9620 · Oxford AQA International A Level
9620/11
Paper 1
Chemistry · 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Oxford AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
360
445 min
Rate Equations and Chemical Kinetics
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
360
Duration
445 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The January 2024 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry examination series (spanning Units 1 to 5) presents a robust and demanding assessment.
Overall, the papers maintain a high level of academic rigor, earning a difficulty rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars.
While Unit 1 and Unit 2 offer relatively accessible gateway marks through foundational topics such as atomic structure and alkanes, the progression into Units 3, 4, and 5 pushes students' analytical and practical skills to the limit.
High-density calculation questions, particularly regarding thermodynamics, buffer solutions, and kinetics, serve as the primary discriminators between top-tier grades.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Mathematical
Weight: 9100%Mechanism
Weight: 889%Drawing
Weight: 778%Practical Application
Weight: 667%Recall & Understanding
Weight: 444%Concepts
Weight: 333%Structure &
Weight: 222%Bondi
Weight: 111%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level A*
Approx. 90% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 80% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 70% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 60% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 50% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 40% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Write” questions.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Match the expected response style for “Deduce” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
No data available in official reports
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Rate equations (Physical chemistry)
24 marks this session
Amount of substance (Physical chemistry)
22 marks this session
Acids and bases (Physical chemistry)
20 marks this session
Transition metals (Inorganic chemistry)
20 marks this session
Alkenes (Organic chemistry)
20 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Amount of substance
Practical skills and synoptic applications
Acids and bases
Energetics
Rate equations (Physical chemistry)
Thermodynamics
Amount of substance (Physical chemistry)
Thermodynamics (Physical chemistry)
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Unit 1: Inorganic 1 and Physical 1 (CH01): Unit 2: Organic 1 and Physical 1 (CH02): Unit 3: Inorganic 2 and Physical 2 (CH03): Unit 4: Organic 2 and Physical 2 (CH04): Unit 5: Practical and synoptic (CH05):
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Rate equations (Physical chemistry)
24 marks this session
Practise in RevuiAmount of substance (Physical chemistry)
22 marks this session
Practise in RevuiAcids and bases (Physical chemistry)
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiTransition metals (Inorganic chemistry)
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiAlkenes (Organic chemistry)
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The January 2024 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry examination series (spanning Units 1 to 5) presents a robust and demanding assessment.
- 2Message
Overall, the papers maintain a high level of academic rigor, earning a difficulty rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars.
- 3Message
While Unit 1 and Unit 2 offer relatively accessible gateway marks through foundational topics such as atomic structure and alkanes, the progression into Units 3, 4, and 5 pushes students' analytical and practical skills to the limit.
- 4Message
High-density calculation questions, particularly regarding thermodynamics, buffer solutions, and kinetics, serve as the primary discriminators between top-tier grades.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2024 2024
Chemistry
The January 2024 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry examination series (spanning Units 1 to 5) presents a robust and demanding assessment. Overall, the papers maintain a high level of academic rigor, earning a difficulty rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars. While Unit 1 and Unit
The January 2024 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry examination series (spanning Units 1 to 5) presents a robust and demanding assessment.
Overall, the papers maintain a high level of academic rigor, earning a difficulty rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars.
While Unit 1 and Unit 2 offer relatively accessible gateway marks through foundational topics such as atomic structure and alkanes, the progression into Units 3, 4, and 5 pushes students' analytical and practical skills to the limit.
- Total marks
- 360
- Duration
- 445 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The January 2024 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry examination series (spanning Units 1 to 5) presents a robust and demanding assessment. Overall, the papers maintain a high level of academic rigor, earning a difficulty rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars. While Unit 1 and Unit 2 offer relatively accessible gateway marks through foundational topics such as atomic structure and alkanes, the progression into Units 3, 4, and 5 pushes students' analytical and practical skills to the limit. High-density calculation questions, particularly regarding thermodynamics, buffer solutions, and kinetics, serve as the primary discriminators between top-tier grades.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Unit 1: Inorganic 1 and Physical 1 (CH01): Unit 2: Organic 1 and Physical 1 (CH02): Unit 3: Inorganic 2 and Physical 2 (CH03): Unit 4: Organic 2 and Physical 2 (CH04): Unit 5: Practical and synoptic (CH05):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
75% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Calculation
115·24·32%
Explanation / Describing Trends
100·30·28%
Practical Technique / Diagram Labeling
60·12·17%
Mechanism / Structural Drawing
55·15·15%
Multiple Choice
(MCQ)
30·30·8%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Reactions of ions in aqueous solution (Inorganic chemistry)
95%95%
Amino acids and proteins (Organic chemistry)
90%90%
Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems (Physical chemistry)
85%85%
Aldehydes and ketones (Organic chemistry)
80%80%
Difficulty Verdict: A Rigorous and Balanced Series
The January 2024 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry examination series (spanning Units 1 to 5) presents a robust and demanding assessment. Overall, the papers maintain a high level of academic rigor, earning a difficulty rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars. While Unit 1 and Unit 2 offer relatively accessible gateway marks through foundational topics such as atomic structure and alkanes, the progression into Units 3, 4, and 5 pushes students' analytical and practical skills to the limit. High-density calculation questions, particularly regarding thermodynamics, buffer solutions, and kinetics, serve as the primary discriminators between top-tier grades.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.