How many papers is AQA GCSE Chemistry?

AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) has 2 exam papers: Paper 1 (1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50%); Paper 2 (1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50%). It's tiered, so you sit either Foundation or Higher.

How is AQA GCSE Chemistry assessed?

Entirely by written exams at the end of the course — Paper 1 (1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50%); Paper 2 (1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50%). There are 8 required practicals, assessed through questions in the written papers.

What do you study in AQA GCSE Chemistry?

The main topics are: Atomic structure and the periodic table, Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter, Quantitative chemistry, Chemical changes, Energy changes, The rate and extent of chemical change, Organic chemistry, Chemical analysis, Chemistry of the atmosphere, Using resources, Key ideas. These are set by the 8462 specification (current for exams from 2018 (June 2018 onwards)).

AQA GCSE Chemistry: specification & assessment

AQA specification 8462 · Version 1.1, 04 October 2019 · for teaching from September 2016, exams 2018 (June 2018 onwards) onwards · checked July 2026

AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) is assessed by 2 tiered exam papers (Foundation and Higher tier). Here's the exam structure, the assessment objectives and what you study — straight from AQA's specification.

Reform watch:England's 2025 Curriculum & Assessment Review doesn't change GCSE or A-level content until reformed specs are first taught (national curriculum September 2028; updated GCSEs from 2029). Your 2026–2028 exams use the current specification. What's changing →

Exam papers

Paper	Length	Marks	Weighting
Paper 1Topics 1–5: Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; and Energy changes.	1 hour 45 minutes	100	50%
Paper 2Topics 6–10: The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; and Using resources. Questions in Paper 2 may also draw on fundamental concepts and principles from sections 4.1 to 4.3.	1 hour 45 minutes	100	50%

Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual for Chemistry and describe the skills the exams reward. The weightings are for the whole GCSE.

AO	What it assesses	Weighting
AO1	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific techniques and procedures.	40% overall (component weighting per paper approx 37‒43%)
AO2	Apply knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures.	40% overall (component weighting per paper approx 37‒43%)
AO3	Analyse information and ideas to: interpret and evaluate; make judgments and draw conclusions; develop and improve experimental procedures.	20% overall (component weighting per paper approx 17‒23%)

Practical work

AQA GCSE Chemistry has 8 required practicals. Questions in the written exams draw on them — there is no separate coursework mark at GCSE.

GCSE Chemistry 8462 has 8 required practical activities (distinct from Combined Science). There is NO teacher-assessed endorsement or coursework; practical skills are assessed only within the written exams. AQA verbatim: 'Questions in the written exams will draw on the knowledge and understanding students have gained by carrying out the practical activities... These questions will count for at least 15% of the overall marks for the qualification.' Of the 8, practicals 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 are common with GCSE Combined Science; practicals 2 and 7 are GCSE Chemistry only. Note: the A-level-style double mechanism (separate Pass/Not Classified practical endorsement) does NOT apply at GCSE — GCSE has only the single ≥15% written-exam mechanism plus a required practical statement/completion confirmation from the school.

What you study

The main topics in the 8462 specification:

Atomic structure and the periodic table
Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
Quantitative chemistry
Chemical changes
Energy changes
The rate and extent of chemical change
Organic chemistry
Chemical analysis
Chemistry of the atmosphere
Using resources
Key ideas

Your grades in Chemistry

See the real AQA Chemistry grade boundaries (2024 & 2025, with a "what grade is my mark" tool), and how GCSE grades work.

Where this comes from

Frequently asked questions

See all AQA GCSE subjects.