Most home-ed students take International GCSE (IGCSE) chemistry exams, which consist of written exams only. Unlike GCSEs, IGCSEs do not require core practical work to be carried out in the exam centre.
Cambridge (CAIE) and Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry are exam-only syllabuses and are available to private candidates.
Other relevant pages:
Science - this page gives a general overview of your options for GCSE/IGCSE Level Science.
Science A levels (includes information on practical endorsements for A level)
Alternative Qualifications (see Science and Engineering section)
Chemistry - FAQ
Can I do GCSE Chemistry?
For most home educators, GCSE Chemistry is not an option and they must do IGCSE. GCSE chemistry does not have a practical exam, BUT the head of the exam centre has to sign a form for each candidate saying that the candidate has been offered the opportunity to carry out all core practicals at the centre. Most centres won't do this for external candidates.
Do I need to complete practicals for IGCSE Chemistry?
Although there is no practical exam in IGCSE Chemistry, an understanding of practical work is necessary. Both specifications have a list of core practicals that the candidate is required to understand, but no form has to be signed to say these have been done/observed making the specifications easier for private candidates to access. IGCSE chemistry specifications have 'alternative to practicals' questions as part of the written exam papers. Carrying out practicals will help with understanding but it is not a requirement, videos can be found of most experiments - the Chemistry Practicals page overs ideas and support.
Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry
This is a popular choice among home educators, as it is often easier to find an exam centre in the UK for Edexcel exams.
Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry page and specification
- Exams from: June 2019
- Available in June and January
- Specification code: 4CH1
Subject Content
The Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry has 4 topics:
- Principles of chemistry
- Inorganic chemistry
- Physical chemistry
- Organic chemistry
Assessment
100% exam based.
- Paper 1 - 2hrs - 110 marks - 61.1%
- A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.
- Will include questions about practicals
- Covers topics 1- 5 but only the content that is listed in the syllabus not in bold
- Can use a calculator
- Paper 2 - 1hr 15 minutes - 70 marks - 38.9%
- A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.
- Will include questions about practicals
- Covers topics 1- 5 all content listed in syllabus (bold and not bold)
- Can use a calculator
Resources
If you are not sure what textbooks or revision books to buy, or where to find answers, please ask on the HE exams and alternatives group You only need one student textbook and one is not better than the others, it is personal preference.
Student Textbooks for Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry
(Pearson)Edexcel IGCSE chemistry student book by Jim Clark (2017). Some people find the layout a little cluttered in this recent Pearson's edition, so check out the 'look inside' feature on Amazon of this and other textbooks to compare. Answers are here.
(Hodder) Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry Student Book Second Edition (2017). Answers are here.
(Collins) Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry Student Book (2017) by Sunley. Answers might not be provided for the exam-style questions. Collins are usually helpful when home educators email them for a copy of the answers, but perhaps check on the HE Exams and Alternatives group, first to see if anyone has the answers.
Practical workbook
Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) Chemistry Student Lab Book: Exam practice and further application (2019) Not essential, but some families have found it helpful
Workbooks and Revision books for Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry
Revision books and workbooks aren't essential, but some students find them helpful. There are lots of options below and you don't need to buy all of them!
Hodder
(Hodder) Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry Workbook (2017) by Wensley Answers are here.
My Revision Notes: Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) Chemistry (2018) by Dixon
CGP
Some people find CGP revision books cluttered, and other people love them. Take a look on the 'look inside' feature of Amazon to see whether they will suit your child.
Grade 9-1 Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry: Revision Guide with Online Edition (2017) designed for revision, but can also give a useful overview of each topic as it is being studied.
Grade 9-1 Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry: Exam Practice Workbook (includes Answers) (2017) A workbook to accompany the above revision book. Can be useful for testing knowledge before progressing to whole exam papers.
Grade 9-1 Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry: Complete Revision & Practice with Online Edition (2107) This book combines the CGP revision guide with some questions (fewer questions than if buying the exam practice workbook). There might be some overlap with the above books.
Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry: Grade 8-9 Targeted Exam Practice Workbook (with answers) (2017) questions for students aiming for the top grades.
New Grade 9-1 Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry: Revision Question Cards (2019) Note these are NOT flash cards of topic summaries, but are question cards. Not essential, but might be useful for some students.
Grade 9-1 Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry: 10-Minute Tests (with answers) (2018) Again, not essential, but a possible tool for some students.
Cambridge (CAIE) IGCSE Chemistry
Cambridge offer 2 IGCSEs in Chemistry from 2019. The difference is in the grading, 0971 being 9-1 and 0620 being A*-G, otherwise the syllabus is identical. Some exam centres will only enter students for 0970.
CAIE International GCSE Biology (0971) page and specification
CAIE International GCSE Biology (0620) page and specification
0971 was new in 2019, any tweaks to 0620 at the same time look to be minor so papers from pre-2019 will still be useful.
- Exams from: 2019
- Available in Autumn and Summer series
- Specification code: 0971 (9-1) or 0620 (A*- G) There are amendments to the specification for exams from 2023, some content is being removed and other content added.
Subject Content
Candidates study the following topics (taken from 2022 spec):
The particulate nature of matter, experimental techniques; atoms, elements and compounds, stoichiometry, electricity and chemistry, chemical energetics, chemical reactions, acids, bases and salts, the Periodic Table, metals, air and water, sulfur, carbonates and organic chemistry
Cambridge Chemistry is 'tiered' students enter for core (which allows them to achieve grade 5-1) or extended (which allows them to achieve grade 9-1). Those doing Core just need to study the core content, those doing Extended need to study the core and supplementary content.
Assessment
The specification has three papers: a 1h Alternative to Practical, a 45 min Multiple Choice and a 1 hr 15 Theory paper. The multiple choice and theory exams used to be taken back to back (so effectively 2 hours), but for the past two years have been examined on separate days.
CAIE science IGCSEs are tiered. This means that less able students can opt for the core tier, (papers 1, 3 and 6) but can only get a maximum grade of C or 5. More able students can opt for the higher (extended) tier (papers 2, 4 and 6) with the grade range of 9-1.
100% exam based.
- Paper 1 (core) or 2 (extended) - Multiple choice - 45 mins - 40 marks - 30%
- Forty compulsory multiple-choice questions
- Covers all content
- Paper 3 (core) or 4 (extended) - Theory - 1hr 15 minutes - 80 marks - 50%
- Short-answer and structured questions
- Covers all content
- Paper 6 - (sat by both core and extended) - Alternatives to Practical - 1hr - 40 marks - 20%
- Questions will be based on the experimental skills outlined in Section 4 of the specification.
Resources for Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry [last updated Aug 2020]
Some books include answers, others don't. Some publishers will provide links to answers if you contact them. If you are not sure what textbooks or revision books to buy, or where to find answers, please ask on the HE exams and alternatives group ]
Student Textbooks for Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry
(Oxford University Press) Complete Chemistry for Cambridge IGCSE (2016) By Gallagher and Ingram
(Cambridge University Press) Cambridge IGCSE® Chemistry Coursebook with CD-ROM (2014) By Harwood and Lodge
(Collins) Cambridge IGCSE™ Chemistry Student's Book (2014) By Sunley
(Hodder)Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 3rd Edition (Book & CD) (2014) by Earl and Wiford
Revision books and workbooks for Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry
Cambridge IGCSE® Chemistry Revision Guide (2015) by Norris.
Other resources for Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry
Seneca Learning is a free resource site with courses
Chemistry Practicals and Experiments
Please see our new page on Chemistry Practicals . Many of the practicals recommended in the syllabus can be carried out at home; it is surprising how much can be done with relatively little kit, but you may also find that equipment is often affordable. For those experiments which you are not able to carry out at home, there are many videos on YouTube. There are also chemistry camps and workshops where you can get access to specialist equipment.
Courses and General Resources
See our page of course providers for a list of providers of live, self-led online and correspondence courses that home educators have used.
Seneca Learning - A free online learning platform
IGCSE Science Courses - by Graham Bray. Videos cover each of the 3 sciences and CIE and Edexcel Boards. Discounted subscription often available to home educators (ask on the HE exams and alternatives group.)
Priority Learning - free worksheets and revision resources
Pinterest board on IGCSE Chemistry compiled by one of our members.