A Level Chemistry could open up lots of doors in your future studies and career. But if you’re picking your A Level options, you might be wondering… is Chemistry A Level hard?
Well, it certainly isn’t a walk in the park. But it may well be worth it! Here, we’ll answer all your questions.
Psst! Finding a chemistry tutor is a great way to make sure you can keep up with your chemistry class and reach your full potential in the exams.
Is A Level Chemistry hard?
Yes, A Level Chemistry is hard and can be a big jump up from GCSE.
But don’t forget, it’s supposed to be!
After all, ‘A Level’ stands for ‘Advanced Level.’
With that in mind, these qualifications are designed to cover more complex and in-depth material – and chemistry is no different.
That said, a smaller portion of students tend to access the top grades in chemistry than with some other subjects.
As an example, in 2024, 32.7% of A Level Chemistry students got a grade A or A*, according to FFT Education Datalab. This is in contrast to a whopping 42% of A Level Maths students.
How hard is A Level Chemistry?
So, how hard is Chemistry A Level really?
Well, it’s impossible to say for sure, as every learner is different.
Instead, it’ll all depend on your aptitude for the subject, your work ethic and how you’re taught!
That said, there’s a lot of content to learn and you’ll need to be able to wrap your head around some complex concepts.
Content can vary a little depending on which exam board you’re with.
But let’s look at the exam board AQA as an example.
At GCSE, there are 10 topics to cover. But at A Level, this more than triples and you’ll need to get to grips with a massive 34 topics, grouped into three main subjects:
- Physical chemistry
- Inorganic chemistry
- Organic chemistry
This means you’ll need to be able to commit to learning a lot of material.
But you can’t expect to sail through Chemistry A Level by just learning content off by heart.
Rather, you’ll need to be able to explain chemical phenomena and apply your knowledge to unfamiliar situations – which also requires you to be confident in maths.
With this in mind, we’d recommend having at least a grade 6 in GCSE Chemistry if you want to study the subject at A Level.
We’d also recommend that you study A Level Maths as well as A Level Chemistry. That way, you won’t get left behind when you need to lean on mathematical skills like algebra, calculus and trigonometry.
Head over to our guide on whether A Level Maths is hard to learn more.
Is chemistry harder than physics or biology?
No! Chemistry often gets a bad rap when it comes to difficulty.
But it isn’t really any harder than the other science subjects – especially if you look at pass rates.
Here’s the proportion of students that achieved each grade for A Level Chemistry, Physics and Biology in 2024.
| Chemistry | Physics | Biology | |
| A* | 9.8% | 11.3% | 9.1% |
| A or above | 32.7% | 31.9% | 27.7% |
| C or above | 73.5% | 69.7% | 69.8% |
| E or above | 95.6% | 95.3% | 95.5% |
Grade E is the minimum for a pass at A Level.
So, as you can see, all three subjects have very similar pass rates.
Meanwhile, A Level Chemistry has the highest proportion of students who achieved a grade A or above – although Physics has the highest proportion of A*s.
With that in mind, it isn’t really worth comparing pass rates when you’re deciding which of the sciences to take at A Level.
Rather, consider which of these subjects most closely matches your skillset and future aspirations.
And remember, our handpicked tutors can help to explain any challenging concepts in a way that clicks for you, to help you access the top grades.
Why is A Level Chemistry so hard?
Wondering what makes A Level Chemistry so hard?
Again, it’ll vary from student to student.
But often, it’s the combination of having lots to memorise and needing strong mathematical skills.
You’ll study some of the same topics as what you covered at GCSE, but in greater depth.
Plus you’ll need to get your head around completely new content, like spectroscopy, equilibrium and entropy.
But instead of rote learning it all, you’ll need to fully understand the ‘why’ behind it so that you can explain abstract concepts and apply your knowledge to unfamiliar situations.
This includes using maths to balance equations, handle logarithms and work out moles formulae.
As you can imagine, all this requires a combination of lots of different skills, including critical thinking, time management, mathematical skills and practical skills.
Why study A Level Chemistry?
Wondering whether it’s worth tackling A Level Chemistry, or if you’d be better off opting for an easier subject?
Well, A Level Chemistry may be challenging, but it’s certainly a challenge that’s worth taking.
After all, there’s a reason why a whopping 37.1% of exams taken in 2024 were STEM-related (according to The Guardian).
Here’s why this subject can be so worthwhile.
1. Develop valuable skills
Studying chemistry will help you to develop valuable skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, analytical skills, attention to detail, mathematical skills and more.
These skills can be massively helpful in your further studies and career.
But you’ll also lean on them a lot in your everyday life – from budgeting to analysing data trends… and even cooking!
2. Gateway to higher education
Chemistry is a facilitating subject, which means it’s highly regarded by universities.
If you know what you want to study later on, it’s best to check whether you need A Level Chemistry, as not taking the subject can close some doors.
However, even if you don’t want to study a related subject, it’s a qualification that could help you stand out and add another dimension to your CV.
3. Career opportunities
Chemistry can help you to access careers in lots of different fields – especially in today’s era of digital transformation.
We’re talking about careers ranging from medicine and dentistry to STEM, chemical engineering and pharmacy.
4. Boost self esteem
Proving to yourself that you can wrap your head around difficult concepts can be a great boost to your confidence and self-esteem.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that chemistry is too hard, or that not everyone can do science!
We believe that you can achieve anything with hard work, dedication and the right support.
5. Complement other subjects
Chemistry perfectly complements other A Level subject choices like maths, physics and biology.
But it can also add another string to your bow if you want to pursue subjects like English or languages.
After all, pairing these A Levels with a subject that relies on strong analytical and problem-solving skills will show that you’re a well-rounded individual with diverse talents.
6. Enjoy your studies!
Last but not least, don’t forget to think about what you enjoy!
If you like understanding how the world works, wrapping your head around abstract concepts and working your way logically through problem-solving situations, A Level Chemistry is likely to be right up your street.
Find a tutor to demystify A Level Chemistry
A Level Chemistry can be a hard subject, but it can also be incredibly enriching and rewarding.
To give yourself the best chance of passing with flying colours, why not find a chemistry tutor to support you every step of the way?
An A Level Chemistry tutor will give you one-on-one attention you won’t get at college, to help you hone your skills and wrap your head around any concepts you’re struggling to get the hang of.
From week-by-week plans to practice exams, they’ll tailor their teaching to suit your strengths, weaknesses and learning style, and help you reach your full potential.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
Is A Level Chemistry the hardest A Level?
Every student is different. However, A Level Chemistry is often seen as one of the hardest A Levels as you’ll need to retain lots of information as well as develop strong maths skills.
Is it hard to pass A Level in Chemistry?
A Level Chemistry is certainly a challenging subject. However, 95.6% of students got a grade E or above in 2024 (according to FFT Education Datalab), which equates to a pass.
How hard is an A* in A Level Chemistry?
Getting an A* in A Level Chemistry isn’t easy, but it’s certainly achievable with a lot of hard work and the right support. In 2024, 9.8% of A Level Chemistry students achieved an A*.
An A Level Chemistry tutor can help you access the highest grades by working with you one-on-one to bring the subject to life.
Is A Level Chemistry much harder than GCSE?
Yes, A Level Chemistry is a big jump up from GCSE. You’ll study some of the same topics, but you’ll go into far more depth and you’ll also have new topics to wrap your head around.
What are the easiest A Levels?
It’s impossible to say for sure which are the easiest A Levels as everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.
However, subjects like business, film studies and media studies are generally considered easier as they’re less academically rigorous.
Is Chemistry A Level worth it?
Yes! Chemistry A Level is absolutely worth it for the right student as it can open up lots of doors in your future studies and career.
