Chemistry

Science Department

Science is vital to everyday life, and allows us to understand and shape the world in which we live and influence its future. Chemistry is the study of the composition, behaviour and properties of matter and the elements that make up the Earth.

Studying chemistry enables young people to develop practical investigative skills, deal with logical and scientific concepts and develop mathematical skills. At Lanark Grammar, we teach Chemistry at every available level—National 4, National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher.

Assessment

Course assessment is a mixture of demonstrating knowledge and understanding of chemistry by making statements, describing information and providing explanations, interpreting information and solving problems as part of an external exam, or in the case of National 4, a series of internally assessed unit tests.

Each level will also have an assessed practical component, which is carried out by students within the course time. A summary of the assessment at each level is shown below for information:

National 4

Assessment

3 unit assessments at 20 marks each

Practical Task

Outcome 1 (experimental report) Added Value Unit

Exam

No external exam

National 5

Practical Task

Assignment carried out in class time under supervision. The assignment is worth 25 marks.

Exam

2 and half hour final external exam.

Multiple choice: 25 marks

Written answer: 75 marks

Higher

Practical Task

Assignment carried out in class time under direct supervision. The assignment is worth 25 marks.

Exam

Final external exam.

Paper 1 - Multiple choice: 40 minutes. 25 Marks

Paper 2 - Written: 2 hours 20 minutes. 95 marks

Advanced Higher

Practical Task

Project carried out across class and own time. The assignment is worth 30 marks.

Exam

3 hour final external exam.

Written answer: 110 marks

Ideal Candidate

The Chemistry course would be best suited to a young person who is interested in the underlying nature of our world and its place in the universe. Ideally, they will have had experience with and enjoyed the Chemistry topics in S1 and/or S2 and will have demonstrated a decent understanding of mathematics.

What you will learn

Within Chemistry, the study will focus on three key areas:

Chemical Structure, Chemistry in Nature and Chemistry in Society at increasing levels of complexity as the young person progresses from National 4 / 5 to Advanced Higher.