Edexcel IAL Chemistry Specification Checklist — Every Unit, With the Mark-Scheme Key Terms Highlighted
The complete Edexcel International A-Level Chemistry specification — Units 1 to 6 (WCH11–WCH16), all 20 topics and both practical-skills units — as one interactive revision checklist. The key terms examiners look for are highlighted the way you'd highlight them on paper. Tick each point as you master it: your progress is saved on this device.
How the six IAL Chemistry units fit together
AS (International Advanced Subsidiary) = Unit 1 (WCH11, Structure, Bonding and Introduction to Organic Chemistry) + Unit 2 (WCH12, Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes and Alcohols), each 1 h 30, 80 marks and 40% of AS, plus Unit 3 (WCH13, Practical Skills in Chemistry I), 1 h 20, 50 marks, 20% of AS.
A2 = Unit 4 (WCH14, Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry) + Unit 5 (WCH15, Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry), plus Unit 6 (WCH16, Practical Skills in Chemistry II). AS and A2 each contribute 50% of the full International Advanced Level.
Exam sessions run in January, June and October, and single units can be resat to improve your UMS. Practical skills are examined in written papers (Units 3 and 6): the points badged PRACTICAL below — titrations, calorimetry, rates, qualitative tests, organic preparations — are exactly what those papers reward.
Flip through the IAL Chemistry books
Real pages from the notes and solved past papers built on this exact specification — tap a cover to open it here.
AS Chemistry Notes
See the teaching style inside
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Notes in Mark-Scheme Language
Definitions and equations, exam-ready
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Worked Examples
Calculations, step by step
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Solved Past-Paper Answers
Written the way marks are given
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Every WCH11–WCH16 question since 2019, solved in the highlighted words
The complete Edexcel IAL Chemistry solved past papers — every unit, 2019–2026, every calculation worked line by line in the same mark-scheme key terms highlighted on this page, with new series added automatically.
Get the IAL Chemistry Solved Past Papers → See the IAL Chemistry NotesAbout the Edexcel IAL Chemistry specification (WCH11–WCH16)
The Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level in Chemistry is a modular qualification: six units, each examined and graded separately, with sessions in January, June and October. Units 1–3 make up the International AS; Units 4–6 complete the full A-level. The specification (sometimes called the syllabus) organises the content into 20 topics — from formulae, equations and amount of substance through to transition metals, NMR and organic synthesis — plus two practical-skills units, and that is exactly what this checklist tracks.
The pink highlights are not decoration: they are the key terms the mark schemes reward . Examiners award marks for precise vocabulary — electrostatic attraction , not "the atoms stick together"; rate-determining step , not "the slow bit". Learning each specification point together with its highlighted terms is the fastest route from a B to an A.
Go deeper per topic with the detailed AS guides: Topic 1, Topic 2, Topic 3, Topic 4, Topic 5, Topic 6, Topic 7, Topic 8A, 8B, 8C, Topic 9, Topic 10A–10B and Topic 10C–10D, or start from the AS Chemistry specification hub.
Then close the loop: learn each unit in the IAL AS Chemistry course, revise with Mr Hosni live in the IAL Chemistry live classes, and confirm every ticked point with the solved past papers (2019–2026). Also taking Biology? Use the matching IAL Biology specification checklist.
Edexcel IAL Chemistry specification — FAQ
What are the unit codes for Edexcel IAL Chemistry?
WCH11 (Structure, Bonding and Introduction to Organic Chemistry), WCH12 (Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes and Alcohols), WCH13 (Practical Skills in Chemistry I), WCH14 (Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry), WCH15 (Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry) and WCH16 (Practical Skills in Chemistry II). The AS cash-in is XCH11 and the full IAL cash-in is YCH11.
How is the IAL different from the UK A-level in Chemistry?
The IAL is modular: each unit is examined separately, sessions run in January, June and October, and individual units can be resat to improve UMS. The UK A-level is linear, with everything examined at the end. The IAL is the version taken by international schools.
Is there a separate practical exam?
Practical skills are assessed through written papers: Unit 3 (WCH13) at AS and Unit 6 (WCH16) at A2. They test titrations, calorimetry, rate investigations, qualitative analysis and organic preparation techniques — the points badged PRACTICAL in this checklist.
What do the pink highlights mean?
They are the key terms from the mark schemes. Examiners award marks for precise scientific vocabulary, so revising each specification point with its highlighted terms trains you to write answers the way marks are actually given.
Which exam sessions does this specification cover?
The current 2018 specification remains the examined version for the January, June and October sessions, including 2026 and 2027. Any single unit can be sat or resat in any session.
See how to move from reading Chemistry notes to applying knowledge in exam questions. The video explains how exam-focused notes, mark-scheme language, flashcards and quizzes help you spot misconceptions and prepare for past-paper practice.
Turn this checklist into an A*
The complete IAL Chemistry system: video lessons in specification order, notes written in the highlighted mark-scheme language, revision classes, quizzes, every past paper solved with full working, and direct WhatsApp support from Mr Hosni.
IAL AS Chemistry Course → Join Live IAL Chemistry Classes Solved Past Papers