Why Exam Questions are the Key to A-Level Chemistry Success

If you want to succeed in A-Level Chemistry, make exam questions the core of your study strategy—not an afterthought.

You’ve revised the notes. Memorised the definitions. You understand equilibrium. You even kind of like enthalpy. But when you sit down to do the paper... things fall apart.

Sound familiar?

That’s because A-Level Chemistry isn’t just about what you know. It’s about what you can do with what you know—under pressure, in exam conditions, with limited time and high stakes.

The truth is, the students who get A*s aren’t always the ones who know the most chemistry. They’re the ones who’ve mastered the art of exam questions.

In this blog, we’ll show you exactly why focusing on exam technique—and especially on exam questions—is the fastest and most effective way to transform your performance in A-Level Chemistry.

Understanding the gap between knowing and scoring

You’ve probably had that moment: you knew the topic... but got 3 out of 6. Why?

Because:

• You misread the command word

• You didn’t give enough steps in a calculation

• You gave a textbook explanation that didn’t answer the question

• You didn’t use the right keywords

• You forgot the units or significant figures

• You missed the application to the context of the question

That’s the gap. And the only way to close it is to practise exam questions consistently and strategically.

The real reasons exam questions matter more than notes

1. You learn what examiners actually reward

Mark schemes show exactly how marks are allocated. For example, a 3-mark question asking "Explain the trend in atomic radius across Period 3" will only award marks for:

• Increased nuclear charge

• Same shielding

• Greater attraction between nucleus and outer electrons

If you write a paragraph about "more protons and smaller atoms", you might score 1/3. That’s a big wake-up call—and one you only get by comparing your answer to real exam questions.

1. You train your brain to spot patterns

Examiners repeat question types (even if the words change). The more questions you do, the more you notice:

• Equilibrium questions often test shifts due to pressure or temperature

• Enthalpy questions usually include a bond enthalpy table or an unfamiliar reaction path

• Organic mechanism questions follow predictable marks: curly arrows, lone pairs, intermediate, product

Practising questions helps you see these recurring structures, so you can tackle new contexts more confidently.

1. You develop timing and stamina

A-Level Chemistry exams are intense. Paper 1 is two hours. Paper 2 is two hours. Paper 3 is synoptic and can feel unpredictable.

You need to:

• Manage your time

• Pace your calculations

• Leave space to review

• Stay focused for 120 minutes

Doing full questions (and eventually full papers) helps build the mental muscle to stay sharp under pressure.

1. You expose your weak spots early

You might think you understand redox. But the second you have to balance half equations in acidic solution? You realise what needs work.

Every question you attempt is a diagnostic tool. You’ll quickly identify:

• Which topics you skip

• Which types of questions make you freeze

• Where you lose marks consistently (e.g. missed units, sig figs, incomplete explanations)

This lets you focus your revision with laser accuracy.

How to make exam questions your #1 study tool

Let’s break this down into a practical, repeatable strategy.

Step 1: Start with topic-based questions (not past papers)

Early on, you should practise by topic. For example:

• Atomic structure

• Bonding and structure

• Amount of substance

• Energetics

• Kinetics

• Equilibrium

• Redox

• Organic reactions

• Spectroscopy

Use resources like:

• AQA/OCR/Edexcel question packs

• Physics & Maths Tutor

• Save My Exams

• SnapRevise

• Past paper question banks

Start by doing a small set of questions per topic. After each set, review:

• Which marks you gained

• Which marks you lost (and why)

• What the mark scheme expected

• Any key phrases you missed

Step 2: Build an exam question journal

Treat your practice seriously. Create a “mistake book” or journal where you:

• Write the question

• Summarise the correct answer

• Note what you wrote that was wrong/missing

• Add examiner comments if available

• Re-write the perfect answer in your own words

This is one of the most high-impact techniques top students use. Reviewing it weekly compounds your learning and reduces repeat errors.

Step 3: Practise exam timing in short bursts

Start doing time-limited practice.

• Set a timer for 20 minutes

• Attempt 3–5 medium-length exam questions

• Mark your answers right away

• Note how your time management felt

This builds confidence, speed, and accuracy.

Step 4: Graduate to full paper practice

As you get closer to mocks or final exams:

• Attempt full past papers under timed conditions

• Mark them strictly using the official mark scheme

• Identify your weakest areas

• Return to topic-level practice as needed

This stage is about building exam fitness—endurance, precision, and recovery (reviewing mistakes properly).

Step 5: Use examiner reports to level up

Every exam board publishes examiner reports for each paper. These highlight:

• Common mistakes students made

• What most students got wrong

• What a good answer looks like

• Where students lost marks due to misinterpretation

Reading these helps you think like an examiner—which is one of the most powerful skills you can have.

The most common ways students lose marks (and how questions fix them)

Problem	How Questions Help
Misreading command words	Get used to ‘Describe’ vs ‘Explain’ vs ‘Evaluate’
Missing units or sig figs	Constant practice builds automatic habits
Forgetting context (e.g. real gases)	Questions force you to adapt your theory
Not answering in steps	4-6 mark questions train you to structure explanations
Rushing calculations	Timed practice improves layout and accuracy
Not learning mark scheme phrasing	Repetition teaches you the exact vocabulary examiners reward

How often should you do exam questions?

Think of it like this:

• Early in the year: 2–3 short sets per week by topic

• Mid-year: 1–2 full papers per month + ongoing topic practice

• In the final 6–8 weeks: 2–3 full papers per week, reviewed carefully

The more exam questions you do, the more confident and fluent you become.

What about if I’m not getting them right?

That’s good news. Getting things wrong in practice is how you learn.

The key is:

• Reflect

• Review the mark scheme

• Rewrite a model answer

• Redo a similar question next week

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s growth. Every error is a shortcut to a better grade—if you pay attention.

What if I’ve done all the past papers?

Great! That’s your foundation. Now:

• Redo older papers after 6+ weeks—they’ll feel fresh again

• Do questions from other exam boards (many are similar)

• Mix and match questions to create your own practice papers

• Teach the topic to someone else—using real questions as a quiz

• Turn past paper mark schemes into mini flashcards

Example: How to learn more from a single question

Question:
Explain why the boiling point of NaCl is higher than that of HCl.

Common student answer:
“NaCl is ionic and HCl is covalent.”

Mark scheme answer:

• NaCl has strong electrostatic forces between oppositely charged ions

• HCl has weaker intermolecular forces (dipole-dipole)

• More energy is required to overcome ionic bonds than dipole-dipole interactions

What to learn:

• Always compare both substances

• Always mention the type and strength of force

• Always link back to energy required for boiling

If you reviewed just 20 questions like this in detail, your marks would go up—guaranteed.

What about students who are already getting B grades?

If you’re plateauing at a B, exam question mastery is often the missing piece.

It helps you:

• Convert 3/6 into 5/6

• Spot patterns you’re missing

• Refine your scientific phrasing

• Learn the difference between a "good" answer and a "great" one

• Push into A and A* territory

Can you improve with exam questions even if you're getting low grades now?

Yes—and in fact, this strategy works best for students who feel overwhelmed by content.

Instead of endless note-making, try this:

• Do 2 exam questions per topic per day

• Use them to guide what you revise

• Build confidence as you see patterns form

You’ll learn faster by doing than by reading.

Final thoughts: mastery comes from doing, not just reading

Chemistry is a skill-based subject. And like any skill—driving, playing piano, cooking—it’s practice, not theory, that takes you from beginner to expert.

The students who score highest in A-Level Chemistry are the ones who:

• Practise past paper questions consistently

• Review their mistakes carefully

• Think like examiners

• Prioritise application over memorisation

If you want to succeed in A-Level Chemistry, make exam questions the core of your study strategy—not an afterthought.

Want help mastering Chemistry exam technique?
Dr Marguerite Quinn is an experienced online A-Level Chemistry tutor with a PhD in Chemistry and over 3,470 hours of teaching experience. She specialises in helping students turn knowledge into marks—through strategic exam question practice, feedback, and confidence-building.

Book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss how she can help you succeed in your exams.

Let me know if you want an infographic, checklist, or HTML tables added for Squarespace formatting.