WJECGCSE47 resourcesFoundation & Higher

WJEC GCSE Chemistry Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free WJEC GCSE Chemistry past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Foundation & Higher tiers. Chemical reactions, bonding and organic chemistry. 47 resources.

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47 of 47 resources — page 1 of 2

Summer 2023

14 files

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Higher [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Higher [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Foundation – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Foundation – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Higher: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Higher – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Higher – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Foundation – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Foundation – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Foundation [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

Modified Paper

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Foundation [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Foundation [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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📋

GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Foundation [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

Modified Paper

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Higher: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Higher [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Higher: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Higher [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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Summer 2022

8 files

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Higher [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2022

Modified Paper

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📋

GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Higher [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2022

Modified Paper

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📄

GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Foundation – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Higher: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Higher – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Foundation – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Higher – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Fcont: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Foundation – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Hcont: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Higher – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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Summer 2019

3 files

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Foundation – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Chemical Bonding, Reactions & Organic Chemistry Foundation – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Chemistry – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Chemical Substances, Reactions & Resources Foundation [ Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2019

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Separate Chemistry GCSE with Emphasis on Practical Skills and Quantitative Analysis

WJEC GCSE Chemistry is the single-award route for students pursuing separate science GCSEs in Wales. It is assessed through two tiered written papers: Unit 1 (Chemical Substances, Reactions and Essential Resources, 1 hour 45 minutes, 50%) and Unit 2 (Chemical Bonding, Reactions and Organic Chemistry, 1 hour 45 minutes, 50%). Foundation tier covers grades G–D and Higher tier covers grades D–A*. Unit 1 focuses on the fundamentals: atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic), types of chemical reactions, acids and bases, water treatment, and Earth's resources. Unit 2 moves into more advanced territory: rates of reaction, equilibrium (Higher tier only), energy changes in reactions, electrochemistry, organic chemistry (crude oil, polymers, alcohols, carboxylic acids), and analytical techniques. At least 10% of marks assess mathematical skills — mole calculations, percentage yield, rate calculations from graphs, and balancing equations. At least 15% assess knowledge of practical methods through questions based on specified practicals: preparing soluble and insoluble salts, electrolysis, measuring rates of reaction, and chromatography. The WJEC Chemistry specification emphasises how chemistry underpins industry and environmental issues, particularly relevant to Wales's industrial heritage and current challenges around energy and sustainability. This archive contains 47 resources from Summer 2017 to Summer 2023.

Exam Paper Structure

Unit 1Calculator ✓

Chemical Substances, Reactions and Essential Resources

⏱ 1 hour 45 minutes🎯 marks📊 50% of grade

Atomic structure and the periodic tableChemical bondingChemical reactionsAcids, bases and saltsWater and resources

Unit 2Calculator ✓

Chemical Bonding, Reactions and Organic Chemistry

⏱ 1 hour 45 minutes🎯 marks📊 50% of grade

Rates of reactionEnergy changesElectrochemistryOrganic chemistryAnalytical techniques

Key Information

Exam Board	WJEC
Qualification	GCSE
Grading Scale	A*–G
Assessment Type	2 written papers
Tiers	Foundation (G–D) and Higher (D–A*)
Unit 1	1 hr 45 min — Chemical Substances, Reactions and Essential Resources (50%)
Unit 2	1 hr 45 min — Chemical Bonding, Reactions and Organic Chemistry (50%)
Maths Requirement	Minimum 10% of marks test mathematical skills
Available Sessions	Summer 2017 – Summer 2023
Total Resources	47

Key Topics in Chemistry

Topics you need to know

Atomic structure and periodic table trendsIonic, covalent and metallic bondingChemical equations and calculationsAcids, bases and neutralisationRates of reaction and equilibriumOrganic chemistry and polymersPractical skills and analysis

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
State	Give a brief, factual answer — no explanation required
Explain	Give reasons using chemical knowledge — link observations to underlying chemical principles
Calculate	Use mathematical operations to find the answer, showing all working and including correct units
Predict	Use patterns in data or chemical knowledge to suggest what will happen in a given situation
Describe	Give a detailed account of what happens during a chemical process or practical procedure
Suggest	Apply chemical knowledge to an unfamiliar context — there may be more than one valid answer

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
Grade A*	74–84%
Grade A	62–73%
Grade B	50–61%
Grade C	38–49%
Grade D	26–37%

⚠️ Typical Higher tier boundaries. Actual boundaries vary by series — check WJEC website.

Balancing Equations Fluently and Mastering Mole Calculations at Higher Tier

Balancing chemical equations is tested in almost every WJEC Chemistry paper and is a skill that must become automatic. Start by counting atoms on each side, adjust coefficients for the most complex molecule first, and leave single elements until last. Practise with increasingly complex equations until you can balance most in under 60 seconds. State symbols (s, l, g, aq) are required in many WJEC questions and forgetting them is a common one-mark error. Mole calculations at Higher tier follow a systematic approach. Learn the triangle: moles = mass ÷ relative formula mass. Then extend to concentration calculations: moles = concentration × volume (in dm³). Build calculation chains — the examiner expects to see each step written out. For example, to find the mass of product from a given mass of reactant: find moles of reactant → use the balanced equation ratio to find moles of product → convert moles of product to mass. For rate of reaction questions, remember WJEC frequently tests both the qualitative explanations (collision theory, activation energy) and the quantitative analysis (calculating gradient of a curve, reading half-life from a graph). Practise drawing tangents to curves and calculating gradients — this is a mathematical skill that directly earns chemistry marks. Organic chemistry naming and functional groups are tested systematically. Learn the homologous series (alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, carboxylic acids) and practise drawing structural formulae. WJEC mark schemes require structural formulae, not just molecular formulae — drawing CH₃CH₂OH rather than just C₂H₅OH demonstrates understanding of molecular structure.

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WJEC GCSE Chemistry Past Papers & Mark Schemes

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Summer 2023

Summer 2022

Summer 2019

Separate Chemistry GCSE with Emphasis on Practical Skills and Quantitative Analysis

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in Chemistry

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

Balancing Equations Fluently and Mastering Mole Calculations at Higher Tier

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Applied Science (Double Award)

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Art and Design

Biology

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Business

Computer Science

Design and Technology

Digital Technology

Drama

Electronics

English Language

English Literature

Film Studies

Food and Nutrition

French

Geography

Geology

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Latin

Mathematics-Numeracy

Mathematics

Media Studies

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Physical Education (Short Course)

Physical Education

Physics

Religious Studies

Science (Double Award)

Sociology

Spanish

Welsh Language (Cymraeg Iaith)

Welsh Literature (Llenyddiaeth Gymraeg)

Welsh Second Language

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