9620 · Oxford AQA International AS Level
9620/21
Paper 2
Chemistry · June 2025 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Oxford AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
220
270 min
Hydrocarbon reactions, kinetics, and quantitative redox/acid-base titrations
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
220
Duration
270 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The June 2025 Chemistry (9620) examination series presents a balanced but mathematically demanding challenge.
Units 1 and 2 maintain a very high standard of chemical analysis and structural logic, while Unit 3 extends into high-level physical chemistry calculations (including precise pH buffers and saturated hydroxide masses) and complex transition metal coordination chemistry.
Students with strong quantitative mastery and precise drawing techniques will excel, whereas those relying on rote memorisation will find the application-heavy questions extremely challenging.
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
Weight: 5100%Mechanistic Drawing
Weight: 480%Recall & Understanding
Weight: 240%Experimental
Weight: 120%
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. 80% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 70% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 60% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 50% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 40% 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
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Match the expected response style for “Structure” questions.
Support your choice with specific evidence from data or the scenario given.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
No data available in official reports
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Alkenes
15 marks this session
Alkanes
14 marks this session
Amount of substance
13 marks this session
Kinetics
12 marks this session
Bonding
12 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
Amount of substance
Transition metal chemistry
Alcohols (Organic chemistry)
Thermodynamics
Energetics (Physical chemistry)
Oxidation, reduction and redox equations
Amount of substance (Physical chemistry)
Periodicity
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Unit 1: Inorganic 1 and Physical 1: Unit 2: Organic 1 and Physical 1: Unit 3: Inorganic 2 and Physical 2:
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
Alkenes
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiAlkanes
14 marks this session
Practise in RevuiAmount of substance
13 marks this session
Practise in RevuiKinetics
12 marks this session
Practise in RevuiBonding
12 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The June 2025 Chemistry (9620) examination series presents a balanced but mathematically demanding challenge.
- 2Message
Units 1 and 2 maintain a very high standard of chemical analysis and structural logic, while Unit 3 extends into high-level physical chemistry calculations (including precise pH buffers and saturated hydroxide masses) and complex transition metal coordination chemistry.
- 3Message
Students with strong quantitative mastery and precise drawing techniques will excel, whereas those relying on rote memorisation will find the application-heavy questions extremely challenging.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2025 2025
Chemistry
The June 2025 Chemistry (9620) examination series presents a balanced but mathematically demanding challenge. Units 1 and 2 maintain a very high standard of chemical analysis and structural logic, while Unit 3 extends into high-level physical chemistry calculations (including pre
The June 2025 Chemistry (9620) examination series presents a balanced but mathematically demanding challenge.
Units 1 and 2 maintain a very high standard of chemical analysis and structural logic, while Unit 3 extends into high-level physical chemistry calculations (including precise pH buffers and saturated hydroxide masses) and complex transition metal coordination chemistry.
Students with strong quantitative mastery and precise drawing techniques will excel, whereas those relying on rote memorisation will find the application-heavy questions extremely challenging.
- Total marks
- 220
- Duration
- 270 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The June 2025 Chemistry (9620) examination series presents a balanced but mathematically demanding challenge. Units 1 and 2 maintain a very high standard of chemical analysis and structural logic, while Unit 3 extends into high-level physical chemistry calculations (including precise pH buffers and saturated hydroxide masses) and complex transition metal coordination chemistry. Students with strong quantitative mastery and precise drawing techniques will excel, whereas those relying on rote memorisation will find the application-heavy questions extremely challenging.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Unit 1: Inorganic 1 and Physical 1: Unit 2: Organic 1 and Physical 1: Unit 3: Inorganic 2 and Physical 2:
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.
73% 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.
Calculations & Extended Response
126·15·57%
Short Answer & Structural Drawing
85·35·39%
Multiple Choice / Tick-the-Box
9·9·4%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Transition Metals (Ligand Substitution & Catalysis)
85%85%
Rate Equations and Rate-Determining Steps
80%80%
Electrode Potentials and Electrochemical Cells
75%75%
Overall Difficulty Verdict
The June 2025 Chemistry (9620) examination series presents a balanced but mathematically demanding challenge. Units 1 and 2 maintain a very high standard of chemical analysis and structural logic, while Unit 3 extends into high-level physical chemistry calculations (including precise pH buffers and saturated hydroxide masses) and complex transition metal coordination chemistry. Students with strong quantitative mastery and precise drawing techniques will excel, whereas those relying on rote memorisation will find the application-heavy questions extremely challenging.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.