CHEMISTRY-B-SALTERS-H033 · Cambridge OCR AS Level
CHEMISTRY-B-SALTERS-H033/11
Paper 1
Chemistry B Salters · June 2022 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.2 / 5
140
180 min
Energetics and Calorimetry
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
140
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.2 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The 2022 AS Level Chemistry B (Salters) exam balanced straightforward foundation testing with demanding conceptual applications.
H033/01 (Foundations) provided a fair gateway via Section A's multiple-choice questions but immediately ramped up the challenge in Section B.
H033/02 (Chemistry in Depth) tested mathematical flexibility and experimental methodology thoroughly, resulting in an overall difficulty rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars.
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.
Mathematical & Calculation
Weight: 9100%Practical & Experimental
Weight: 889%Organic
Weight: 667%Synthesis & Physiological Explanation
Weight: 556%Atomic
Weight: 444%Structure
Weight: 333%Chemical Equations
Weight: 222%Bonding
Weight: 111%
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. 64% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 53% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 41% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 30% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 19% 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
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “Give” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Write” questions.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Energetics (Developing fuels (DF))
15 marks this session
Modern analytical techniques (What’s in a medicine? (WM))
13 marks this session
Kinetics (Developing fuels (DF))
10 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
Inorganic chemistry and the periodic table (Elements from the sea (ES))
Energetics (Developing fuels (DF))
Formulae, equations and amount of substance (Elements of life (EL))
Bonding and structure (Developing fuels (DF))
Equilibria (Elements from the sea (ES))
Modern analytical techniques (What’s in a medicine? (WM))
Formulae, equations and amount of substance (Developing fuels (DF))
Kinetics (Developing fuels (DF))
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
H033/01 Foundations of chemistry: H033/02 Chemistry in depth:
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
Energetics (Developing fuels (DF))
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiModern analytical techniques (What’s in a medicine? (WM))
13 marks this session
Practise in RevuiKinetics (Developing fuels (DF))
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The 2022 AS Level Chemistry B (Salters) exam balanced straightforward foundation testing with demanding conceptual applications.
- 2Message
H033/01 (Foundations) provided a fair gateway via Section A's multiple-choice questions but immediately ramped up the challenge in Section B.
- 3Message
H033/02 (Chemistry in Depth) tested mathematical flexibility and experimental methodology thoroughly, resulting in an overall difficulty rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2022 2022
Chemistry B Salters
The 2022 AS Level Chemistry B (Salters) exam balanced straightforward foundation testing with demanding conceptual applications. H033/01 (Foundations) provided a fair gateway via Section A's multiple-choice questions but immediately ramped up the challenge in Section B. H033/02 (
The 2022 AS Level Chemistry B (Salters) exam balanced straightforward foundation testing with demanding conceptual applications.
H033/01 (Foundations) provided a fair gateway via Section A's multiple-choice questions but immediately ramped up the challenge in Section B.
H033/02 (Chemistry in Depth) tested mathematical flexibility and experimental methodology thoroughly, resulting in an overall difficulty rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars.
- Total marks
- 140
- Duration
- 180 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.2 / 5
Session analysis
The 2022 AS Level Chemistry B (Salters) exam balanced straightforward foundation testing with demanding conceptual applications. H033/01 (Foundations) provided a fair gateway via Section A's multiple-choice questions but immediately ramped up the challenge in Section B. H033/02 (Chemistry in Depth) tested mathematical flexibility and experimental methodology thoroughly, resulting in an overall difficulty rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
H033/01 Foundations of chemistry: H033/02 Chemistry in depth:
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.
79% 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.
Short Answer
56·34·40%
Structured Calculation
40·12·29%
Extended Writing
24·4·17%
Multiple Choice
20·20·14%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section A (…
0.77 m/minPaper 1 Section B (…
0.78 m/minTotal marks
120
Total time
155 min
Avg pace
0.77
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Equilibria (acid–base) (Elements of life (EL))
85%85%
Redox (Elements from the sea (ES))
75%75%
Executive Difficulty Verdict
The 2022 AS Level Chemistry B (Salters) exam balanced straightforward foundation testing with demanding conceptual applications. H033/01 (Foundations) provided a fair gateway via Section A's multiple-choice questions but immediately ramped up the challenge in Section B. H033/02 (Chemistry in Depth) tested mathematical flexibility and experimental methodology thoroughly, resulting in an overall difficulty rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Unit Conversion Blindspots: In ideal gas equations (pV=nRTpV = nRTpV=nRT), many students failed to convert cm3\text{cm}^3cm3 to m3\text{m}^3m3 or kPa\text{kPa}kPa to Pa\text{Pa}Pa.
- Vague Mechanistic Language: For reaction mechanisms, generic terms like 'bond breaking' failed to score without explicitly defining homolytic or heterolytic fission.
- Carbonate Thermal Stability Misconception: Students frequently claimed that strontium carbonate is less thermally stable because strontium is more reactive. In reality, thermal stability is dictated by cation size and its polarization power over the carbonate anion.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.