CAIE A-Level Chemistry answers, written to the spec
9 topics · specification 9701 · explanations and examiner marking in CAIE’s own language
Studying CAIE A-Level Chemistry? Pick your board once and every answer, mark and flashcard elid gives you follows that specification. Free to start, no card needed. Open elid →
This is the full CAIE A-Level Chemistry specification, code 9701, as elid holds it — 9 topics, each with the terminology CAIE marks against. Every explanation and every mark elid gives you is written against this list, not a generic A-level one, because the same question answered in AQA, Edexcel or OCR language loses marks it should have earned.
The CAIE A-Level Chemistry specification, topic by topic
AS Multiple Choice
Assessed in Paper 1
40-question MCQ paper covering all AS content across physical, inorganic, and organic chemistry. Tests breadth of AS specification knowledge including stoichiometry, bonding, energetics, equilibria, kinetics, periodicity, group chemistry, and introductory organic reactions.
Specification terms elid matches
stoichiometry
atomic structure
chemical bonding
enthalpy change
chemical equilibria
reaction kinetics
periodicity
group 2
group 17
alkane
alkene
halogenoalkane
alcohol
carbonyl compound
AS Physical Chemistry
Assessed in Paper 2
Atoms, molecules and stoichiometry, atomic structure, chemical bonding (ionic, covalent, dative covalent, metallic, intermolecular forces, VSEPR), states of matter, chemical energetics (enthalpy, Hess's law), equilibria (Kc, Le Chatelier's principle), reaction kinetics (rate, activation energy, Maxwell-Boltzmann).
Specification terms elid matches
stoichiometry
moles
atomic structure
chemical bonding
states of matter
enthalpy change
Hess's law
chemical equilibria
equilibrium constant Kc
reaction kinetics
activation energy
AS Inorganic Chemistry
Assessed in Paper 2
The Periodic Table: chemical periodicity (atomic radius, ionisation energy, electronegativity trends), Group 2 (reactions with water, acids, oxygen; thermal decomposition), Group 17 (halogen reactivity, halide tests, displacement reactions), Nitrogen and sulfur chemistry (contact process, nitrogen oxides, acid rain).
Advanced Practical Skills: quantitative analysis (titration, gravimetric analysis), qualitative analysis (identifying ions and gases), enthalpy change measurement, reaction rate measurement, evaluation and interpretation of experimental results.
Specification terms elid matches
titration
qualitative analysis
identifying ions
enthalpy change measurement
reaction rate measurement
standard solution
concordant titres
A2 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation
Assessed in Paper 5
Planning experiments (selecting appropriate methods, identifying variables, risk assessment), analysing data (graphical analysis, calculating gradients, interpreting results), evaluating methods and conclusions (identifying sources of error, suggesting improvements).
Specification terms elid matches
planning experiment
analysing data
evaluating methods
identifying anomalies
drawing conclusions
graphical analysis
risk assessment
How the papers are weighted
elid uses these weightings when it decides which topics deserve your revision time first.
Paper
Share of the qualification
Paper 1
12%
Paper 2
23%
Paper 3
15%
Paper 4
38%
Paper 5
12%
Marked the way CAIE marks it
Paste an answer you have written and elid marks it point by point against the CAIE scheme: which marking points you hit, which you missed, and the sentence that would have earned each missing one. It is the difference between being told an answer is “good” and being told exactly where the marks went.
Ready to try it on your own question? Pick your board once and every answer, mark and flashcard elid gives you follows that specification. Free to start, no card needed. Open elid →