Chemistry as a Subject Choice: Evidence from A-level and HKDSE

Chemistry merits serious consideration as an examination subject. The published Chemistry results provide a strong reason to include the subject when considering examination options, rather than dismiss it on the assumption that strong grades are out of reach. These are national examination statistics, not Mindspire Learn student outcomes. They do not predict an individual's grade. The broader recommendation to consider Science is an educational judgement; the evidence presented here concerns Chemistry alone.

UK A-level Chemistry: A* and A*/A

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) publishes provisional A-level results each August and keeps past tables in its results archive.[1][2][3][4][5][6][15] The figures below are for all UK candidates (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), all ages, with every awarding body combined. Percentages are cumulative, so A*/A means A* or A. Values are rounded to one decimal place.

Years shown as the last two digits (e.g. 19 = 2019). All grade figures in the table are percentages.

England-only figures are published separately and differ slightly. The JCQ totals cover AQA, Cambridge OCR, Pearson Edexcel, WJEC Eduqas and CCEA together.[14] AQA is simply one example of a board; no board-level figures are shown here.

HKDSE Chemistry: Level 5 and above

The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) publishes subject results for each year.[7] HKDSE Chemistry is reported in levels from 5** down to 1, plus U. Level 5+ below means 5** plus 5* plus 5. The 5+ figures are as published by HKEAA (one decimal place); the separate 5* and 5 figures are worked out by subtraction from published cumulative figures, so they may differ by about 0.1 from unrounded values.

Years shown as the last two digits (e.g. 19 = 2019). All grade figures in the table are percentages.

"All candidates" includes school and private candidates. "Day school candidates" covers day schools offering the normal HKDSE curriculum.[7] At the time of writing, HKEAA's examination statistics page did not yet list 2026 tables, so 2026 is not shown.[16]

Why the two tables cannot be compared directly

The two tables should not be treated as a direct comparison. The A level and the HKDSE are different qualifications with different candidates, different syllabuses and papers, different grade scales and different grading arrangements. An A*/A percentage and a Level 5+ percentage measure different things in different groups of students. Neither table shows that one grade "equals" another, and this article makes no such claim.

Why 2020 to 2022 stand apart in the UK

In summer 2020, exams were cancelled. Students in the UK finally received the higher of their centre assessment grade or calculated grade, and JCQ says that year's results are not directly comparable with earlier years.[8] In 2021, exams were again cancelled; in England, students received teacher assessed grades instead.[9]

In England, Ofqual made 2022 a transition year, aiming for results midway between 2021 and 2019.[10] For 2023 it confirmed a return to pre-pandemic grading, with some protection for students.[11] That is why the 2020–2022 rows look so different: they show changes in how grades were decided, not a sudden change in Chemistry students.

What the numbers do and do not tell you

Published achievement supports considering Chemistry. Roughly a third of UK entries gaining A*/A in recent exam years shows substantial achievement. The HKDSE table likewise records candidates attaining its highest levels. These results provide a strong basis for recommending that students consider Chemistry as an examination subject. They do not establish how likely a particular student is to achieve a given grade.

A grade share is not a difficulty score. Chemistry is chosen at this stage, and the candidates entering matter: JCQ cautions that similar entry numbers need not mean similar groups of students.[8] Ofqual also notes that changes in the ability of those entering can affect results.[10] These qualifications limit what a percentage can predict without diminishing the achievement recorded in the tables.

Subject choice is not a shortcut to a grade. Grade boundaries respond to paper difficulty to maintain standards; different boundaries do not make a board a better route to a grade.[12] Ofqual warns against searching for the supposedly most favourable board.[13] The case for Chemistry rests on engagement with the subject, not a promise about marks.

What is worth building early

Chemistry is strongly recommended for consideration as an examination subject, alongside serious consideration of Science in subject choices. That broader recommendation is an educational judgement, not a statistical finding about every Science subject: the tables here concern Chemistry alone. The available courses and the student's interests should be discussed with the school so that the decision reflects both the subject and its requirements.

Preparation can focus on clear concepts and thoughtful practice:

• Understand the explanation. In bonding, energetics or equilibrium, consider what the model explains and why it fits. Connecting ideas is more useful than collecting isolated sentences.
• Practise calculations deliberately. Moles, concentrations, yields and rates require attention to units and significant figures. Reviewing the reasoning behind a correction matters as well as checking the final answer.
• Use scientific reasoning. Explanations should link observations to particles and show the steps between a fact and a conclusion. Unanswered questions can be explored with a teacher.
• Prepare for the relevant examination. Preparation should use the qualification's specification, questions and mark schemes, including practice in reading command words, showing working and checking whether an answer addresses the question asked.

Certainty of a top grade is not a prerequisite for choosing Chemistry. The published results support a positive, informed subject choice, followed by purposeful study and a willingness to engage with its demands.

Where to go next

Published A-level and HKDSE results give good reason to consider Chemistry; the next step is preparing for it early and steadily.

Free AQA A-level Chemistry Guide (in English): a clear overview of the AQA A-level course. Get the free guide

1-to-1 Chemistry tuition with Teacher Tommy: personal feedback on your answers. Tuition enquiry

Prefer to message? WhatsApp Tommy