GCSE Chemistry Foundation Tier

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Study GCSE Chemistry Foundation Tier from home, with the guidance of our exam experts. Leave classrooms behind and reach your true potential!

GCSE Chemistry Foundation Tier

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About This Course

This GCSE Chemistry Foundation Tier online course is a great way to achieve a nationally recognised qualification from the comfort of your home. Say goodbye to scheduled classes, quizzes, and homework, and say hello to personal tutor support, exam-informed study guides, and self-assessment exercises!

The foundation tier of GCSE Chemistry will cover the fundamental concepts and principles of chemistry, and focuses on core topics rather than the more advanced aspects offered in GCSE Chemistry Higher tier. The foundation tier allows for students to achieve grades in the range of 1-5 (with 5 being the upper limit). It has been designed for students who may find the subject challenging and would like a more accessible method of passing the exam.

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While it’s possible to complete the course without exams and practicals, passing them is essential to achieve the full GCSE Chemistry Foundation Tier qualification.

Please keep in mind that the Foundation Tier has a maximum grade of 5. Students aiming for grades 6-9 can take a look at our GCSE Chemistry Higher Tier course.

Bundle Offer

Buy this course as a bundle and save 30%

GCSE Combined Science: Foundation Trilogy

Total cost if courses bought separately: £1,485

£495

or £44.55 per month

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Course Benefits

Divided into 10 units, this Chemistry GCSE Foundation Tier course will help you achieve a foundation of chemistry knowledge that you will use to pass your exams.

This course will:

  • Allow you to achieve a Chemistry GCSE Foundation Tier qualification.
  • Give you access to personal-tutor guidance and mentorship to help you pass your exams.
  • Remove the stress from revision. Study from home at your own pace!

Course Units

Qualification Number: 601/8757/8

Unit 1: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table 

  • Atomic structure, including subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons)
  • Atomic number and mass number
  • The arrangement of elements in the periodic table
  • Group and period trends in the periodic table

Unit 2: Bonding, Structure, and Properties of Matter 

  • Types of chemical bonding (ionic, covalent)
  • Properties of different types of substances
  • Structure and properties of metals, ionic compounds, and covalent compounds

Unit 3: Quantitative Chemistry 

  • Conservation of mass and balancing chemical equations
  • Calculations involving mass, moles, and concentration
  • Percentage composition and empirical formulas

Unit 4: Chemical Changes 

  • Chemical reactions and energy changes
  • Acids, bases, and neutralisation reactions
  • the pH scale

Unit 5: Energy Changes

  • Exothermic and endothermic reactions
  • Energy level diagrams

Unit 6: The Rates and Extent of Chemical Change

  • Factors affecting reaction rates
  • Collision theory

Unit 7: Organic Chemistry

  • Introduction to organic chemistry
  • Alkanes, Alkenes, and Alcohols
  • Functional groups and homologous series

Unit 8: Chemical Analysis

  • Methods of chemical analysis, including chromatography and spectroscopy
  • Qualitative and quantitative analysis

Unit 9: 9. Chemistry of the Atmosphere

  • Composition and structure of the Earth’s atmosphere
  • Greenhouse gasses, climate change, and pollution

Unit 10: Using Resources 

  • Sustainable use of resources
  • Recycling and reducing waste

Assessment

To successfully achieve a Chemistry GCSE, you will be required to sit and pass two GCSE written exams, as well as a practical examination. These exams will be held at an official exam centre, where you will be supervised throughout. There is a separate fee for booking your exams, which will be paid directly to the exam centre at the time of booking. We’ll help you with booking your exams when you’re ready, and they’ll take place in May and June.

Paper 1

Paper 1 will assess your understanding of units 1-5 (Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; and Energy changes). It is made up of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response questions.

Paper 2

Paper 2 will assess your understanding of units 6-10 (The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; and Using resources). It is made up of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response questions.

Practical Assessment

Practicals are required to achieve this qualification but if you are unable to participate, you can enrol on the IGCSE Chemistry instead. In this qualification, you would not be required to complete the practicals, however examination is still required.

Required Knowledge

No prior knowledge or skills are needed to enrol!

Awarding Body

Upon successful completion of your exams, you will be awarded an AQA GCSE Chemistry Foundation Tier Qualification.

Support

If you sign up for a GCSE course with us, we’ll be there to help you every step of the way.

All our GCSE resources have been created with one goal in mind: to make revising more accessible and engaging. Exam expert personal tutors, detailed study guides, and materials will send you on your way to acing your exams with the highest marks possible.

You’ll be supported on the way to success with our self-assessment tasks and tutor-marked study questions to ensure that you grasp and retain the material.

We believe that no student should ever have to feel like they are studying alone. Whether you need detailed guidance or just have a quick question, our team is here to help!

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a question that our team are often asked, there are many reasons but here are the main reasons to choose Association of Learning:

  • No hidden charges, the price you see includes everything, from tutoring to certification.
  • Our average tutor marking time is 3 working days (most providers are 10+).
  • Our customers have rated us ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot.
  • Our courses are up to date. Many providers create course content and fail to keep it up to date.
  • We are open later than any other home learning provider.
  • As many submissions as you need to complete, many providers cap how many times you can submit work.
  • All courses are fully endorsed by external awarding organisations.
  • 14 day money back guarantee or course switch.

If you need any more reasons to choose Association of Learning, contact our team!


You have 2 years to complete this course, but can complete at a faster pace without any additional costs.


The decision to study at a foundation or higher tier for your GCSEs depends on your current level of knowledge and your future goals.

Foundation Tier

  • Designed for students who may find the subject challenging or need additional support. There is a more limited range of topics at a lower level of difficulty.
  • You can achieve grades 1-5 (formerly G to C) on the foundation tier.
  • Foundation tier may be suitable if you struggle with the subject or don’t plan to pursue further education in that subject. It’s considered a more achievable pathway to success.

Higher Tier

  • Higher tier is more comprehensive and covers a broader range of topics at a higher level of difficulty.
  • You can achieve grades 4-9 (formerly C-A*) on the higher tier.
  • If you are confident in the subject and plan to study it at a higher level or pursue a career that requires a strong understanding of the subject, then a higher tier might be the right choice. It also leaves more doors open for advanced studies.

Practical exams are currently only available in our Birmingham exam centre. Theory exams are available at most of our centres UK wide.

Alternatively, you are also welcome to use a private exam centre of your choosing.

When you’re ready, we’ll help you book your exams.


There are two payment options, pay in full for your course or monthly. Our monthly payment option allows you to spread the cost of your course over a 10 month period.

If you choose to pay using a payment plan, to apply you must be able to answer yes to the following:

  • Your billing address is based in the UK
  • You have a UK based bank account
  • Bill payer must be 18 or above.

No, this is a distance learning course, which means your assessments will be submitted and marked using our online LMS (Learner Management System).


Students who reside outside of the United Kingdom are able to study our GCSE courses. However, examinations must occur within the UK.


There are no prerequisites or required qualifications to study this course.

In other words, if you’re reading this, you’re ready!

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