Processing, Conclusion and Evaluation and Manipulative Skills will be assessed. This will begin as soon as the course starts. Finally at the end of Year 12 all students must also take part in the Group 4 project which will allow their Personal Skills to be assessed.