Standard Grade Chemistry

Explanation of Course Content for S3/S4

Standard Grade Course at General and Credit Level

Standard Grade Chemistry is taught in years S3 and S4.

The course is relevant to the modern world around us.
The teaching approach is varied, going from Individualised Resourced Based Learning at one extreme, to the Formal Class Lesson at the other. Audio Visual and Computer Software is also used.

The Subject Content of the Standard Grade Course is given under 15 Topic Headings

1 Chemical Reactions
2 Speed of Reactions
3 Atoms and the Periodic Table
4 How Atoms Combine
5 Fuels
6 Structures and Reactions of Hydrocarbons
7 Properties of Substances
8 Acids and Alkalis
9 Reactions of Acids
10 Making Electricity
11 Metals
12 Corrosion
13 Plastics and Synthetic Fibres
14 Fertilisers
15 Carbohydrates and Related Substances.

The Candidate is assessed in 3 elements:
- Knowledge and Understanding
- Problem Solving, and
- Practical Assessment.

There is continuous assessment throughout the course.

At the end of the course, the candidate may be presented at two levels .ie. General and/or Credit Level. However, the candidate can only achieve a Credit Award, providing a certain degree of proficiency has been shown in the Practical Assessment.

In the final Standard Grade Exam the Weighting is as follows:
Knowledge and Understanding 40%
Problem Solving 40%
Practical Assessment 20%

Knowledge and Understanding and Problem Solving are assessed by a Formal Written Examination Paper. Practical Assessment is carried out during the 2 year course, based on an assessment of Practical Ability Techniques and 2 Practical Investigations.

The Practical Assessment is internally assessed and externally moderated.

Third Year
Pupils are regularly given work either, throughout or at the end of each topic.

We have sets of commercially produced materials called Complete Chemistry. One set of materials is used to assess Knowledge and Understanding, this is simply recalling factual information and these are used at the end of each of the fifteen topics.

The other set of materials is to assess Problem Solving Skills. This is often topic related, but often it is Curricular Independent, again these are used at the end of each of the fifteen topics.

Another set used is a set of Test Files, questions of both types are asked at the end of each of the fifteen topics. It is similar to the style of the standard grade exam. We also have small booklets from Chemcord called Revision Questions and Quick Tests on each of the fifteen topics .The two skills of Knowledge and Understanding, and Problem Solving, are required for the standard grade exam, and exposure to them is very important. As well as this, staff themselves use various materials from all sorts of sources to give homework exercises, e.g. textbooks, which are now available, or even questions which they themselves had made up and have either printed out on a sheet, or put on the board in class for the youngsters to copy out.

As far as possible, every pupil in S3 now has a copy of the Textbook Study Mate in Chemistry, which as well as supplying information has a wealth of questions in it. Staff put a tremendous effort into supporting youngsters in their learning, and one of the ways in which this is done is in the extensive use of issued notes. No youngster can ever claim to have no work to do!

Pupils should constantly be learning and revising the content of these notes!

As a rule, candidates expecting to proceed to a Higher Chemistry Course would be expected to obtain a Credit Level Award in the standard grade Chemistry course and hopefully, would have obtained a reasonably good award in the Problem Solving Element.

Here are some possible progression routes through Chemistry at Hillhead.

A Pass at Standard Grade Award in Grades 1 and 2 could lead to studying Higher Still Chemistry at Higher Level. Success at this level could lead to studying Chemistry at Advance Higher level the following year in S6.

If the timetable permits, it may be possible for a candidate who achieves Standard Grade at level 2 or 3 to study Higher Still Chemistry at Intermediate 2 Level. Success at this level could lead to studying Chemistry at Higher Level the following Year.