GCSE Chemistry Higher Tier

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Study for your GCSE Chemistry exams from the comfort of home! You’ll be guided by our exam experts to achieve your highest possible score.

GCSE Chemistry Higher Tier

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About This Course

Our GCSE Chemistry Higher Tier online course will set you up to pass your exams and reach your highest possible marks. Achieve a nationally recognised qualification from the comfort of home with our exam expert personal tutors, who will provide you with exam-informed study guides and self assessment exercises.

The higher tier of GCSE Chemistry will cover the more advanced aspects of GCSE Chemistry. Designed for students aspiring to pursue A-Level Chemistry, enter chemistry-related fields, or simply expand their knowledge. The GCSE Chemistry Higher Tier is a more challenging version of the GCSE Chemistry Foundation Tier. Students are able to achieve grades in the range of 4-9 (with 9 being the upper limit).

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You are able to complete this course without the exams and practical elements, however, sitting them is essential to achieve a full GCSE Chemistry Higher Tier qualification.

Please note that the Higher Tier has a maximum grade of 9. Students aiming for marks 1-5 should take a look at our GCSE Chemistry Foundation course.

Bundle Offer

Buy this course as a bundle and save 30%

GCSE Combined Science: Higher Trilogy

Total cost if courses bought separately: £1,485

£495

or £44.55 per month

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Course Benefits

Divided into 10 unique units, this course will allow you to:

  • Achieve your GCSE Chemistry Higher Tier qualification
  • Access support and feedback from our team of exam experts and support staff
  • Revise for your GCSEs from the comfort of 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 the 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 Rate 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: 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

You do not need to have achieved any qualifications or knowledge in this area to enrol. However, as this is the Higher Tier version of the GCSE Chemistry course, we recommend students have an understanding of their performance within the field, so they can make the most educated choice for themselves.

Awarding Body

Upon successful completion of the exams and practicals, students will achieve an AQA GCSE Biology Higher Tier qualification.

Support

Students who sign up for our GCSE courses are enrolling on a learning journey where they will be fully supported.

Exam preparation might be daunting, but don’t worry — we’ll provide you with all the help you need to ace your exams.

We hope that using our study guides and other resources will make preparing for your GCSEs less of a chore and more of an experience. All of your questions and concerns will be answered by our team of personal tutors and support staff.

Our tutors will work to guide and assist you along the way by providing a combination of self-assessment assignments and tutor-marked study questions to help you consolidate your learning.

Our staff are committed to making sure you have everything you need to pass your exams and achieve the highest possible mark. Whether you need in-depth advice or simply have a quick question, you’ll never have to feel alone!

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!


This is a government-regulated qualification, with certification provided by an Ofqual-regulated awarding body.

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