Skip to main content
Beta Live

How to Revise GCSE Chemistry

Build confidence in GCSE Chemistry with practice on atomic structure, bonding, reactions, and organic chemistry.

Revision Strategy

Revising Chemistry requires a blend of memorisation and understanding. You need to recall key facts, definitions, and processes, but you also need to understand the underlying principles well enough to apply them to unfamiliar scenarios. Start each topic by learning the core concepts, then test yourself with application questions that require you to use your knowledge in new contexts.

Diagrams are one of the most powerful revision tools for Chemistry. Whether it is the structure of a cell, an energy level diagram, or a circuit, being able to draw and label diagrams from memory cements your understanding far more effectively than re-reading text. Practise reproducing key diagrams until you can do so accurately without any reference material.

Do not neglect the practical and mathematical elements. Chemistry exams include questions on required practicals and expect you to perform calculations confidently. Practise interpreting data tables, plotting graphs, calculating rates and percentages, and evaluating experimental methods. These skills are tested every year and are straightforward marks if you have prepared.

Study Tips for GCSE Chemistry

  • Practise mole calculations and balancing equations daily. These are skills that improve with repetition, and they appear across multiple topics so getting confident with them early saves time later.
  • Learn the reactivity series and the rules for predicting displacement reactions by heart. A mnemonic like Please Stop Calling Me A Careless Zebra In Lovely Hong Kong Can Provide Some Guidance helps with the order.
  • For bonding, draw dot-and-cross diagrams for ionic, covalent, and metallic bonding until you can do them without thinking. Understanding bonding properly makes questions on properties and structure much easier.
  • Use colour-coded revision notes to group reactions by type — combustion, neutralisation, oxidation, displacement — so you can see patterns across different topics.

Exam Tips for GCSE Chemistry

  • In calculation questions, always show your working clearly and include units in your final answer. Even if you get the wrong number, you can still earn method marks for a correct approach.
  • For questions about required practicals, describe what you would actually do step by step. Mention specific equipment, safety precautions, and how you would ensure your results are reliable by repeating measurements.
  • When asked to compare substances — for example ionic and covalent compounds — structure your answer clearly by discussing one property at a time for both substances, rather than writing everything about one then everything about the other.

Topics to Cover

10 topics in GCSE Chemistry

Atomic Structure
Bonding & Structure
Quantitative Chemistry
Chemical Changes
Energy Changes
Rates & Equilibrium
Organic Chemistry
Chemical Analysis
Atmosphere
Resources

Available Exam Boards

GCSE Chemistry specification guides for each exam board

Frequently Asked Questions

How many papers are in GCSE Chemistry? +
There are two papers if you take separate Chemistry, each 1 hour 45 minutes. Paper 1 covers topics 1-5 (atomic structure through energy changes) and Paper 2 covers topics 6-10 (rates through sustainable development).
Do I need to remember all the equations? +
Some equations are provided on a formula sheet, but you are expected to recall key equations like the formula for relative formula mass calculations, concentration, and certain reaction equations. Check your exam board specification for the exact list.
What is the hardest topic in GCSE Chemistry? +
Most students find quantitative chemistry (moles, concentrations, and yield calculations) the most difficult. Organic chemistry and rates of reaction can also be tricky. The key is to practise the mathematical elements regularly.
Is GCSE Chemistry harder than Biology? +
Chemistry tends to be more mathematical and abstract, while Biology has more content to memorise. Which one feels harder depends on your strengths. If you are comfortable with numbers and logic, Chemistry may suit you well.

Start Revising Chemistry Free

Join the waitlist and be among the first to access UpGrades when we launch

Join the Waitlist