In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what to expect in the AQA Chemistry exams, including how many papers there are, what each paper tests and how to revise effectively for each one 📚. Whether you’re just starting your revision or looking to fine-tune your exam technique, this post will help you feel more confident, organised and ready to succeed 💪.

📑 How Many Papers Are There?

📑 Paper 1: Physical and Inorganic Chemistry

• ⏰Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes 




• 🏆Marks: 80 marks (50% of total grade)




• 📌Content: Paper 1 focuses on relevant practical skills, Physical Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry.

Physical Chemistry topic and content includes:

Atomic structure - sub-atomic particles, isotopes, electron configuration

Amount of substance - moles, molar mass, empirical and molecular formulae, reacting masses, ideal gas equation

Bonding - ionic, covalent and metallic bonding, bond polarity and intermolecular forces, shapes of molecules (including bond angles)

Energetics - exothermic and endothermic reactions, enthalpy changes, bond enthalpies and energy cycles

Chemical equilibria (Le Chatelier’s principle) - dynamic equilibrium, effects of changing concentration, temperature and pressure

Oxidation, reduction and redox equations - oxidation numbers, E° values

Inorganic Chemistry topic and content includes:

Periodicity - trends across Period 3, atomic radius, ionisation energy, melting point

Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals - reactions with water and oxygen, trends in reactivity, uses of Group 2 compounds

Group 7 The Halogens - physical and chemical properties, displacement reactions, uses and environmental impact

🧪 Practical skills (Paper 1)

• Core practical techniques

• Data analysis

• Uncertainties and errors

• Graphs and calculations based on experimental data 

• ❓Question Types: Paper 1 focuses heavily on calculation skills, explanations and data handling, especially for physical chemistry.

Multiple-choice questions - majority found in section B

Calculation questions - such as moles, gas volumes, energetics and rates (showing full working is essential )

Short-answer and structured questions - asking you to explain trends, define key terms or justify observations

Data and graph questions - where you interpret tables, spot patterns or comment on anomalies 

Practical-based questions - focusing on experimental techniques, errors, uncertainties and improvements 

📑 Paper 2: Physical and Organic Chemistry

• ⏰Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes 




• 🏆Marks: 80 marks (50% of total grade)




• 📌Content: includes physical chemistry and organic chemistry as well as practical skills.

Physical Chemistry topic and content includes:

Amount of substance - moles, molar mass, empirical and molecular formulae, reacting masses, ideal gas equation

Bonding - ionic, covalent and metallic bonding, bond polarity and intermolecular forces, shapes of molecules (including bond angles)

Energetics - exothermic and endothermic reactions, enthalpy changes, bond enthalpies and energy cycles

Kinetics - collision theory, factors affecting rate, rate graphs, catalysts

Chemical equilibria (Le Chatelier’s principle) - dynamic equilibrium, effects of changing concentration, temperature and pressure

Organic Chemistry topic and content includes:

Introduction to Organic Chemistry - homologous series, functional groups, structural, displayed and skeletal formulae

Alkanes - fractional distillation, combustion, free-radical substitution

Alkenes - addition reactions, tests for unsaturation, polymers (addition polymers)

Halogenoalkanes - nucleophilic substitution, elimination reactions, comparing reactivity

Alcohols - oxidation reactions, dehydration, substitution reactions

Organic analysis - infrared (IR) spectroscopy, identifying functional groups

🧪 Practical skills (Paper 2)

Just like Paper 1, practical knowledge is assessed through:

• Experimental methods

• Data interpretation

• Evaluating procedures

• Safety considerations

• ❓Question Types: Paper 2 uses similar question styles, but with a stronger emphasis on organic chemistry and reactions.

Multiple-choice questions - majority found in section B

Calculations - often set in organic or practical contexts

Reaction and pathway questions - where you complete equations, name products or identify reagents and conditions

Mechanism questions - requiring accurate curly arrows, charges and lone pairs 

Application questions - where chemistry is set in unfamiliar situations to test understanding rather than memory

Practical and data analysis questions - just like in Paper 1

📑 Paper 1: Physical Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry

• ⏰Duration: 2 hours




• 🏆Marks: 105 marks (35% of total grade)




• 📌Content: Paper 1 focuses on understanding principles and applying them to unfamiliar situations. You’ll need strong calculation skills and the ability to explain trends clearly.

Physical Chemistry - topics and potential content include:

Atomic structure - isotopes, mass spectrometry, electron configuration 

Amount of substance -  moles, concentrations, titrations 

Bonding -  ionic, covalent and metallic bonding; shapes of molecules

Energetics - enthalpy changes, Hess cycles, calorimetry 

Chemical equilibria (KC+ KP) - Le Chatelier’s principle, equilibrium calculations

Oxidation, reduction and redox equations - oxidation numbers, E° values 

Thermodynamics - entropy, feasibility of reactions 

Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems - write KP Values, Calculate KP values 

Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells - anode, cathode and electrolyte, E° values 

Acids and bases - Use Ka and Kw expressions correctly, Write equations for acid–base reactions  

Inorganic Chemistry - topics and potential content include:

Periodicity - trends in atomic radius, ionisation energy, electronegativity 

Group 2, the alkaline earth metals - reactions, trends and uses

Group 7, the halogens - displacement reactions, trends in reactivity

Properties of Period 3 elements - reactions with oxygen, chlorine and water

Transition metals - colours, oxidation states, ligands, catalysis 

Reactions of ions in aqueous solution 

• ❓Question Types: In Paper 1, questions are mainly structured written questions, testing how well you can apply your knowledge rather than just recall facts. Expect to see:

Short-answer questions

• Definitions (e.g. electronegativity, lattice enthalpy)

• Writing balanced equations

Calculation questions 

• Energetics, Kc/Kp, electrode potentials, pH

• Multi-step calculations with method marks

Longer, extended-response questions

• Explaining trends (e.g. periodicity, Group 2/7 reactions)

• Justifying predictions using chemical principles

Practical-based questions 

• Based on required practicals

• Data analysis, uncertainties and improvements

💡 These questions often build up in difficulty, so showing clear working and chemical reasoning is key.

📑 Paper 2: Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry

• ⏰Duration: 2 hours




• 🏆Marks: 105 marks (35% of total grade)




• 📌Content:  Paper 2 is all about reactions, mechanisms and synthesis. Physical chemistry calculations still matter, but organic knowledge takes centre stage.

Physical Chemistry - topics and potential content include:

Amount of substance - moles, concentrations, titrations

Bonding - ionic, covalent and metallic bonding; shapes of molecules

Energetics - enthalpy changes, Hess cycles, calorimetry

Kinetics - rate of reaction, Collision theory, rate graphs

Chemical equilibria - (KC+ KP) - Le Chatelier’s principle, equilibrium calculations

Rate equations - overall order, rate constant, order of reaction

Organanic Chemistry - topics and potenital content include:

Hydrocarbons – alkanes, alkenes and arenes

Halogenoalkanes – substitution and elimination reactions

Alcohols – oxidation, dehydration and substitution

Carbonyl compounds – aldehydes and ketones, tests and reactions

Carboxylic acids & derivatives – acyl chlorides, esters and amides

Amines – basicity, reactions and salt formation

Polymers – addition and condensation 

Amino acids, proteins and DNA – structure and bonding 

Organic synthesis – multi-step reaction routes

Analysis techniques – IR, NMR, chromatography

• ❓Question Types: Paper 2 still contains calculations, but places a big emphasis on organic reaction pathways and explanations. Expect to see: 

Mechanism questions

• Drawing curly arrows correctly 

• Identifying nucleophiles and electrophiles

Multi-step organic synthesis questions

• Converting one compound into another

• Choosing reagents and conditions

Calculation questions 

• Rate equations, energetics, equilibria

Data interpretation questions

• Tables of results or reaction conditions

Analytical technique questions

• Interpreting IR, NMR or chromatography data

💡 Many questions link physical chemistry calculations to organic contexts, so careful reading is essential.

📑 Paper 3: Practical and Synoptic Paper

• ⏰Duration: 2 hours




• 🏆Marks: 90 marks (30% of total grade)




• 📌Content: Paper 3 tests how well you can apply chemistry knowledge in practical and unfamiliar contexts. Any content from the specification can be assessed. Also includes:

Practical techniques

• Titrations

• Reflux and distillation

• Calorimetry

• Measuring rates of reaction

Data analysis and calculations

Uncertainty, errors and improvements

This paper is synoptic, meaning it combines:

• Physical

• Organic

• Inorganic

• ❓Question Types: Paper 3 is the most varied paper and mixes together different question styles. Expect to see:

Multiple-choice questions

• Covering all areas of chemistry

• Test recall, calculations and understanding

Practical technique questions

• Titrations, calorimetry, rates, purification

Data analysis questions 

• Processing experimental results

• Graph interpretation

Evaluation questions

• Identifying errors and uncertainties

• Suggesting realistic improvements

Synoptic questions

• Combining physical, organic and inorganic chemistry in one context

💡 This paper rewards students who understand how topics link together.