Paper 3
Chemistry 1
- Key Concepts in Chemistry
- States of Matter and Mixtures
- Chemical Changes
- Extracting Metals and Equilibria
1 hour 10 minutes60 marks16.67%
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry, memorised fast.
Long notes are boring. Brain-hack the whole 1SC0 specification with active recall and actually remember it.
- Spec 1SC0
- 7 topics
- 86 subtopics
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry 1SC0
Key Concepts in Chemistry
Topic overviewFormulae, word equations and balanced equationsHazard symbols and assessing riskThe changing model of the atomProtons, neutrons and electronsThe nucleus, mass number and atomic massElements and isotopesCalculating particle numbers and relative atomic massMendeleev's periodic tableHow the modern periodic table is arrangedElectronic configuration and the periodic tableHow ionic bonds formIons in ionic compoundsFormulae of ionic compoundsNaming compounds and the ionic latticeCovalent bonds and moleculesDot and cross diagrams for simple moleculesClassifying substances and the properties of ionic compoundsProperties of simple molecular substances, and forms of carbonGraphite and diamondFullerenes and graphenePolymers and models of bondingThe properties of metalsRelative formula mass and percentage compositionEmpirical and molecular formulaeConservation of mass in closed and open systemsReacting masses from balanced equationsConcentration in grams per cubic decimetre
States of Matter and Mixtures
Topic overviewThe three states of matter and changes of stateEnergy changes during changes of state, and predicting statePure substances and melting point dataChoosing a separation techniqueSeparating a mixture in practicePaper chromatography and interpreting a chromatogramInvestigating inks by distillation and chromatographyMaking water potable
Chemical Changes
Topic overviewAcids, alkalis and the pH scaleIndicators: litmus, methyl orange and phenolphthaleinInvestigating pH change when neutralising an acidBases and alkalisReactions of acids, and testing for hydrogen and carbon dioxideNeutralisation and its ionic equationPreparing soluble salts from insoluble and soluble reactantsPreparing pure, dry copper sulfate crystalsCarrying out an acid-alkali titrationSolubility rulesPredicting precipitates and preparing an insoluble saltElectrolytes and what electrolysis isMovement of ions and predicting the products of molten electrolysisElectrolysis with inert electrodesElectrolysis of copper sulfate solutionInvestigating the electrolysis of copper sulfate
Extracting Metals and Equilibria
Groups in the Periodic Table
Topic overviewThe groups of the periodic table, and the alkali metalsReactions of the alkali metals with waterThe pattern in alkali metal reactivity and why it happensPhysical properties of the halogensThe test for chlorine, and halogens reacting with metalsHydrogen halides, and explaining halogen reactivityDisplacement reactions of the halogensGroup 0: the noble gases
Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes
Fuels and Earth Science
Topic overviewHydrocarbons and crude oilFractional distillation and the fractionsProperties of the fractions and homologous seriesComplete and incomplete combustionCarbon monoxide and sootPollutants and acid rainHydrogen and fossil fuels comparedCracking and why it is necessaryThe Earth's early atmosphereHow the oceans formed and how oxygen appearedThe test for oxygen and the greenhouse gasesToday's atmosphere and evidence for climate change
What Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry covers
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (specification 1SC0) is worth two GCSEs and is examined by six papers, two for each science. The chemistry content is sat as Paper 3, Chemistry 1, and Paper 4, Chemistry 2, each 1 hour 10 minutes and 60 marks, together a third of the qualification. This is the Foundation tier: grades 1–1 to 5–5 of the 17-grade double award are available, and the higher-tier content is not examined.
Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in Combined Science 1SC0, issue 6, March 2024. Read the Pearson specification ↗
How it is assessed
Paper 4
Chemistry 2
- Key Concepts in Chemistry
- Groups in the Periodic Table
- Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes
- Fuels and Earth Science
1 hour 10 minutes60 marks16.67%
The full specification
7 topics, 86 subtopics. Open any topic to see what is inside it.
01Key Concepts in Chemistry27 subtopicsOpen topic
- Formulae, word equations and balanced equations
- Hazard symbols and assessing risk
- The changing model of the atom
- Protons, neutrons and electrons
- The nucleus, mass number and atomic mass
- Elements and isotopes
- Calculating particle numbers and relative atomic mass
- Mendeleev's periodic table
- How the modern periodic table is arranged
- Electronic configuration and the periodic table
- How ionic bonds form
- Ions in ionic compounds
- Formulae of ionic compounds
- Naming compounds and the ionic lattice
- Covalent bonds and molecules
- Dot and cross diagrams for simple molecules
- Classifying substances and the properties of ionic compounds
- Properties of simple molecular substances, and forms of carbon
- Graphite and diamond
- Fullerenes and graphene
- Polymers and models of bonding
- The properties of metals
- Relative formula mass and percentage composition
- Empirical and molecular formulae
- Conservation of mass in closed and open systems
- Reacting masses from balanced equations
- Concentration in grams per cubic decimetre
02States of Matter and Mixtures8 subtopicsOpen topic
- The three states of matter and changes of state
- Energy changes during changes of state, and predicting state
- Pure substances and melting point data
- Choosing a separation technique
- Separating a mixture in practice
- Paper chromatography and interpreting a chromatogram
- Investigating inks by distillation and chromatography
- Making water potable
03Chemical Changes16 subtopicsOpen topic
- Acids, alkalis and the pH scale
- Indicators: litmus, methyl orange and phenolphthalein
- Investigating pH change when neutralising an acid
- Bases and alkalis
- Reactions of acids, and testing for hydrogen and carbon dioxide
- Neutralisation and its ionic equation
- Preparing soluble salts from insoluble and soluble reactants
- Preparing pure, dry copper sulfate crystals
- Carrying out an acid-alkali titration
- Solubility rules
- Predicting precipitates and preparing an insoluble salt
- Electrolytes and what electrolysis is
- Movement of ions and predicting the products of molten electrolysis
- Electrolysis with inert electrodes
- Electrolysis of copper sulfate solution
- Investigating the electrolysis of copper sulfate
04Extracting Metals and Equilibria8 subtopicsOpen topic
05Groups in the Periodic Table8 subtopicsOpen topic
- The groups of the periodic table, and the alkali metals
- Reactions of the alkali metals with water
- The pattern in alkali metal reactivity and why it happens
- Physical properties of the halogens
- The test for chlorine, and halogens reacting with metals
- Hydrogen halides, and explaining halogen reactivity
- Displacement reactions of the halogens
- Group 0: the noble gases
06Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes7 subtopicsOpen topic
07Fuels and Earth Science12 subtopicsOpen topic
- Hydrocarbons and crude oil
- Fractional distillation and the fractions
- Properties of the fractions and homologous series
- Complete and incomplete combustion
- Carbon monoxide and soot
- Pollutants and acid rain
- Hydrogen and fossil fuels compared
- Cracking and why it is necessary
- The Earth's early atmosphere
- How the oceans formed and how oxygen appeared
- The test for oxygen and the greenhouse gases
- Today's atmosphere and evidence for climate change
How you work through it
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Key term
Explain why ionic compounds have high melting points but conduct when melted or dissolved, and why magnesium oxide melts higher than sodium chloride.
Key term
Describe an atom's nucleus in terms of what it contains, its size and mass, and what its mass number counts.
Key term
Explain how an ionic bond forms and how the two kinds of ion involved are made.
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.
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What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material
Combined Science Chemistry revision questions
Common questions about revising Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry. Tap any to open it.
How do you memorise Edexcel GCSE Combined Science 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 7 Combined Science Chemistry topics and brings each one back on a spaced schedule so it stays memorised.
What is the fastest way to revise Combined Science Chemistry for Edexcel?
Skip the long notes and go straight to retrieval. Levo turns the 1SC0 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 Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry (1SC0)?
There are 7 topics, split across 86 subtopics, from Key Concepts in Chemistry, States of Matter and Mixtures, Chemical Changes and more. Every topic is listed above, and each one opens to the subtopics inside it.
What do you get inside Levo for Combined Science 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 Combined Science 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 Edexcel Combined Science Chemistry specification?
Every topic on the 1SC0 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 Combined Science 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 Combined Science 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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