How we got on with the A2 in 2002: report from Bedford School.

Timing
All staff found the schedule very tight.

Pupil comments
Pupils liked: entropy, kinetics (even if they found it hard in some cases), and electrode potentials.

Pupils found challenging: organic chemistry, acid-base equilibrium, pH calculations, the Special Study, and the Investigation.

Special Studies
Some of the Special Studies are now only obtainable as a photocopy from Nuffield. This is not a satisfactory situation in the short or long term. We suspect that the study we do, Food science, is out of date in the industrial areas.

We all regret that the Special Study is now a memory exercise and nothing more. This used to be one of the most stimulating areas of the course, allowing some lateral thought, but it has been reduced to a drudge necessary experiments plus 'learn the book'. One colleague felt that Food Science questions were not straightforward and were too much oriented towards legislation and similar topics, and not Chemistry.

(Ed's note: see the current specification for information about assessment, starting with the June 2002 exam: see Special Studies: Assessment 2002)

The investigation
We have concerns that the Investigation Criteria are those of a PhD thesis and are a bit unreasonable for A-level, but we will see.

Teacher comments, in addition to the above
We were sorry to see the demise of free energy.
The changes have meant that the syllabus is much more fragmented than before.
No doubt other things will emerge, especially after the results come out.

Phillip Young