National 4
Units
Chemical Changes and Structure, Nature’s Chemistry, Chemistry in Society
Added Value Unit: Chemistry Assignment
What skills will be developed?
- application of knowledge and understanding of chemistry
- scientific inquiry and investigation skills
- scientific analytical thinking skills
- the ability to use technology, equipment and materials
- questioning and independent thinking
- problem-solving in a chemistry context
- using and understanding scientific literacy in everyday contexts
- planning experiments
- recording observations
- collecting and analysing data
- reviewing and re-designing research methods
- evaluating
- communicating findings
Assessment
To gain National 4, learners must pass all Units and the Assignment
Units are assessed as pass or fail by the school/centre (following SQA external quality assurance to meet national standards)
The Assignment will require learners to research a topic of their choice, in consultation with their teacher. The investigation will be undertaken in up to 8 hours of class time and the findings will be written up in no more than 2 hours.
National 5
Topics
Chemical Changes and Structure, Researching Chemistry, Nature’s Chemistry, Chemistry in Society
What skills will be developed?
- application of knowledge to new situations and a more advanced understanding of chemistry and its impact
- scientific inquiry and investigation skills
- scientific analytical thinking skills
- the ability to use technology, equipment and materials
- questioning and independent thinking
- problem-solving in a chemistry context
- using and understanding scientific literacy in everyday contexts
- planning experiments to test hypotheses or illustrate effects
- recording observations
- collecting, processing and analysing data
- making predictions and generalisations based on evidence
- drawing valid conclusions with explanations and evidence
Assessment
To gain National 5, learners must pass the Course Assessment (the Assignment and the Question Paper)
The Course Assessment consists of the Assignment (a research investigation on a key topic, its application and its impact on society/environment. This will be presented as a report, researched in advance and written up under controlled conditions with the pupil’s research/data available) and a Question Paper (exam). Both are marked by the SQA and will be graded A to D.
Websites
Chemistry - Higher
Units
Chemical Changes and Structure, Researching Chemistry, Nature’s Chemistry, Chemistry in Society
Skills Development
- apply knowledge and understanding of chemistry
- understand chemistry’s role in scientific issues and relevant applications of chemistry, including the impact of these on society and the environment
- develop scientific inquiry and investigative skills
- develop scientific analytical thinking skills, including scientific evaluation, in a chemistry context
- use technology, equipment and materials, safely, in practical scientific activities, including using risk assessments
- develop planning skills
- problem-solve in a chemistry context
- use and understand scientific literacy to communicate ideas and issues and to make scientifically informed choices
Opportunities for Learners
- study matter and its interactions
- find out about and appreciate the application of chemistry in everyday contexts
- enjoy practical and experiential learning opportunities
- plan and design experiments/practical investigations
- process information, make predictions, and draw valid conclusions
- evaluate experiments/practical investigations
Assessment
- To gain Higher Chemistry, learners must pass the four Units and the Course Assessment (Assignment and Question Paper for 120 marks)
- Units are assessed as pass or fail by the school/centre and are quality assured by the SQA. Achievement of Units is recorded on the learner's qualifications certificate
- The Course Assessment consists of an Assignment (20 marks) and a Question Paper (exam for 100 marks) which is in two sections (see below). These are marked externally by the SQA
- Higher Chemistry is graded from A to D or as No Award.
Question Paper (100 marks)
Section 1: Multiple choice questions (20 marks)
Section 2: Restricted and extended response questions (80 marks)
2 hours 30 minutes
Assignment (20 marks)
An investigation into a relevant chemistry topic, with findings written up under timed conditions.
Advanced Higher
The aims of the Course are to enable learners to:
- develop a critical understanding of the role of chemistry in scientific issues and relevant applications, including the impact these could make on the environment/society
- extend and apply knowledge, understanding and skills of chemistry
- develop and apply the skills to carry out complex practical scientific activities, including the use of risk assessments, technology, equipment and materials
- develop and apply scientific inquiry and investigative skills, including planning and experimental design
- develop and apply analytical thinking skills, including critical evaluation of experimental procedures in a chemistry context
- extend and apply problem solving skills in a chemistry context
- further develop an understanding of scientific literacy, using a wide range of resources, in order to communicate complex ideas and issues and to make scientifically informed choices
- extend and apply skills of independent/autonomous working in chemistry
Progression to employment
For many learners progression will be directly to employment or work-based training programmes. Examples of employment opportunities and training programmes are careers in oil and gas exploration, renewable energy development, engineering, technology, pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring, forensics, research and development, management, civil service, and education.