Chemistry

Departmental Support

download: Chemistry Departmental Support (173.57KB) added: 25/10/2010 clicks: 103 description: This document gives details of support available for pupils from this department.

Departmental Information

Aims

Chemistry is the study of the chemical world around us, from the chemistry of the petroleum industry to the biochemistry of the human body. Concepts are expanded and developed as the level of the course increases.

 Content

There are 15 topics in Standard Grade Chemistry. We start off looking at the Periodic Table; basic reactions and atomic structure. Later we progress to looking at specific topics, for example, the chemistry of the petroleum industry; corrosion of metals, plastics and fertilizers.

Chemistry is a practical Science subject, so experiments are used as much as possible as an aid to learning.

Three Chemistry courses can be offered in the Senior school – Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher. Each consists of 3 units of work each lasting approximately 40 hours.

There is also a practical aspect to these courses. Certain experiments must be completed and assessed in school. In Advanced Higher there is also an extensive Practical Investigation which is assessed externally and counts as 20% of the final overall grade.

Assessment

Standard Grade Chemistry is only assessed at General and Credit. Within each level there are two elements – Knowledge and Understanding, and Problem Solving. These are assessed independently; therefore all pupils will attempt both papers.

A portion of the final SQA Grade is practical based and is assessed within school. This consists of five assessable experiments (3 General and 2 Credit) and two Practical Investigations.  Regular tests are given throughout the course.

Progress in each Unit is assessed by a National Assessment Bank (NAB) test. This must be passed in order for a pass in the external exam to be possible. Extended NABs are also used to assess achievement at a more difficult level, and for use in possible appeals. The final exam is a 2-hour paper in Intermediate 2 and a 2½ hour paper in Higher and Advanced Higher.

Career Information

There are numerous careers and further education courses which look favourably on a pass in Chemistry. It is, obviously essential for many careers, however it is also held in very high regard for many non-scientific careers as it fosters a high degree of problem solving; interpretation skills; independent learning and abstract thinking.