9620 · Oxford AQA International A Level
9620/11
Paper 1
Chemistry · Winter 2025 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Oxford AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
360
445 min
Amount of substance
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 2025 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry series represents a rigorous, high-tier assessment that demands not only a deep conceptual understanding but also outstanding precision in numerical calculations and organic mechanisms.
The overall paper series is marked at a solid 4 out of 5 stars in difficulty, placing it on par with the most challenging recent cohorts.
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.
Stoichiometric
Weight: 8100%Mathematical & Calculation
Weight: 788%Reaction Mechanism
Weight: 675%Practical & Experimental
Weight: 450%Descriptive
Weight: 225%Inorg
Weight: 113%
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
Match the expected response style for “Write” questions.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Match the expected response style for “Complete” 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
Amount of substance
31 marks this session
Acids and bases
28 marks this session
Transition metals
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: Unit 2: Organic 1 and Physical 1: Unit 3: Inorganic 2 and Physical 2: Unit 4: Organic 2 and Physical 2: Unit 5: Practical and synoptic:
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
Amount of substance
31 marks this session
Practise in RevuiAcids and bases
28 marks this session
Practise in RevuiTransition metals
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 2025 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry series represents a rigorous, high-tier assessment that demands not only a deep conceptual understanding but also outstanding precision in numerical calculations and organic mechanisms.
- 2Message
The overall paper series is marked at a solid 4 out of 5 stars in difficulty, placing it on par with the most challenging recent cohorts.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
Winter 2025 2025
Chemistry
The January 2025 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry series represents a rigorous, high-tier assessment that demands not only a deep conceptual understanding but also outstanding precision in numerical calculations and organic mechanisms. The overall paper series is marked
The January 2025 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry series represents a rigorous, high-tier assessment that demands not only a deep conceptual understanding but also outstanding precision in numerical calculations and organic mechanisms.
The overall paper series is marked at a solid 4 out of 5 stars in difficulty, placing it on par with the most challenging recent cohorts.
- Total marks
- 360
- Duration
- 445 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The January 2025 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry series represents a rigorous, high-tier assessment that demands not only a deep conceptual understanding but also outstanding precision in numerical calculations and organic mechanisms. The overall paper series is marked at a solid 4 out of 5 stars in difficulty, placing it on par with the most challenging recent cohorts.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Unit 1: Inorganic 1 and Physical 1: Unit 2: Organic 1 and Physical 1: Unit 3: Inorganic 2 and Physical 2: Unit 4: Organic 2 and Physical 2: Unit 5: Practical and synoptic:
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.
78% 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.
Structured Long-Response
330·37·92%
Multiple Choice Questions
(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.
Acids and bases (Physical chemistry)
95%95%
Rate equations (Physical chemistry)
90%90%
Chromatography (Organic chemistry)
85%85%
Executive Difficulty Verdict
The January 2025 Oxford AQA International A-Level Chemistry series represents a rigorous, high-tier assessment that demands not only a deep conceptual understanding but also outstanding precision in numerical calculations and organic mechanisms. The overall paper series is marked at a solid 4 out of 5 stars in difficulty, placing it on par with the most challenging recent cohorts.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- State Symbols: Candidates frequently lost easy marks by failing to include mandatory state symbols in equations involving Period 3 oxides, chlorides, and Group 2 reactions.
- TOF Mass Spectrometry Units: In Time of Flight calculation questions, a major pitfall was neglecting to convert the isotopic mass from grams per mole to kilograms per atom before substitution into the kinetic energy equation.
- Uncertainty & Graph Extrapolations: In the practical components, misreading temperature change curves or drawing straight lines where a smooth curve of best fit was required cost multiple graphical marks.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.