AQA | GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 | 2025 Predictions
The 2025 AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 Predictions are here! 🎉
Last year, our predicted papers were so accurate that some questions appeared almost exactly the same in the real exam! This year, we’ve put just as much time and effort into analysing trends, past papers, and exam board patterns to bring you the best possible revision tool.
✅ Exam-style questions covering key topics
✅ Designed to match the real exam as closely as possible
✅ Perfect for testing your knowledge and building confidence
But that’s not all…
📺 NEW for 2025 – FREE Video Walkthroughs!
We’ll guide you through the papers step by step, showing you exactly what examiners expect and how to lay out your answers for top marks.
💡 Don’t miss out – grab your predicted papers now and get started!
Which paper are you looking for?
AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 | Higher | 2025 Predicted Topics & Revision Guide
If you're preparing for AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 (Higher), this list will help you focus your revision on the key topics. We’ve analysed past papers, examiner reports, and trends to predict the most likely topics for 2025.
🧪 Development of the Periodic Table
🔹 Mendeleev vs. Newlands – What’s the difference?
Newlands arranged elements in order of atomic mass and noticed repeating patterns (Law of Octaves), but his model was rejected as he didn’t leave gaps for undiscovered elements.
Mendeleev also arranged elements by atomic mass but left gaps for undiscovered elements and predicted their properties. Later, the discovery of protons helped explain why atomic number, not mass, is a better way to organise the table.
🔬 Trends in the Periodic Table
🌍 The periodic table shows clear trends across groups and periods.
Group 1 (Alkali Metals) – Become more reactive down the group because the outer electron is further from the nucleus and easier to lose.
Group 7 (Halogens) – Become less reactive down the group because they gain an electron, and increased shielding makes it harder.
Noble Gases (Group 0) – Are inert because they have a full outer shell.
🧪 Mixtures & Separating Techniques
Mixtures contain two or more substances not chemically bonded.
Key separation methods:
Filtration – Separates an insoluble solid from a liquid (e.g., sand and water).
Crystallisation – Separates a soluble solid from a solution (e.g., salt from seawater).
Distillation – Separates liquids with different boiling points (e.g., ethanol and water).
Chromatography – Separates substances based on their solubility (used for dyes in ink).
⚛️ Properties of Ionic & Covalent Compounds
🔹 Ionic Compounds – High melting/boiling points, conduct electricity when molten or dissolved.
🔹 Covalent Compounds – Low melting/boiling points (except giant covalent structures like diamond), don’t conduct electricity.
⚛️ Dot & Cross Diagrams
Dot and cross diagrams show how electrons are shared or transferred.
-
Drawing dot and cross diagrams for:
Ionic bonding (e.g., sodium chloride, magnesium oxide).
Covalent bonding (e.g., oxygen, methane, water).
⚖️ Moles & Calculations
Practising mass-to-moles conversions.
Learning how to balance equations using moles.
🔥 Energy Changes & Bond Enthalpy Calculations
Exothermic reactions – Release energy (temperature increases).
Endothermic reactions – Absorb energy (temperature decreases).
Bond enthalpy calculations:
🔋 Electrolysis
Anode (+): Non-metal ions (except hydrogen) form here.
Cathode (-): Metal ions (or hydrogen) form here.
What is formed at each electrode for key examples like copper sulfate and sodium chloride?
Writing half equations for electrolysis.
📊 Variables in an Experiment & Data Handling
Independent variable: What you change.
Dependent variable: What you measure.
Control variables: What stays the same.
Practice graph drawing & interpreting tables.
🧪 Testing for Gases
Hydrogen: Lit splint → squeaky pop
Oxygen: Glowing splint → relights
Carbon dioxide: Limewater → turns cloudy
Chlorine: Damp litmus → bleaches white
⚛️ Bonding, Structure & Properties of Materials
Giant covalent structures (diamond, graphite) vs simple molecules (CO₂, H₂O).
Diamond – Hard, doesn’t conduct.
Graphite – Soft, conducts (delocalised electrons).
🌟 Nanoparticles – Uses, Advantages & Risks
Uses: Medicine, sun cream, catalysts.
Advantages: Large surface area, efficient.
Risks: Unknown long-term effects.
🧪 Soluble Salts & Titrations
Soluble salts are made by reacting acids with bases.
Titrations measure the exact volume needed for neutralisation.
-
Titrations method and calculation
⚖️ Atom Economy
Measures how much reactant mass is turned into useful products.
⚖️ Acids – Weak vs Strong & Dilute vs Concentrated
Weak acids don’t fully ionise (e.g., ethanoic acid).
Strong acids fully ionise (e.g., hydrochloric acid).
Dilute = Low concentration, Concentrated = High concentration.
📌 Final Tips for GCSE Chemistry Paper 1
✅ Prioritise tricky topics first.
✅ Use active recall – test yourself with flashcards.
✅ Practise exam questions.
✅ Attend our LIVE Masterclass the night before the exam!
🔔 Want to make revision easier? Download our 2025 Predicted Papers and watch our FREE video walkthroughs, where we show you exactly how to answer questions like an examiner!
AQA GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 1 | Higher | 2025 Predicted Topics & Revision Guide
With GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 fast approaching, it's time to focus your revision on the key topics. We’ve looked at past exams, examiner reports, and patterns to predict the topics most likely to appear in 2025.
Use this guide to structure your revision, test your knowledge, and boost your confidence before the exam! 🚀
🧪 Mixtures & Separation Techniques
A mixture is made of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded.
🔹 Separation Methods:
Filtration – Separates insoluble solids from liquids (e.g., sand and water).
Crystallisation – Separates soluble solids from a solution (e.g., salt from seawater).
Distillation – Separates liquids with different boiling points (e.g., ethanol and water).
Chromatography – Separates substances based on their solubility (used for dyes in ink).
⚛️ Properties of Ionic & Covalent Compounds
🔹 Ionic Compounds – Formed between metals and non-metals.
✔️ High melting/boiling points
✔️ Conduct electricity when molten or dissolved
✔️ Hard and brittle
🔹 Covalent Compounds – Formed between non-metals only.
✔️ Low melting/boiling points
✔️ Don’t conduct electricity (except graphite)
✔️ Soft (unless giant covalent, like diamond)
⚛️ Dot & Cross Diagrams
Dot and cross diagrams show how electrons are shared or transferred.
-
Drawing diagrams for:
Ionic bonding (e.g., NaCl, MgO).
-
Covalent bonding (e.g., H₂O, CO₂).
🔥 Energy Changes & Bond Enthalpy Calculations
Exothermic reactions – Give out heat (e.g., combustion).
Endothermic reactions – Take in heat (e.g., melting).
Bond enthalpy calculations:
📊 Energy Reaction Profiles
These graphs show the energy change in a reaction.
Exothermic: Reactants start higher, products finish lower.
Endothermic: Reactants start lower, products finish higher.
-
Practising drawing reaction profiles from memory.
📜 Trends in the Periodic Table
The periodic table shows clear trends:
Group 1 (Alkali Metals) – More reactive as you go down.
Group 7 (Halogens) – Less reactive as you go down.
Group 0 (Noble Gases) – Don’t react because they have full outer shells.
🔬 Development of the Periodic Table
🔹 Newlands arranged elements by atomic mass, but didn’t leave gaps.
🔹 Mendeleev also used atomic mass but left gaps for missing elements, which were later discovered!
⚖️ Moles & Calculations
A mole is just a big number (6.02 × 10²³) that chemists use to count atoms.
⚡ Electrolysis
Electrolysis uses electricity to split compounds.
🔹 At the anode (+): Non-metal ions form.
🔹 At the cathode (-): Metal or hydrogen forms.
Example: Electrolysis of copper sulfate
Anode (+): Oxygen forms.
-
Cathode (-): Copper forms.
Memorise what forms at each electrode for common solutions.
Practising half equations for electrolysis.
📊 Variables in Experiments & Graphs
Independent variable = What you change
Dependent variable = What you measure
Control variables = What stays the same
🧪 Testing for Gases
Hydrogen: Lit splint → squeaky pop
Oxygen: Glowing splint → relights
Carbon dioxide: Limewater → turns cloudy
Chlorine: Damp litmus → bleaches white
⚛️ Half Equations
Half equations show what happens at each electrode in electrolysis.
⚛️ Bonding, Structure & Properties
Diamond: Hard, doesn’t conduct electricity.
Graphite: Soft, does conduct electricity (delocalised electrons).
🌟 Soluble Salts
Soluble salts are made by reacting acids with bases.
📌 Final Tips for GCSE Chemistry Paper 1
✅ Use active recall – test yourself with flashcards.
✅ Practise past papers & exam questions.
✅ Attend our LIVE Masterclass the night before the exam!
🔔 Want extra help? Download our 2025 Predicted Papers and watch our FREE video walkthroughs, where we show you how to answer questions just like the examiner wants!
📥 Download here
AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 | Foundation | 2025 Predicted Topics & Revision Guide
If you're taking AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 (Foundation), this guide will help you focus on the most important topics. We’ve looked at past papers, examiner reports, and trends to predict the topics that are most likely to come up in 2025.
📜 How the Periodic Table Was Developed
🔹 Newlands vs. Mendeleev – What’s the difference?
Newlands arranged elements by atomic mass but didn’t leave gaps, so his table didn’t work well.
Mendeleev also used atomic mass but left gaps for missing elements. He even predicted their properties!
Later, scientists discovered protons, which helped them arrange elements by atomic number instead.
🔬 Trends in the Periodic Table
🌍 The periodic table has patterns that help us understand elements.
Group 1 (Alkali Metals) – Get more reactive as you go down.
Group 7 (Halogens) – Get less reactive as you go down.
Group 0 (Noble Gases) – Do not react because they have full outer shells.
🧪 Separating Mixtures
Mixtures are not chemically joined and can be separated using simple methods:
Filtration – Separates solids from liquids (e.g., sand and water).
Evaporation & Crystallisation – Separates soluble solids from solutions (e.g., salt from seawater).
Distillation – Separates liquids with different boiling points.
Chromatography – Separates dyes in ink.
⚛️ Ionic & Covalent Compounds
🔹 Ionic Compounds – High melting/boiling points, dissolve in water, conduct electricity when liquid.
🔹 Covalent Compounds – Low melting/boiling points, don’t conduct electricity, often gases or liquids.
⚛️ Dot & Cross Diagrams
-
Drawing diagrams for:
Ionic bonding (e.g., NaCl, MgO).
Covalent bonding (e.g., H₂O, CO₂).
🔥 Energy Changes & Bond Calculations
Exothermic reactions – Give out heat (e.g., combustion).
Endothermic reactions – Take in heat (e.g., melting).
Energy reaction profiles.
🔋 Electrolysis
Anode (+): Non-metal ions form here (e.g., oxygen from water).
Cathode (-): Metal or hydrogen forms here (e.g., copper from copper sulfate).
📊 Variables in an Experiment & Data Handling
Independent variable: What you change.
Dependent variable: What you measure.
Control variables: What you keep the same.
🧪 Testing for Gases
Hydrogen: Lit splint → squeaky pop
Oxygen: Glowing splint → relights
Carbon dioxide: Limewater → turns cloudy
Chlorine: Damp litmus → bleaches white
⚛️ Bonding & Structure
Diamond: Hard, doesn’t conduct electricity.
Graphite: Soft, does conduct electricity (delocalised electrons).
🌟 Nanoparticles – Uses & Risks
Uses: Medicine, sun cream, catalysts.
Risks: Could be harmful to health if breathed in.
🧪 Making Soluble Salts & Titrations
Acid + Base → Salt + Water
Titrations measure exact acid needed to neutralise a base.
⚖️ Acids – Weak, Strong, Dilute & Concentrated
Weak acids don’t fully ionise (e.g., vinegar).
Strong acids do (e.g., hydrochloric acid).
Dilute = More water added.
Concentrated = Less water added.
📌 Final Tips for GCSE Chemistry Paper 1
✅ Revise a little every day – don’t leave it all to the last minute!
✅ Use flashcards, past papers, and videos to mix up your revision.
✅ Practice answering exam-style questions – this is the best way to prepare.
✅ Attend our LIVE Masterclass the night before the exam!
🔔 Want extra help? Download our 2025 Predicted Papers and watch our FREE video walkthroughs, where we show you how to answer questions just like the examiner wants!
AQA GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 1 | Foundation | 2025 Predicted Topics & Revision Guide
Your GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 is coming up, and we’re here to help! We’ve looked at past papers and exam trends to predict the most important topics for 2025.
Use this guide to revise key topics, practise your knowledge, and feel more confident for your exam! 🚀
🧪 Mixtures & How to Separate Them
A mixture is made of two or more substances that are not chemically joined.
🔹 Ways to separate mixtures:
Filtration – Separates an insoluble solid from a liquid (e.g., sand from water).
Evaporation & Crystallisation – Separates a soluble solid from a liquid (e.g., salt from seawater).
Distillation – Separates liquids with different boiling points (e.g., ethanol and water).
Chromatography – Separates colours in ink.
⚛️ Ionic & Covalent Compounds
🔹 Ionic Compounds (metal + non-metal)
✔️ High melting/boiling points
✔️ Conduct electricity when dissolved or molten
✔️ Hard and brittle
🔹 Covalent Compounds (non-metal + non-metal)
✔️ Low melting/boiling points
✔️ Don’t conduct electricity
✔️ Often gases or liquids
⚛️ Dot & Cross Diagrams
These diagrams show how atoms share or transfer electrons.
-
Drawing diagrams for:
Ionic bonding (e.g., NaCl, MgO).
Covalent bonding (e.g., H₂O, CO₂).
🔥 Energy Changes & Bond Energy Calculations
Exothermic reactions – Release energy (temperature increases).
Endothermic reactions – Absorb energy (temperature decreases).
📊 Energy Reaction Profiles
These graphs show the energy change in a reaction.
Exothermic: Reactants start high, products finish low.
Endothermic: Reactants start low, products finish high.
🔬 How the Periodic Table Was Developed
🔹 Newlands arranged elements by atomic mass, but his table wasn’t accepted.
🔹 Mendeleev also used atomic mass, but he left gaps for missing elements and correctly predicted their properties!
⚡ Electrolysis
Electrolysis uses electricity to split compounds.
🔹 At the anode (+): Non-metal ions form (e.g., oxygen).
🔹 At the cathode (-): Metal or hydrogen forms (e.g., copper).
📊 Experiments & Graphs
Independent variable = What you change
Dependent variable = What you measure
-
Control variables = What you keep the same
🧪 Testing for Gases
Hydrogen: Lit splint → squeaky pop
Oxygen: Glowing splint → relights
Carbon dioxide: Limewater → turns cloudy
Chlorine: Damp litmus → bleaches white
⚛️ Bonding & Structure
Diamond: Hard, doesn’t conduct electricity.
Graphite: Soft, does conduct electricity.
🌟 Making Soluble Salts
Soluble salts are made by reacting acids with bases.
📌 Final Tips for GCSE Chemistry Paper 1
✅ Revise a little every day – don’t leave it all to the last minute!
✅ Use flashcards, past papers, and videos to mix up your revision.
✅ Practice answering exam-style questions – this is the best way to prepare.
✅ Attend our Live Masterclass the night before the exam!
🔔 Want extra help? Download our 2025 Predicted Papers and watch our FREE video walkthroughs, where we show you how to answer questions just like the examiner wants!
📥 Download here
Everything You Need to Know for AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1
If you’re preparing for AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1, you might be wondering: How many papers are there? How long is the exam? What’s the best way to revise?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! This guide will break down everything you need to know for GCSE Chemistry at Foundation and Higher Tier, whether you’re taking Combined Science or Separate Science.
📜 How Many Papers Are There in GCSE Chemistry?
Separate Science (GCSE Chemistry)
Two papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2.
You will receive a separate GCSE in Chemistry.
Combined Science (Trilogy)
Two Chemistry papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2), but your final grade is based on all six science papers (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics).
This course results in two GCSE grades for Science, rather than a separate GCSE in Chemistry.
Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 cover different topics, so make sure you’re revising the correct ones for each exam!
🕒 How Long is GCSE Chemistry Paper 1?
The length of the exam depends on whether you're taking Combined Science or Separate Science, and whether you're doing Foundation or Higher tier.
Paper |
Tier |
Duration |
Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
GCSE Chemistry (Paper 1) |
Foundation |
1 hour 45 mins |
100 marks |
GCSE Chemistry (Paper 1) |
Higher |
1 hour 45 mins |
100 marks |
Combined Science (Paper 1: Chemistry) |
Foundation |
1 hour 15 mins |
70 marks |
Combined Science (Paper 1: Chemistry) |
Higher |
1 hour 15 mins |
70 marks |
Separate Science papers are longer (1 hour 45 minutes) because they cover more content and lead to a full GCSE in Chemistry.
Combined Science papers are shorter (1 hour 15 minutes) because they contribute to a double Science GCSE.
📚 What Topics Are Covered in AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1?
Separate Science (GCSE Chemistry)
Paper 1 covers:
✅ Atomic structure & Periodic Table (history of the periodic table, trends, electronic structure)
✅ Bonding, Structure & Properties of Matter (ionic, covalent, metallic bonding, giant structures, allotropes of carbon)
✅ Quantitative Chemistry (moles, titrations, atom economy)
✅ Chemical Changes (reactivity of metals, electrolysis, strong vs weak acids)
✅ Energy Changes (exothermic & endothermic reactions, bond energy calculations)
Combined Science (Chemistry Paper 1)
Covers the same topics but in slightly less detail. You won’t need to know:
❌ Titrations in detail
❌ Some complex mole calculations
❌ Certain bond energy calculations
Higher-tier students will have more challenging questions, requiring the application of knowledge to unfamiliar situations.
📝 Flashcards for GCSE Chemistry Revision
Flashcards are an amazing way to revise key Chemistry facts! Here’s how to use them effectively:
✅ Create your own flashcards – writing things out helps you remember them better!
✅ Use a mix of definitions, equations, and key facts.
✅ Test yourself regularly – don’t just read them!
✅ Try digital flashcards on apps like Quizlet or Anki for easy revision on the go.
💡 Top flashcard topics to cover:
The structure of the atom (protons, neutrons, electrons)
Periodic table trends (group 1, group 7, noble gases)
Types of bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic)
Electrolysis products at each electrode
Equations for energy changes and moles calculations
📖 AQA GCSE Chemistry Past Papers
One of the best ways to prepare for your exam is to practise with past papers. AQA past papers help you:
Get used to the exam format and question styles.
Understand the level of detail needed in your answers.
Practise timing yourself so you don’t run out of time in the real exam.
💡 Where to find AQA GCSE Chemistry past papers?
You can download official AQA past papers from the AQA website.
We also have 2025 Predicted Papers available – these are designed to be as close as possible to the real thing!
🔑 Best Ways to Revise for AQA GCSE Chemistry
There’s no single “best” way to revise – different techniques work for different people! But here are some tried-and-tested revision methods:
1️⃣ Active Recall (Don’t Just Read!)
The best revision happens when you test yourself rather than just reading notes. Try:
Cover-write-check – Read a section, cover it up, write down what you remember, then check.
Use past papers to test your knowledge under exam conditions.
Teach someone else – If you can explain a topic clearly, you know it well!
2️⃣ Use Mind Maps
Mind maps help link ideas together, especially for big topics like bonding or the periodic table. Try:
Starting with the main topic in the centre and drawing branches for key points.
Adding diagrams and colours to make it easier to remember.
Practising drawing them from memory – this helps with recall!
3️⃣ Watch Revision Videos
Watching videos can make tricky concepts much easier. Our free YouTube videos walk you through Chemistry topics in a relaxed and easy-to-understand way.
4️⃣ Practise Exam Questions
Doing past paper questions helps you:
Get used to how questions are worded.
Spot patterns in what examiners like to ask.
Improve your timing so you don’t rush in the real exam.
5️⃣ Attend a Masterclass the Night Before!
The night before your exam, we’ll be running a live Masterclass, covering:
✅ Key topics & common exam questions
✅ Last-minute revision tips
✅ How to avoid silly mistakes
It’s a great way to boost your confidence and calm your nerves before the big day. Join us live – we’d love to see you there! 🌟
💡 Final Tips for GCSE Chemistry Paper 1
🔹 Start revising early – don’t leave it until the last minute!
🔹 Mix up your revision methods – try flashcards, past papers, and videos.
🔹 Take breaks – your brain needs time to process information!
🔹 Get a good night’s sleep before the exam – being well-rested helps more than last-minute cramming.
🔹 Stay calm and believe in yourself – you’ve got this!
Good luck with your Chemistry Paper 1! We’re cheering you on! 🚀💪
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