A/L Science Stream

A/L Chemistry (NIE syllabus)

G.C.E. A/L Chemistry in Sri Lanka follows the National Institute of Education (NIE) syllabus implemented from 2017. It has 14 units and 600 teaching periods across Grades 12 and 13. Grade 12 (367 periods) covers Units 1–10: atomic structure, bonding, chemical calculations, gases, energetics, the s, p and d block elements, and all four organic chemistry units. Grade 13 (233 periods) covers Units 11–14: chemical kinetics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, and industrial chemistry and environmental pollution. Equilibrium is the largest unit, at 94 periods. This is the Sri Lankan G.C.E. (A/L) syllabus, not Cambridge or Edexcel A-Level Chemistry.

Find your unit, not your term

Your school may teach the units in a different order. The NIE presents them in “a sequence appropriate (but not mandatory)”, so pick the unit you are on.

Grade · term (NIE)	Unit	NIE name	Periods	Free pages	Source
Grade 12 · Term 1	1	Atomic structure	35	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 12 · Term 1	2	Structure and bonding	35	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 12 · Term 1	3	Chemical calculations	37	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 12 · Term 2	4	Gaseous state of matter	32	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 12 · Term 2	5	Energetics	41	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 12 · Term 2	6	Chemistry of s, p and d block elements	64	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 12 · Term 3	7	Basic concepts of organic chemistry	17	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 12 · Term 3	8	Hydrocarbons and halohydrocarbons	46	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 12 · Term 3	9	Oxygen containing organic compounds	46	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 12 · Term 3	10	Nitrogen containing organic compounds	14	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 13 · Term 1	11	Chemical kinetics	41	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 13 · Terms 1–2	12	Equilibrium	94	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 13 · Term 2	13	Electrochemistry	33	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii
Grade 13 · Term 3	14	Industrial chemistry and environmental pollution	65	Notes · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii

Names and periods from [S1] p. vii; terms from [S1] p. viii. Grade 13 Term 1 is competency levels 11.1–12.2 and Term 2 is 12.3–13.4, so Unit 12 spans both terms.

Term-by-Term Breakdown

Try one question — no account needed

Model question — written by Idasara, modelled on the G.C.E. (A/L) Chemistry examination pattern

At 700 K, the equilibrium constant K_c for the reaction H₂(g) + I₂(g) ⇌ 2HI(g) is 64.0. If 1.00 mol of H₂ and 1.00 mol of I₂ are introduced into an evacuated 1.00 dm³ rigid reaction vessel at 700 K, what is the equilibrium concentration of HI?

A) 0.80 mol dm⁻³
B) 0.40 mol dm⁻³
C) 1.20 mol dm⁻³
D) 1.60 mol dm⁻³

Check my answer

Correct answer: D) 1.60 mol dm⁻³

Let x mol dm⁻³ of H₂ react. At equilibrium: [H₂] = 1.00 - x, [I₂] = 1.00 - x, and [HI] = 2x. K_c = [HI]² / ([H₂][I₂]) = (2x)² / (1.00 - x)² = 64.0. Taking square root of both sides: 2x / (1.00 - x) = 8.00 ⇒ 2x = 8.00 - 8.00x ⇒ 10.00x = 8.00 ⇒ x = 0.80 mol dm⁻³. Therefore, [HI] = 2x = 2(0.80) = 1.60 mol dm⁻³.

Show worked solution

Step 1: Set up the ICE table (Initial, Change, Equilibrium) in mol dm⁻³ (V = 1.00 dm³): H₂(g) + I₂(g) ⇌ 2HI(g) Initial: 1.00 1.00 0 Change: -x -x +2x Equil: 1.00 - x 1.00 - x 2x Step 2: Write expression for equilibrium constant: K_c = [HI]² / ([H₂][I₂]) = (2x)² / (1.00 - x)² = 64.0 Step 3: Solve algebraically taking positive square root: 2x / (1.00 - x) = √64.0 = 8.00 2x = 8.00(1.00 - x) = 8.00 - 8.00x 10.00x = 8.00 ⇒ x = 0.80 mol dm⁻³ Step 4: Compute equilibrium concentration of HI: [HI] = 2x = 2 × 0.80 = 1.60 mol dm⁻³. Answer: 1.60 mol dm⁻³.

Get your own answer marked

How the exam works

G.C.E. A/L Chemistry is set by the Department of Examinations in two papers (the structure for the examination from 2019 onwards). Paper I takes 2 hours: 50 multiple-choice questions with 5 options, all to be answered, at 1 mark each — 50 marks. Paper II takes 3 hours, plus 10 minutes' reading time, and has three parts, some questions based on the practicals in the syllabus: Part A, 4 compulsory structured essay questions (general, inorganic, physical and organic chemistry) at 100 marks each; Part B, answer 2 of 3 essay questions at 150 marks each; Part C, answer 2 of 3 essay questions at 150 marks each — 1,000 marks. The final mark is Paper I (50) plus Paper II divided by 20 (50), out of 100. (Department of Examinations structure booklet, p. 31.)

Department of Examinations — Structure of Question Papers, G.C.E. (A/L) 2019 and afterwards, Volume 1 (English, PDF)

Where should I start?

One short block per reader, one link each. These are suggestions, not rules; the unit table above is the map.

Starting Grade 12 — The NIE’s first term is Units 1–3: atomic structure, structure and bonding, and chemical calculations. → Unit 1 notes
In Grade 13 — Equilibrium (Unit 12) has the most teaching time of any unit, 94 of 600 periods, and spans two terms. → Equilibrium practice
Sitting the examination again — Practise unit by unit, then get your answers marked. → All A/L Chemistry practice
Studying in Sinhala → සිංහල
Studying in Tamil → தமிழ்
A parent — What your child gets, and what it costs. → Pricing · For parents

Free study resources by topic

Guides

Questions students ask

Is organic chemistry taught in Grade 12 or Grade 13?

Grade 12, in the third term: Units 7–10, from basic concepts to nitrogen-containing compounds. ([S1] p. viii: Grade 12 Third Term, competency levels 7.1–10.3)

Do I have to study the units in the NIE order?

No. The NIE presents the 14 units “in a sequence appropriate (but not mandatory) to be followed during teaching”, so your school may teach them in a different order. ([S1] p. ii)

Which unit is the largest?

Unit 12, Equilibrium: 94 of the 600 periods. The next largest are Unit 14, Industrial chemistry and environmental pollution (65), and Unit 6, the s, p and d block elements (64). ([S1] p. vii)

Are the practical experiments part of the syllabus?

Yes. The experiments listed at the end of each subunit are “an essential component of the syllabus”. ([S1] p. ii)

Is this the same as Cambridge A-Level Chemistry?

No. This is the Sri Lankan G.C.E. (A/L) syllabus published by the NIE, with its own units and its own examination. ([S1] title page)