CHEMISTRY-YCH11 · Pearson Edexcel International A Level
CHEMISTRY-YCH11/22
Paper 2
Chemistry · Winter 2026 · Variant 2
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Pearson Edexcel
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
440
550 min
Organic Synthesis, Transition Metal Complexes, and Stoichiometric Calculations
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
440
Duration
550 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
A rigorous and mathematically demanding IAS/IA2 Edexcel Chemistry examination series, testing precise stoichiometry, complex kinetic/thermodynamic plots, and multi-step organic synthesis mechanisms.
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: 7100%Organic
Weight: 686%Mechanist
Weight: 571%Recall of Practical Level Analysis Analysis Analysis of Response
Weight: 457%
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. 90% of maximum mark
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
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “Write” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Predict” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.4
Min per mark: 1.2
Min per mark: 1.2
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Transition Metals and their Chemistry
48 marks this session
Formulae, Equations and Amount of Substance
45 marks this session
Organic Synthesis
40 marks this session
Organic Chemistry: Alcohols, Halogenoalkanes and Spectra
38 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
Formulae, Equations and Amount of Substance
Transition Metals and their Chemistry
Organic Chemistry: Alcohols, Halogenoalkanes and Spectra
Organic Chemistry: Carbonyls, Carboxylic Acids and Chirality
Organic Nitrogen Compounds: Amines, Amides, Amino Acids and Proteins
Organic Synthesis
Kinetics (Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry)
Bonding and Structure
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Unit 1: Structure, Bonding and Introduction to Organic Chemistry (WCH11/01A): Unit 2: Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes and Alcohols (WCH12/01A): Unit 3: Practical Skills in Chemistry I (WCH13/01A): Unit 4: Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry (WCH14/01A): Unit 5: Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry (WCH15/01A): Unit 6: Practical Skills in Chemistry II (WCH16/01A):
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
Transition Metals and their Chemistry
48 marks this session
Practise in RevuiFormulae, Equations and Amount of Substance
45 marks this session
Practise in RevuiOrganic Synthesis
40 marks this session
Practise in RevuiOrganic Chemistry: Alcohols, Halogenoalkanes and Spectra
38 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
A rigorous and mathematically demanding IAS/IA2 Edexcel Chemistry examination series, testing precise stoichiometry, complex kinetic/thermodynamic plots, and multi-step organic synthesis mechanisms.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
Winter 2026 2026
Chemistry
A rigorous and mathematically demanding IAS/IA2 Edexcel Chemistry examination series, testing precise stoichiometry, complex kinetic/thermodynamic plots, and multi-step organic synthesis mechanisms.
A rigorous and mathematically demanding IAS/IA2 Edexcel Chemistry examination series, testing precise stoichiometry, complex kinetic/thermodynamic plots, and multi-step organic synthesis mechanisms.
- Total marks
- 440
- Duration
- 550 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
A rigorous and mathematically demanding IAS/IA2 Edexcel Chemistry examination series, testing precise stoichiometry, complex kinetic/thermodynamic plots, and multi-step organic synthesis mechanisms.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Unit 1: Structure, Bonding and Introduction to Organic Chemistry (WCH11/01A): Unit 2: Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes and Alcohols (WCH12/01A): Unit 3: Practical Skills in Chemistry I (WCH13/01A): Unit 4: Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry (WCH14/01A): Unit 5: Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry (WCH15/01A): Unit 6: Practical Skills in Chemistry II (WCH16/01A):
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.
74% 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
(Written)
180·115·41%
Calculations
(Numerical)
120·45·27%
Multiple Choice
80·80·18%
Extended Writing
(LOR)
60·10·14%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
IAS Papers (WCH11,
0.83 m/minIAS Papers (WCH11,
0.71 m/minIA2 Papers (WCH14,
0.83 m/minTotal marks
250
Total time
330 min
Avg pace
0.76
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Standard Hydrogen Electrode & Redox Cell Diagrams
85%85%
Arenes: Electrophilic Substitution Mechanism
80%80%
Paper analysis
Structural analysis of the January 2026 Edexcel International IAS/IA2 Chemistry papers reveals a highly balanced but demanding series. Spanning Units 1 to 6, this assessment prioritizes conceptual precision, mathematical mastery, and robust practical knowledge. While Unit 1 and Unit 2 standard questions remained highly accessible, Section B and C across all papers presented steeper conceptual hurdles, demanding deep integration of organic mechanisms and quantitative analysis.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.