Paper 1
Chemistry Paper 1
- Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
- Bonding, Structure, and the Properties of Matter
- Quantitative Chemistry
- Chemical Changes
- Energy Changes
1 hour 45 minutes100 marks50%
AQA GCSE Chemistry, memorised fast.
Long notes are boring. Brain-hack the whole 8462 specification with active recall and actually remember it.
- Spec 8462
- 10 topics
- 91 subtopics
AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
Topic overviewAtoms, elements and compoundsWord equations, symbols and balanced equationsMixturesFrom the plum pudding model to the nuclear modelBohr, Chadwick and the modern model of the atomRelative electrical charges of subatomic particlesSize and mass of atomsRelative atomic mass and electronic structureThe periodic tableDevelopment of the periodic tableMetals and non-metalsGroup 0Group 1Group 7Transition metals, and how they differ from Group 1
Bonding, Structure, and the Properties of Matter
Topic overviewChemical bonds, including metallic bondingIonic bondingIonic compoundsCovalent bonding and how it is representedThe three states of matter and changes of statePredicting state, state symbols, and the limits of the particle modelProperties of ionic compoundsProperties of small moleculesPolymers and giant covalent structuresProperties of metals and alloys, and why metals conductDiamond and graphiteGraphene and fullerenesSizes of particles and their propertiesUses of nanoparticles
Chemical Analysis
Chemical Changes
Topic overviewThe reactivity seriesMetal oxides, extraction, and redox in terms of electronsAcids reacting with metals, neutralisation and saltsSoluble saltsThe pH scale and neutralisationTitrationsThe process of electrolysis, and molten ionic compoundsUsing electrolysis to extract metalsElectrolysis of aqueous solutions
Chemistry of the Atmosphere
Topic overviewThe Earth's early atmosphereHow oxygen increased and carbon dioxide decreasedThe gases in today's atmosphere, and which are greenhouse gasesHuman activities which contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphereGlobal climate change and carbon footprintsAtmospheric pollutants from fuels, and their effects
Energy Changes
Organic Chemistry
Topic overviewCrude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanesFractional distillation and petrochemicalsProperties of hydrocarbonsCracking, and testing alkenes with bromine waterWhy cracking is useful, and equations for itStructure and formulae of alkenesReactions of alkenesAlcoholsCarboxylic acidsAddition polymerisationAmino acids, DNA and naturally occurring polymers
Quantitative Chemistry
The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change
Using Resources
Topic overviewUsing the Earth's resources and sustainable developmentProducing potable water in the UKDesalination, and analysing water samplesWaste water treatmentLife cycle assessmentWays of reducing the use of resourcesCorrosion and its preventionAlloys as useful materialsGlass, clay ceramics and polymersComposites, and comparing materialsThe Haber processProduction and uses of NPK fertilisers
What AQA GCSE Chemistry covers
AQA GCSE Chemistry (specification 8462) is one of the three separate sciences and is examined by two written papers of 1 hour 45 minutes and 100 marks each, worth 50% apiece. Paper 1 covers the first half of the topics and Paper 2 the second, though Paper 2 questions can also draw on the fundamental ideas of atomic structure, bonding and quantitative chemistry. This is the Foundation tier: grades 1 to 5 are available, and the higher-tier content is not examined.
AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462, version 1.2, January 2026. Read the AQA specification ↗
How it is assessed
Paper 2
Chemistry Paper 2
- The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change
- Organic Chemistry
- Chemical Analysis
- Chemistry of the Atmosphere
- Using Resources
1 hour 45 minutes100 marks50%
The full specification
10 topics, 91 subtopics. Open any topic to see what is inside it.
01Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table15 subtopicsOpen topic
- Atoms, elements and compounds
- Word equations, symbols and balanced equations
- Mixtures
- From the plum pudding model to the nuclear model
- Bohr, Chadwick and the modern model of the atom
- Relative electrical charges of subatomic particles
- Size and mass of atoms
- Relative atomic mass and electronic structure
- The periodic table
- Development of the periodic table
- Metals and non-metals
- Group 0
- Group 1
- Group 7
- Transition metals, and how they differ from Group 1
02Bonding, Structure, and the Properties of Matter14 subtopicsOpen topic
- Chemical bonds, including metallic bonding
- Ionic bonding
- Ionic compounds
- Covalent bonding and how it is represented
- The three states of matter and changes of state
- Predicting state, state symbols, and the limits of the particle model
- Properties of ionic compounds
- Properties of small molecules
- Polymers and giant covalent structures
- Properties of metals and alloys, and why metals conduct
- Diamond and graphite
- Graphene and fullerenes
- Sizes of particles and their properties
- Uses of nanoparticles
03Chemical Analysis8 subtopicsOpen topic
04Chemical Changes9 subtopicsOpen topic
- The reactivity series
- Metal oxides, extraction, and redox in terms of electrons
- Acids reacting with metals, neutralisation and salts
- Soluble salts
- The pH scale and neutralisation
- Titrations
- The process of electrolysis, and molten ionic compounds
- Using electrolysis to extract metals
- Electrolysis of aqueous solutions
05Chemistry of the Atmosphere6 subtopicsOpen topic
- The Earth's early atmosphere
- How oxygen increased and carbon dioxide decreased
- The gases in today's atmosphere, and which are greenhouse gases
- Human activities which contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
- Global climate change and carbon footprints
- Atmospheric pollutants from fuels, and their effects
06Energy Changes5 subtopicsOpen topic
07Organic Chemistry11 subtopicsOpen topic
- Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes
- Fractional distillation and petrochemicals
- Properties of hydrocarbons
- Cracking, and testing alkenes with bromine water
- Why cracking is useful, and equations for it
- Structure and formulae of alkenes
- Reactions of alkenes
- Alcohols
- Carboxylic acids
- Addition polymerisation
- Amino acids, DNA and naturally occurring polymers
08Quantitative Chemistry5 subtopicsOpen topic
09The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change6 subtopicsOpen topic
10Using Resources12 subtopicsOpen topic
- Using the Earth's resources and sustainable development
- Producing potable water in the UK
- Desalination, and analysing water samples
- Waste water treatment
- Life cycle assessment
- Ways of reducing the use of resources
- Corrosion and its prevention
- Alloys as useful materials
- Glass, clay ceramics and polymers
- Composites, and comparing materials
- The Haber process
- Production and uses of NPK fertilisers
How you work through it
Pick the mode that fits the time you have.
Try three questions
No account needed. Answer from memory first.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Compare the physical properties and the reactivity of the transition metals with those of the Group 1 metals.
Key term
Outline how crystallisation and simple distillation separate a mixture, and what chromatography's separation depends on.
Key term
Explain what a group is and how an element's electrons decide where it sits in the periodic table.
Spaced Repetition Schedule
How reviews are timed
Levo will automatically distribute all of your progress into a spaced repetition calendar. Once you’ve answered, it’s scheduled for you on the next day in the spaced repetition schedule. Over time, the gaps between your recall get bigger, from a day to three years, reinforcing memorisation over a long period of time.
Interval sequence
- 1 day
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- 7 days
- 14 days
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 4 months
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- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material
Chemistry revision questions
Common questions about revising AQA GCSE Chemistry. Tap any to open it.
How do you memorise AQA GCSE Chemistry?
By testing yourself, not rereading. Active recall, pulling each answer from memory then checking it, builds far stronger memory than highlighting notes. Levo runs the method for you across all 10 Chemistry topics and brings each one back on a spaced schedule so it stays memorised.
What is the fastest way to revise Chemistry for AQA?
Skip the long notes and go straight to retrieval. Levo turns the 8462 specification into short questions you drill with rapid recall, cram whole papers in one sitting, and a readiness score tells you exactly what is left to learn.
What topics are on AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462)?
There are 10 topics, split across 91 subtopics, from Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table, Bonding, Structure, and the Properties of Matter, Chemical Analysis and more. Every topic is listed above, and each one opens to the subtopics inside it.
What do you get inside Levo for Chemistry?
Six ways to work the same material. The 3-step method for learning a set, Cram for sorting a whole paper into what you know and what you do not, Blank Blitz for making key facts automatic, Build It for assembling full-mark answers, Test It for catching misconceptions, and Brain Breaks between sessions. A readiness score tracks how much of the subject you have memorised.
Is active recall better than rereading your notes for Chemistry?
Consistently, yes. Rereading feels productive but fades quickly. Retrieving an answer from memory, the way Levo tests you, is what actually forms durable memory, and it shows you honestly what you do and do not know.
Does Levo cover the whole AQA Chemistry specification?
Every topic on the 8462 specification is covered, written from the published subject content. The full list is above, and each topic opens to its subtopics so you can see exactly what is there before you subscribe.
How can you encourage your teenager to revise?
Make it short, structured and low-pressure. Levo gives a clear daily plan, quick sessions rather than marathon ones, streaks that reward showing up, and an honest readiness score, so revision feels like progress instead of a chore. Parents can add an account and follow along.
Can you revise Chemistry the night before an exam?
Yes. Cram mode is built for exactly that: fly through a whole paper, sort every topic into red, amber and green, then drill just the reds and ambers you do not know yet. It is the honest version of a last-minute session.
Every question in Chemistry, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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