Description
The Online IGCSE Chemistry course at Cambridge Home School is meticulously designed to equip online school pupils with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to understand both the physical and chemical worlds. This IGCSE Chemistry Online Course is highly esteemed and provides tangible proof of pupils’ grasp on key theoretical principles and practical abilities.
Our comprehensive Chemistry IGCSE Online curriculum serves as a stepping stone for pupils aiming to advance to A-Level Chemistry, thereby unlocking further academic opportunities at university level.
Homework, Assessment and Reporting
Enrolled in our IGCSE Chemistry Online Course, students in the Upper School are obligated to complete a minimum of one piece of homework per subject every fortnight for Level 3 and weekly for Level 4. The cornerstone for achieving success in the Upper School lies in diligently revising lesson notes to solidify learning. Crafting well-organized revision cards and taking thorough notes for each topic is crucial to ensure that students are adequately prepared well in advance of their final examinations at the culmination of the two-year Online IGCSE Chemistry programme.
Level 3 internal assessments are conducted in June, while Level 4 internal mock assessments are scheduled for November and March. Reports for Level 3 are dispatched at the close of the Autumn and Summer terms. In contrast, Level 4 reports are released subsequent to the mock assessments during the Autumn and Spring terms. These comprehensive reports enumerate grades for attainment and effort in each subject and feature written feedback from Success Coaches and the Head Teacher.
Parents are strongly encouraged to engage continuously with teachers through their family Teams account. This enables the unique advantage of more detailed tracking of their child’s academic progress throughout the year, a benefit not possible through merely an annual parent consultation evening.
Click here to see this year’s Assessment and Reporting schedule
C1. The particulate nature of matter
C2. Experimental techniques
2.1 Methods of separation and purification
C3. Atoms, elements and compounds
3.1 Physical and chemical changes
3.2 Elements, compounds and mixtures
3.3 Atomic structure and the Periodic Table
3.4 Ions and ionic bonds
3.5 Molecules and covalent bonds
3.6 Giant structures
C4. Stoichiometry
4.1 The mole concept
C5. Electricity and chemistry
C6. Energy changes in chemical reactions
6.1 Energetics of a reaction
C7. Chemical reactions
7.1 Speed of reaction
7.2 Redox
C8. Acids, bases and salts
8.1 The characteristic properties of acids and bases
8.2 Types of oxides
8.3 Preparation of salts
8.4 Identification of ions and gases
C9. The Periodic Table
9.1 Periodic trends
9.2 Group properties
9.3 Transition elements
9.4 Noble gases
C10. Metals
10.1 Properties of metals
10.2 Reactivity series
10.3 Extraction of metals
10.4 Uses of metals
C11. Air and water
C12. Sulfur
C13. Carbonates
C14. Organic chemistry
14.1 Fuels
14.2 Introduction to organic compounds
14.3 Hydrocarbons
14.4 Alcohols
14.5 Macromolecules
14.6 Synthetic polymers
14.7 Natural macromolecules
These topics will be taught in Years 10 and 11 to prepare students for their examinations.
Recommended but not necessary:
- Cambridge IGCSE® Chemistry Coursebook with CD-ROM (Cambridge International Examinations), 2014 by Richard Harwood and Ian Lodge; ISBN 978-1107615038
- Access to a printer, pencil, ruler, rubber, pen and notebook
Parents are responsible for arranging their child’s examinations at their local registered examination centre. Cambridge Home School students study from every part of the globe and so it is not practical for the school to offer a single venue to sit examinations. Consequently, Cambridge Home School is not registered with Cambridge International Examinations but has partnerships with examination centres registered with Cambridge International Examinations, Edexcel, OCR and AQA, and will support students in locating a suitable venue for sitting their written and practical examinations.
“The conducting of experiments is potentially dangerous and must be supervised by an adult. Cambridge Home School and its teachers do not demand that pupils conduct experiments. Parents and pupils must make the decision on whether or not to conduct experiments / dangerous activities and must therefore accept responsibility for any outcomes. Cambridge Home School does not accept responsibility for experiments or any other dangerous activity conducted at the homes of its pupils or in any other place.”
If you are intending to study A Level Chemistry after IGCSE, we recommend that you spend some time in the summer holidays preparing. Here are some suggested activities:
Practise:
Work through some GCSE to A Level transition activities here: GCSE-to-A-LEVEL Chemistry – start at activity 6 and see how far you can get independently.
Watch:
This is an excellent TED-talk using flipped learning to develop a better understanding of the ‘molecular scale’: Just How Small is an Atom?
Read:
Introduce yourselves to the wonderful chemguide.co.uk – starting with exploring these introductory ‘articles’: Atomic Structure and Bonding
Chemistry Socials:
Daily A Level Chemistry facts – @ChemAlevels
Chemistry news – @ChemistryNews
Compound Interest – graphics exploring everyday Chemistry. Winner of @absw 2018 science blog award – @compoundchem
Chemistry World – Chemistry magazine bringing you the latest Chemistry news and research every day. Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry – @ChemistryWorld
Royal Society of Chemistry – Promote, support and celebrate Chemistry. Follow for updates on latest activities – @RoySocChem
Periodic Videos – Chemistry video series by @BradyHaran and profs at the University of Nottingham – @periodicvideos Also see @sixtysymbols and @numberphile
What is the aim of the online IGCSE Chemistry course?
The online IGCSE Chemistry course is designed to help students gain a deep understanding of both the physical and chemical world. This qualification is highly regarded and validates students’ comprehension of key theoretical principles as well as practical skills in Chemistry.
What are the homework expectations for the online IGCSE Chemistry class?
For the online IGCSE Chemistry class, students in the Upper School must complete at least one homework assignment per subject every fortnight in Level 3 and every week in Level 4. Additionally, it’s vital to regularly revise notes and create revision cards for each topic to ensure preparedness for the final exams.
What does assessment look like in the online IGCSE Chemistry course?
Assessments for online IGCSE Chemistry are structured with Level 3 internal evaluations in June and Level 4 mock assessments in November and March. Reports, featuring grades for attainment and effort, are distributed at the end of the Autumn and Summer terms for Level 3, and following mock assessments in the Autumn and Spring terms for Level 4.
What topics are covered in the Chemistry IGCSE online course?
The Chemistry IGCSE online course is comprehensive, encompassing a wide array of topics such as the particulate nature of matter, experimental techniques, stoichiometry, energy changes in chemical reactions, and many more. These subjects are taught during Years 10 and 11 to prepare students for their exams.
How can parents stay updated on their child’s progress in the online IGCSE Chemistry class?
Parents are encouraged to use their family Teams accounts for regular communication with teachers. This platform offers more detailed tracking of student performance over the course of the year, providing a more comprehensive overview compared to an annual consultation evening.
General points
Assessment, apart from the final International GCSE exams, assessments will be carried out continuously throughout lessons, via homework or short tests.
Practicals will not be possible due to the online nature of teaching, but students are welcome to carry out safe practicals at home. Students are also encouraged to watch videos of practicals online, for example using YouTube. Students will also be encouraged to think scientifically in an everyday context, making them aware of the science around them and how it can help in solving problems.
The Teachers
Chemistry at Cambridge Home School Online is taught by Mr O’Connell, Mrs Perkins, Mrs Graham and Mrs Goodhead. Click on the names below to find out more about our Chemistry teachers.