How to revise A-level Chemistry
Dr Lavan Ganeshkumar, PhD · updated 4 October 2026
A-level Chemistry rewards understanding and practice, not rereading. The revision that works has four parts, in order: learn the idea, recall it from memory, do exam questions on it, and mark them against the scheme.
Each part uses a different skill, and skipping one is the usual reason a grade stalls.
The four-step method
Run this loop on each Chemistry topic.
- Learn the concept first: why the reaction behaves that way, not just what happens.
- Recall definitions, reagents and conditions from a blank page.
- Redo mechanisms from memory, curly arrows included, until they are automatic.
- Practise calculations with units and significant figures every time, and mark against the scheme.
What to practise in Chemistry
The question types that carry the most marks are calculations, mechanisms and extended-response questions. Practise each by topic first, then mixed, then in full timed papers.
The mistakes to avoid
Students lose marks on chemistry by using everyday wording where the scheme wants the exact term, by dropping units or significant figures in calculations, and by drawing a mechanism arrow from the wrong place.
In rates, "more collisions" scores nothing, while "a greater proportion of molecules exceed the activation energy" scores the mark, though both describe the same fact.
A daily routine
Twenty minutes learning one small topic, twenty minutes answering questions on it without notes, five to ten minutes marking and writing down every lost mark. Next day, five minutes of recall on yesterday before starting something new.
Where Trayna fits, and where it does not
Trayna is a 24/7 online tutor in your pocket, on your tablet and on the web. Dr Lavan teaches you the topics in the app any time, anywhere, and an adaptive plan reinforces them each day from now to your exam. It is there for students who cannot afford 1-to-1 tutoring, and it is built to act like a 1-to-1 tutor: it teaches, it checks, and it adapts to how you are doing. The aim is that you really understand the subject and are prepared for it, not just that you have revised it. It is A-level only, for Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Maths follows Edexcel; Chemistry, Physics and Biology follow AQA.
In Chemistry Trayna follows AQA, and it runs this routine for you.
It is for both Year 12 and Year 13. Year 13 students already use it, and Year 13 topics are being added as current students need them while Year 12 is the most complete, so check your topics in the app. If you only want free past papers, PMT does that better than we do, and we would rather you used it.
Common questions
How do I revise A-level Chemistry?
Learn the idea, recall it from memory, do exam questions on it without notes, and mark them against the official scheme. Repeat on a schedule.
What is the best way to revise Chemistry?
Active methods: recall from blank pages and exam questions, not rereading. For Chemistry, focus on calculations, mechanisms and extended-response questions.
How many hours should I revise Chemistry for?
A few focused hours a week outside lessons in Year 12, more in Year 13 and near exams. Active hours count, rereading does not.
What mistakes do students make in A-level Chemistry?
Students lose marks on chemistry by using everyday wording where the scheme wants the exact term, by dropping units or significant figures in calculations, and by drawing a mechanism arrow from the wrong place.
Which exam board does Trayna Chemistry follow?
AQA. Check the topic list in the app first if you sit a different board.
Trayna does this automatically. You enter your subjects, your exam dates and how long you have each day, and it builds the route from today to those exams, then adapts it as you go. Maths follows Edexcel; Chemistry, Physics and Biology follow AQA.
Get Trayna on the App Store · on Google Play
Free for 14 days, then from £9.99 a month. Cancel any time.