Three days left. Paper 2 covers energy changes, rates, organic chemistry, chemical analysis, the atmosphere and using resources, plus Topic 1 Key Concepts carries in from Paper 1. Get rates and organic chemistry locked first, they carry the most consistent marks.
One focus per day, building to a timed run. Work it in order.
Ranked from analysed past papers. Start at the top: if you run out of time, you will have covered the most-tested ground.
Topic 7 Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes is guaranteed content every series, tied to the rate of reaction required practical. Explaining rate changes using collision theory is consistently tested.
Also part of Topic 7. Reaction profile diagrams and bond energy calculations recur every series, often linked to the energy changes required practical.
Topic 8 Fuels and Earth Science and Topic 9 Hydrocarbons. Cracking conditions and the bromine water test for alkenes are a reliable source of marks most series.
Part of Topic 9. Addition polymerisation and the difference between thermosoftening and thermosetting polymers are common short-answer targets.
Topic 8 Fuels and Earth Science. The evidence linking human activity to climate change and evaluating solutions are frequently tested as extended-response questions.
Topic 9 Separate Chemistry 2 Qualitative Analysis. Rf value calculations and interpreting chromatograms recur reliably, tied to the required practical.
Topic 5 Dynamic Equilibria carries into Paper 2 content on industrial processes. Le Chatelier's principle applied to the Haber process is a recurring application question.
Topic 8 material covers using resources. Evaluate-style questions comparing recycling with new production, or comparing materials using a life cycle assessment, are a recurring extended answer.
PrepWise has a one-page Knowledge Organiser for every topic above. Use them in your final 3 days with cover, recall, check, repeat: read it once, cover it, write out everything you remember, then check what you missed and go again.
Rules specific to Paper 2. On this paper, structure earns as many marks as knowledge.
Rate = amount of product or reactant divided by time. If asked to find rate from a graph, draw a tangent at the point given, calculate the gradient (change in y divided by change in x), and give your answer with the correct unit. Show every step.
Add up the bond energies broken in the reactants (energy in), add up the bond energies formed in the products (energy out), then subtract. A negative answer means the reaction is exothermic, a positive answer means endothermic. State which one your answer shows.
A change in condition shifts equilibrium to oppose that change: increase pressure shifts to the side with fewer gas molecules; increase temperature shifts in the endothermic direction; increase concentration of a reactant shifts to produce more product.
Edexcel assesses Topic 1 Key Concepts on both papers. If a Paper 2 question needs a mole calculation, an equation to be balanced, or a bonding explanation, treat it exactly like a Paper 1 question, don't assume it won't appear here.
For 'evaluate' or 'compare' questions on recycling, life cycle assessment, or choosing a material, give at least one advantage and one disadvantage for each option, then finish with a clear conclusion that states which is better and why.
The errors examiners see most on this paper. Each one is an easy mark you already know how to keep.
Explaining rate changes without using collision theory language → Always say collisions become more frequent and/or more energetic. 'Particles move faster' alone doesn't get full marks.
Getting the direction of an equilibrium shift wrong under increased pressure → Increasing pressure always shifts equilibrium to the side with fewer moles of gas. Count the moles on each side of the equation before deciding.
Mixing up which value to subtract from which in a bond energy calculation → Always do energy to break bonds in reactants, minus energy released forming bonds in products. Check your sign matches whether you expect the reaction to be exothermic or endothermic.
Assuming Topic 1 content (moles, bonding, equations) won't come up on Paper 2 → Topic 1 Key Concepts is examinable on both papers. Keep your moles method and equation-balancing skills sharp right up to this exam too.
Writing one-sided answers to 'evaluate' questions on recycling or life cycle assessment → Structure every evaluate answer as: point for, point against, then a conclusion that directly answers the question.
The 60 minutes before you walk in. Review what you know and settle your nerves.
The calculations only stick once you have actually done them under pressure. Practise exam-style Chemistry questions in PrepWise, get instant marking, and turn those method cards into marks.
Open the Chemistry Knowledge Organisers, quiz every priority topic and walk in ready. Free during alpha.
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