Creating the Perfect A-Level Chemistry Revision Timetable

A-Level Chemistry covers a vast amount of content across three main areas. A well-structured revision timetable is essential for covering everything effectively without burning out.

Understanding the Chemistry Specification

A-Level Chemistry is typically divided into three main areas, each with equal importance:

Physical Chemistry: ~30-35% of marks
Inorganic Chemistry: ~30-35% of marks
Organic Chemistry: ~30-35% of marks

Long-Term Revision Plan (6 Months)

Months 6-5: Foundation Building

Physical Chemistry Focus

Week 1-2: Atomic structure, bonding, periodicity
Week 3-4: Energetics (enthalpy, Hess's law, bond enthalpies)
Week 5-6: Kinetics (rate equations, order of reaction)
Week 7-8: Equilibria (Kc, Kp, Le Chatelier's principle)

Months 4-3: Core Content

Inorganic Chemistry Focus

Week 9-10: Group 2 chemistry
Week 11-12: Group 7 halogens
Week 13-14: Transition metals
Week 15-16: Reactions of ions in aqueous solution

Months 2-1: Advanced Topics

Organic Chemistry Focus

Week 17-18: Alkanes, alkenes, alcohols
Week 19-20: Halogenoalkanes, organic synthesis
Week 21-22: Analytical techniques (IR, MS, NMR)
Week 23-24: Organic mechanisms and synthesis routes

Short-Term Intensive Plan (3 Months)

Month 3: Topic Coverage

Week 1: Physical Chemistry rapid review + 30 topical questions

Week 2: Inorganic Chemistry rapid review + 30 topical questions

Week 3: Organic Chemistry rapid review + 30 topical questions

Week 4: Mixed practice + identify weak areas

Month 2: Weak Areas and Practice

Focus 70% of time on weakest topics identified in month 3

Complete 2-3 full past papers per week

Review all mistakes thoroughly

Month 1: Exam Technique

Week 1-2: Full papers under exam conditions

Week 3: Final weak topic fixes

Week 4: Light review and confidence building

Daily Revision Structure

Optimal Study Session

Morning Session (2-3 hours):

0:00-0:30 - Review previous day's notes
0:30-1:30 - New topic theory and examples
1:30-2:00 - Practice questions on new topic
2:00-2:30 - Create summary notes/flashcards

Afternoon Session (2-3 hours):

0:00-1:00 - Topical questions from different topics
1:00-1:30 - Review mistakes and mark schemes
1:30-2:30 - Past paper questions or full paper

Evening Session (1 hour):

Active recall: test yourself without notes
Review flashcards for memorization content
Plan tomorrow's topics

Topic-Specific Strategies

Physical Chemistry

Focus on understanding concepts deeply. Practice calculations extensively:

Moles calculations until automatic
Enthalpy calculations with Hess's law
Rate equation problems
Equilibria calculations (Kc, Kp, percentage yield)

Inorganic Chemistry

Lots of facts to memorize. Use visual aids:

Create color-coded charts for reactions
Draw trends in reactivity
Make comparison tables for similar elements
Use mnemonics for test sequences

Organic Chemistry

Master mechanisms and synthesis routes:

Practice drawing mechanisms repeatedly
Create a synthesis "map" showing all reactions
Learn functional group tests thoroughly
Practice IR, MS, and NMR interpretation

Balancing the Three Areas

Each week should include all three areas to maintain coverage:

Monday: Physical Chemistry
Tuesday: Inorganic Chemistry
Wednesday: Organic Chemistry
Thursday: Mixed practice
Friday: Weak areas from the week
Saturday: Full past paper
Sunday: Review and light study

Memorization Content

Create dedicated flashcards for:

All functional groups and their tests
Reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, catalyst)
Color changes in reactions
Trends in periodic table groups
Organic mechanisms step-by-step
Common reagents and their formulas

Practical Skills Revision

Don't neglect the practical component:

Review required practicals from your course
Practice describing experimental procedures
Understand sources of error and improvements
Know how to calculate percentage uncertainties

Weekly Targets

Set clear weekly goals:

Complete 40-50 topical questions
Finish 1-2 full past papers
Create 20-30 new flashcards
Review all mistakes from the week
Score average 80%+ on practice questions

Avoiding Burnout

Take 10-minute breaks every hour
One full day off per week
Vary your study methods (videos, questions, flashcards)
Study with friends occasionally
Reward yourself for hitting targets

Using ExamWise Effectively

Integrate ExamWise into your timetable:

Use topical questions to practice specific weak areas
Create custom worksheets mixing organic, inorganic, and physical
Use Wizard to identify high-frequency topics
Track your progress across different topics

Adapting Your Timetable

Review your progress weekly and adjust:

If consistently scoring 90%+ on a topic, reduce time on it
If struggling with a topic, allocate extra sessions
If falling behind schedule, focus on high-yield topics
If ahead of schedule, add challenge questions

Final Thoughts

The perfect revision timetable is one you can stick to consistently. Start early, stay organized, and be willing to adapt your plan based on progress. Chemistry rewards thorough, systematic preparation—use your timetable to ensure nothing is left to chance.