GCSE Chemistry Course

Overview

A distance learning course is the ideal way to gain a Chemistry GCSE.

Whether you're looking to go on to further education, improve your job prospects or expand your knowledge, distance learning GCSE Chemistry is a flexible and convenient course, which allows you to comprehensively prepare for the GCSE Chemistry exam through home study.

What's more, because the distance learning GCSE Chemistry Course is a fully comprehensive course, no prior knowledge is required.

The GCSE Chemistry attempts to look at the way Chemistry affects your everyday life and how you can evaluate the scientific material that you come across in newspapers, magazines and on television. The course is ideal preparation for those who wish to go on to study Chemistry at AS and A2 level.

FORMAT OF COURSE (Modules Overview)
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There are three modules that make up the GCSE Chemistry.

Each lesson begins with a set of clearly stated objectives and an explanation of its place in the overall programme of study.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT THIS COURSE
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"Returning to study has given me a sense of confidence and inspiration which I feel I was lacking previously." Simone Scarlett

HOME STUDY SUPPORT 
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Effective learning is encouraged through frequent activities and self-assessment questions, and there is guidance for the preparation of coursework.

You will be provided with comprehensive materials designed to provide you with everything required to complete your course of study. You will have your own personal tutor helping you with your course work and with any questions you may have. Plus you can contact a Student Advisors by email or phone for all the practical advice you may need – so we really are with you 100%.

Your tutor will give you various resource sites to visit and there is extra material in the student support portal.

COURSE RESOURCES
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You will also require the following text books for your course:

• AQA GCSE Chemistry
• Patrick Fullick – Nelson Thornes – ISBN 978-0748796441

COURSE ASSESSMENT
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For each module there are two or three formal tutor-marked assessments which, when completed, should be sent to your tutor, via e-mail or conventional post. All of the information within the units is written in line with the requirements of the examination board specification and the demands of the examination.

All units are broken down into clear subject topics, and students should spend the amount of time studying for each topic as advised by their course tutor. Each topic module has been written for ease of understanding and topic coverage may be of different length and difficulty depending on the level of detail and information required. You will need to study the modules in the sequence provided.

HOME STUDY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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If you have some background in Chemistry then you will find some of the lessons touch upon things that you have encountered before, but the course is designed to be fully understandable by those who have little or no previous background in science.

This course is openly available to anyone wishing to learn more about Chemistry and would like to take part in a highly rewarding home study course. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.

You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 24 months from initial registration with full tutor support.

Description

The GCSE Chemistry course is divided into three  comprehensive modules:

Chemistry GCSE Course – Module 1

• How do rocks provide building materials?
• How do rocks provide metals and how are metals used?
• How do we get fuels from crude oil?
• How are polymers and ethanol made from oil?
• How can plant oils be used?
• What are the changes in the Earth and its atmosphere?
• Why have some species of plants and animals died out?
• How do new species of plants and animals develop?
• How do humans affect the environment

Chemistry GCSE Course – Module 2

• How do sub-atomic particles help us to understand the structure of substances?
• How do structures influence the properties and uses of substances?
• How much can we make and how much do we need to use?
• How can we control the rates of chemical reactions?
• Do chemical reactions always release energy?
• How can we use ions in solutions?

Chemistry GCSE Course – Module 3

• How was the periodic table developed and how can it help us understand?
• the reactions of elements?
• What are strong and weak acids and alkalis?
• How can we find the amounts of acids and alkalis in solutions?
• What is in the water we drink?
• How much energy is involved in chemical reactions?
• How do we identify and analyse substances?

The Syllabus

Our Chemistry GCSE course prepares students for AQA GCSE Science: Chemistry syllabus 4421 for exams in 2008 add later years. We have chosen this syllabus as the most suited to distance learning.

Assesment is by is is by three written papers (75%) and coursework (25%).

Practical Skills/ Coursework

The Chemistry GCSE coursework has two elements:

1. The practical skills assessment (PSA) assesses the student’s ability to work in an organised and safe manner whilst working practically. It can be carried out at any time during the course.

2. The investigative skills assignment (ISA) assesses the student’s ability to undertake a task and collect, process and evaluate data. The ISA can be carried out at any time during the course. Students carry out the ISA set by AQA, they then take a written test under controlled conditions. The test asks questions concerning the data collected during the practical task as well as that provided as part of the test.

Requirements

No prior knowledge or experience is required.