AS and A Level Chemistry A: Which of your suggested practical activities are essential for the exams?

Our suggested activities are entirely optional. It is essential, for the A Level Practical Endorsement, that students undertake a suitable range of practical work. Our suggestions provide many routes to achieving that aim.

Schools and colleges can use some, all or none of our suggestions to augment their own programmes of practical work. You may use the activities 'as is', adapt them to suit your situation, or use them as exemplars in your planning. Alternatively, you may select other activities provided by third parties or that you have developed yourself, as long as these cover the requirements of the Practical Endorsement.

Exam questions are set without any regard for our suggested practical activities. Our assessors will, however, assume that students are familiar with the specific practical aspects mentioned in the specification, with which they should have gained familiarity through the Practical Endorsement.

Planning tables that set out the practical techniques candidates will be expected to have understanding of in the exams are available from Teach Cambridge and as part of the Practical Skills Handbook. These tables can be a useful planning aid, helping make sure you cover everything you need to for both the exams and the Practical Endorsement.