WJEC GCSE Chemistry (3410) is the separate chemistry GCSE for learners in Wales, graded A* to G rather than 9 to 1. Unit 1, Chemical Substances, Reactions and Essential Resources, and Unit 2, Chemical Bonding, Application of Chemical Reactions and Organic Chemistry, are each 1 hour 45 minute written papers worth 80 marks and 45%. The remaining 10% comes from Unit 3, which becomes a new Scientific Enquiry for learners starting in September 2026 and is first awarded in 2028. At least 20% of the marks test maths, so moles, titrations, bond energies and rates matter as much as theory. This FLN Tutors course covers all 12 topics and 10 specified practicals in the WJEC specification. Lessons are live and one-to-one with a verified chemistry tutor, who rebuilds weak topics, drills calculations step by step, marks extended answers against WJEC-style schemes and plans revision around your unit entries.
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In short: WJEC GCSE Chemistry (3410) is the single-science chemistry GCSE taught in Wales. Results are given as letter grades from A* to G, and the course is built from two written units plus a Scientific Enquiry unit.
Learners sit either the Higher tier, covering A* to D, or the Foundation tier, covering C to G. The qualification is approved by Qualifications Wales and is not offered to schools in England, where most chemistry GCSEs are graded 9 to 1.
This FLN Tutors (Freelancer Network) course follows the WJEC GCSE Chemistry specification (Version 3, February 2026), which keeps the content first taught in 2016 and introduces a new Unit 3 from September 2026. For A-level and university support, see chemistry tutoring.
Get help with WJEC GCSE Chemistry: book a lesson or send a question from this page.
| Unit | Title | Assessment | Marks | Weighting | Tiered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Chemical Substances, Reactions and Essential Resources | Written paper, 1 h 45 min | 80 | 45% | Yes |
| Unit 2 | Chemical Bonding, Application of Chemical Reactions and Organic Chemistry | Written paper, 1 h 45 min | 80 | 45% | Yes |
| Unit 3 | Scientific Enquiry (from 2026 teaching) | 1-hour practical task + 1-hour written task | 28 | 10% | No |
Each written paper mixes short-answer, structured, data-response and extended-writing questions, some set in practical contexts. The extended questions also assess how accurately you write, so correct chemical names and terms count.
| Assessment objective | Focus | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Knowledge and understanding | 38.5% |
| AO2 | Application | 41% |
| AO3 | Analysis, interpretation and evaluation | 20.5% |
At least 20% of the marks test maths skills, sitting between WJEC Biology's 10% and WJEC Physics' 30%, and scientific enquiry skills carry at least 15%.
WJEC's sample assessment papers ask learners to "refer to the table of common ions and the Periodic Table", so these are provided for reference in the exam. They are tools rather than answers: you still need to know how to use them.
| Provided resource | What you use it for | What you still have to know |
|---|---|---|
| Periodic Table | Atomic numbers, relative atomic masses, groups and periods | How electron arrangement relates to group and period |
| Table of common ions | Charges of ions such as sulfate, nitrate and carbonate | How to balance charges to write formulae |
Learners who practise writing formulae from the ion table and calculating relative formula masses from the Periodic Table save time on every calculation question.
In Wales, WJEC GCSE Chemistry uses **A* to G**, with U for unclassified. The 9 to 1 scale belongs to GCSEs reformed in England, including Eduqas Chemistry, which WJEC offers to English schools.
| Tier | Grades | Highest unit UMS |
|---|---|---|
| Higher | A* to D | 180 on each written unit |
| Foundation | C to G | 125 on each written unit |
The Foundation cap sits one mark below a unit B, so learners aiming for B or higher are normally entered for Higher on both written units.
Each raw unit mark is converted to a uniform mark, and the three UMS results are added.
| Grade | Units 1 and 2 (each, max 180) | Unit 3 (max 40) | Qualification (max 400) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A* | 162 | 36 | 360 |
| A | 144 | 32 | 320 |
| B | 126 | 28 | 280 |
| C | 108 | 24 | 240 |
| D | 90 | 20 | 200 |
| E | 72 | 16 | 160 |
| F | 54 | 12 | 120 |
| G | 36 | 8 | 80 |
Example: 118 UMS on Unit 1, 135 on Unit 2 and 29 on Unit 3 give 282 in total, which reaches the 280 threshold for grade B. Unit 1 alone was a C, so a stronger second unit lifted the overall result.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Task | One enquiry chosen from two set by WJEC |
| Parts | A 1-hour practical task and a 1-hour written task |
| Marks | 28 raw marks; worth 10% of the GCSE and 40 UMS |
| When | January to February, ideally in the final year |
| Marking | Done in school, externally marked by WJEC |
| Tier | Untiered |
| First award | 2028 |
The Unit 3 sitting in January to February 2027 is still the older practical assessment, so Year 10 learners who started in September 2026 cannot enter it. Tutors can rehearse planning, recording and evaluating under time limits, but the enquiry must be the learner's own work in school.
| Topic | Specified practical | Exam focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | Identifying unknown ionic compounds with flame tests and ion tests | Flame colours, precipitates, test results tables |
| 1.3 | Measuring water hardness with soap solution | Volume of soap to form a lather, temporary vs permanent hardness |
| 1.5 | Rate of reaction by gas collection | Gas syringe readings, initial rate from a graph |
| 1.5 | Rate of reaction of hydrochloric acid with sodium thiosulfate | Disappearing cross, rate as 1 ÷ time, temperature and concentration |
| 1.6 | Thermal stability of calcium, copper(II) and sodium carbonates | Limewater test, order of stability |
| 2.2 | Crystals of a soluble salt from an insoluble base or carbonate | Excess solid, filtration, evaporation, crystallisation |
| 2.2 | Titration of a strong acid against a strong base | Burette technique, end point, concordant results |
| 2.3 | Reactivity of metals by displacement | Temperature change or visible change, reactivity series |
| 2.3 | Electrolysis of aqueous solutions and electroplating | Products at each electrode, half equations |
| 2.5 | Energy released by a fuel | Temperature rise of water, energy per gram, heat losses |
Questions ask for method steps, safety, variables, results processing and improvements, so each practical should be revised on paper as well as in the lab.
| Unit | Topic | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.1 The nature of substances and chemical reactions | Elements, compounds, formulae, equations, moles, yield |
| 1 | 1.2 Atomic structure and the Periodic Table | Sub-atomic particles, isotopes, electron arrangement, Groups 1, 7 and 0, ion tests |
| 1 | 1.3 Water | Treatment, fluoridation, desalination, solubility, hardness |
| 1 | 1.4 The ever-changing Earth | Earth's structure, plate tectonics, the atmosphere, emissions |
| 1 | 1.5 Rate of chemical change | Measuring rate, temperature, concentration, surface area, catalysts |
| 1 | 1.6 Limestone | Thermal decomposition, the limestone cycle, uses of limestone |
| 2 | 2.1 Bonding, structure and properties | Ionic, covalent and metallic bonding, carbon allotropes, nanoparticles, smart materials |
| 2 | 2.2 Acids, bases and salts | pH, neutralisation, salts, titration, strong and weak acids |
| 2 | 2.3 Metals and their extraction | Reactivity, redox, iron and aluminium extraction, electrolysis |
| 2 | 2.4 Chemical reactions and energy | Exothermic and endothermic reactions, energy profiles, bond energies |
| 2 | 2.5 Crude oil, fuels and organic chemistry | Fractions, combustion, cracking, alkanes, alkenes, polymers, alcohols |
| 2 | 2.6 Reversible reactions, industrial processes and important chemicals | Equilibrium, Haber and Contact processes, fertilisers |
Higher-only content is printed in bold in the specification. A tutor marks it so Foundation learners concentrate on what they will be examined on.
Calcium carbonate, CaCO₃, is heated: CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂. Use Ca = 40, C = 12, O = 16.
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mr of CaCO₃ | 40 + 12 + (3 × 16) | 100 |
| % calcium by mass | 40 ÷ 100 × 100 | 40.0% |
| Moles in 10 g | 10 ÷ 100 | 0.1 mol |
| Mass of CaO expected | 0.1 × 56 | 5.6 g |
| Percentage yield if 4.9 g is collected | 4.9 ÷ 5.6 × 100 | 87.5% |
The yield is below 100% because some solid may not decompose fully or is lost when transferring. Show each step, because WJEC awards method marks even when the final answer is wrong.
20.0 cm³ of 0.10 mol/dm³ hydrochloric acid neutralises 25.0 cm³ of sodium hydroxide. The equation is HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O, a 1 : 1 ratio.
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Moles of HCl | 0.10 × (20.0 ÷ 1000) | 0.002 mol |
| Moles of NaOH | Same as HCl (1 : 1) | 0.002 mol |
| Concentration of NaOH | 0.002 ÷ (25.0 ÷ 1000) | 0.080 mol/dm³ |
Converting cm³ to dm³ by dividing by 1000 is the step most often missed. In the practical itself, repeat until two titres agree within 0.10 cm³ and use those concordant results for the mean.
Rate (thiosulfate practical): the cross disappeared after 50 s at room temperature and 25 s when warmer. Rates = 1 ÷ 50 = 0.020 s⁻¹ and 1 ÷ 25 = 0.040 s⁻¹, so the rate doubled.
Bond energy: for H₂ + Cl₂ → 2HCl, using H–H 436, Cl–Cl 243 and H–Cl 432 kJ/mol:
| Step | Working | Energy (kJ/mol) |
|---|---|---|
| Bonds broken | 436 + 243 | 679 |
| Bonds made | 2 × 432 | 864 |
| ΔH | 679 − 864 | -185 |
The negative value shows the reaction is exothermic, because more energy is released making bonds than is used breaking them.
Fuel energy: burning 0.50 g of fuel warms 100 g of water by 30 °C. Energy = 100 × 4.2 × 30 = 12,600 J, or 25.2 kJ per gram of fuel.
In the soap titration practical, the volume of soap solution needed to form a lasting lather was recorded.
| Sample | Soap solution (cm³) |
|---|---|
| Distilled water | 1 |
| Tap water | 9 |
| Boiled tap water | 3 |
Boiling removes temporary hardness, so temporary hardness used 9 − 3 = 6 cm³ and permanent hardness used 3 − 1 = 2 cm³. Temporary hardness makes up 6 ÷ 8 × 100 = 75.0% of the hardness. Distilled water is the control, showing how much soap is needed with no hardness at all.
Each written unit includes quality of extended response (QER) questions marked in levels.
Common QER topics include comparing water treatment methods, explaining trends in Group 1 or Group 7, describing how a salt is prepared, and evaluating industrial conditions in the Haber process.
| WJEC GCSE Chemistry (Wales) | Eduqas GCSE Chemistry (England) | |
|---|---|---|
| Taken by | Schools in Wales | Schools in England |
| Grades | A* to G | 9 to 1 |
| Assessment | Unit 1 and Unit 2 papers (1 h 45 min each) plus Unit 3 | End-of-course exam components in summer |
| Practical assessment | Unit 3 Scientific Enquiry | Practical work examined in the papers |
Both come from the same organisation but differ in content order and assessment. If your school follows another board, see AQA GCSE Chemistry, Edexcel GCSE Chemistry or Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Written units | Summer series each year |
| Unit 3 | January to February |
| Resits | One retake per unit; the better UMS normally counts |
| Terminal rule | 40% of the assessment must be sat in the cash-in series; a retake inside that 40% keeps its new mark |
| Third attempt | All units re-entered as a fresh start |
| Unit 3 marks | May be carried forward |
Planning which unit to sit when, and leaving enough time between them, is part of what a tutor helps with.
Lessons are live one-to-one video sessions with a verified chemistry tutor and a shared whiteboard.
What you get: - A study plan built around the 3410 topics, your tier and your unit entries. - Topic teaching that links particles, bonding and reactions together. - Calculation drills for moles, yield, titrations, bond energies, rates and fuel energy. - Exam-style questions on all 10 specified practicals. - QER answers marked against WJEC-style criteria, with written feedback.
Starting: select a tutor and time here, or send a question about your tier or units first. Each lesson's price is shown on this page before you book, with no subscription.
Prerequisites: Key Stage 3 science and basic algebra; gaps in rearranging and ratio are covered in lessons.
| Stage | Focus | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unit 1 topics 1.1 to 1.6 | Handle formulae, moles, atomic structure, water, rates and limestone |
| 2 | Unit 2 topics 2.1 to 2.6 | Explain bonding, acids, metals, energy, organic chemistry and industry |
| 3 | Practicals and calculations | Answer practical and maths questions confidently |
| 4 | Unit 3 skills | Practise planning, recording and evaluating an enquiry against the clock |
| 5 | Timed papers | Complete full units and QER questions on time |
Related courses: WJEC GCSE Biology, WJEC GCSE Physics and, after GCSE, AQA A-level Chemistry.
WJEC GCSE Chemistry, specification 3410, is the separate chemistry GCSE taken in Wales. It is graded A* to G and assessed by Unit 1 and Unit 2 written papers, worth 45% each, plus a Unit 3 practical assessment worth 10%. It covers 12 topics, from atomic structure to industrial processes.
No. WJEC GCSE Chemistry in Wales uses letter grades from A* to G, with U for unclassified. The 9 to 1 scale is used for GCSEs reformed in England, such as Eduqas Chemistry. Make sure your target grades and revision materials match the Welsh specification.
The Higher tier covers grades A* to D and the Foundation tier covers C to G. Each Foundation written unit is capped at 125 uniform marks, one below a unit B, so learners aiming for B or above should normally be entered for the Higher tier.
Unit 1 and Unit 2 each last 1 hour 45 minutes and are worth 80 marks, giving three and a half hours of written exams in total. Unit 3 adds a one-hour practical task and a one-hour written task completed in school in January or February.
WJEC's sample papers ask learners to refer to a table of common ions and the Periodic Table, so these are provided for reference. You still need to write formulae, balance equations and calculate relative formula masses yourself, so practise using both resources quickly and accurately.
Unit 1 covers six topics: the nature of substances and chemical reactions, atomic structure and the Periodic Table, water, the ever-changing Earth, rate of chemical change, and limestone. Its specified practicals include ion tests, water hardness, two rate investigations and the thermal stability of carbonates.
Unit 2 covers bonding, structure and properties; acids, bases and salts; metals and their extraction; chemical reactions and energy; crude oil, fuels and organic chemistry; and reversible reactions and industrial processes. Its practicals include salt preparation, titration, displacement, electrolysis and the energy released by a fuel.
It is the new practical unit for learners who started in September 2026, first awarded in 2028. Learners choose one of two enquiries and complete a one-hour practical task and a one-hour written task, worth 28 marks and 10% of the GCSE. WJEC marks it externally.
At least 20% of the marks test maths skills. Expect relative formula mass, percentage composition, moles, reacting masses, percentage yield, concentration and titration calculations, bond energies, rates and energy from fuels. A calculator is allowed, but every step should be written out clearly.
There are ten: identifying ionic compounds, water hardness with soap, two rate investigations, thermal stability of carbonates, preparing a soluble salt, an acid-base titration, metal displacement, electrolysis and electroplating, and the energy released by a fuel. Exam questions test methods and results.
Each unit's raw mark becomes a uniform mark: up to 180 for Units 1 and 2 and 40 for Unit 3, totalling 400. Across the whole GCSE, the thresholds are 360 for A*, 320 for A, 280 for B and 240 for C. Raw mark boundaries change every series.
Yes. Each unit can be retaken once, and normally the better uniform mark counts. However, 40% of the assessment must be sat in your cash-in series, and a retake within that 40% keeps its new mark. A third attempt means re-entering every unit.
No. Both are from the same organisation, but WJEC Chemistry is for Wales and graded A* to G, while Eduqas Chemistry is for England and graded 9 to 1. Topic order, papers and practical assessment differ, so choose past papers that match your own specification.
Find the moles of the known solution by multiplying its concentration by its volume in dm³, use the equation's ratio to find moles of the other reactant, then divide by its volume in dm³. For example, 0.002 mol in 25.0 cm³ gives 0.080 mol/dm³.
Yes. An FLN Tutors chemistry tutor works one-to-one with you on the 3410 topics, the specified practicals and exam technique. Lessons begin with your weakest areas, and your tutor checks every calculation step so you can see exactly where marks are being lost.
You get live one-to-one lessons, a plan for your tier and unit entries, topic teaching that links bonding to reactions, calculation drills, practice on every specified practical, and QER answers marked with written feedback. Your tutor also advises on tier choice using recent scores.
Choose a tutor and an available slot on this page and you can book straight away; many learners have their first lesson within a few days. If a unit exam is near, share the date so the first sessions focus on the topics and calculations worth most marks.
Each tutor sets their own rate, which also depends on lesson length. The price appears on this page before booking, and you pay lesson by lesson with no subscription or upfront package. Send a question first if you would like an estimate of how many lessons your target needs.
Chemistry is demanding because it combines abstract ideas, such as bonding and moles, with at least 20% maths. Most learners find it manageable once formulae, equations and mole calculations become routine. Regular short practice with past-paper questions builds that fluency quickly.
Yes. All lessons happen live over video with a shared whiteboard, timed to suit your time zone. To sit the exams you need a centre offering WJEC GCSEs that can also run the Unit 3 enquiry, so check availability and entry deadlines with the centre early.
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