OCR GCSE Gateway Science - Chemistry A - J248 Past Papers
Browse past paper analysis, answer explanations, grade boundary estimates, and thinka-original sample papers by subject and year.
Available years: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022
The attachments cover both June 2025 Foundation papers, J248/01 and J248/02: 180 marks in 210 minutes. Each has 15 multiple-choice marks and 75 structured-response marks, including one six-mark extended task. Accessible recall and scaffolded work are balanced by practical planning, precise explanations and multi-step calculations. Properties of materials is the largest primary chapter allocation. Difficulty, accessibility and forecast ratings are analytical estimates; the supplied documents contain mark schemes but no examiner report.
June 2025 OCR Gateway Chemistry A Higher Tier (J248/03 and J248/04): two 90-mark papers, 180 marks in total. Each has 15 multiple-choice marks followed by structured questions and one 6-mark levels-of-response question. Calculations, practical skills and quantitative chemistry carry the most marks.
The June 2024 OCR GCSE Chemistry A (J248) suite represents a balanced and highly structured assessment of foundational and advanced chemical concepts. Higher tier papers J248/03 and J248/04 presented rigorous quantitative stoichiometry, rate curve tangent determinations, and critical descriptive comparative explanations on bonding, while J248/01 and J248/02 provided solid, accessible routes for Foundation candidates testing standard experimental procedures, balancing, and environmental issues.
A comprehensive analysis of the June 2023 OCR Gateway GCSE Chemistry A series, highlighting key areas of student difficulty in calculations, electrolysis, and level-of-response evaluations.
Comprehensive analysis of the June 2022 OCR GCSE (9-1) Chemistry A J248 examination series, focusing on Paper 3 and Paper 4 (Higher Tier). The exam showcased strong emphasis on quantitative chemistry, experimental design (LOBF graphs, titrations), and environmental evaluations (LCAs).
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