Cambridge IAS-Level · Analysis & Prediction

2024 Cambridge IAS-Level Chemistry (9701) Past Paper Analysis

The October/November 2024 series combined a demanding Paper 12 with a highly structured and conceptual Paper 22. While standard organic conversions and atomic stoichiometry remained accessible, candidates were heavily tested on precise chemical definitions, stereochemical counting, and organic mechanisms, making thorough conceptual mastery and exact phrasing critical to securing high marks.

Updated: 12 Jun 2026

Analysis Sample paper

Difficulty 3.5/5

Total marks

100

Duration

150 mins

Most tested

Periodicity of Period 3 Elements and Organic Synthesis Pathways

Paper breakdown

Paper 12 (Multiple Choice): 40 marks · 75 minsPaper 22 (AS Level Structured): 60 marks · 75 mins

Top chapters

Carbonyl compounds · 11 marksPeriodicity of chemical properties of the elements in Period 3 · 12 marksAlcohols (Hydroxy compounds) · 10 marksNitrogen and sulfur · 10 marks

Difficulty Verdict

The AS Chemistry 9701 October/November 2024 series sits at a moderate-to-high difficulty level (3.5 out of 5). Paper 12 (Multiple Choice) introduced several intricate stereoisomer counting questions and physical chemistry calculations, while Paper 22 required exact terminology and highly precise mechanism drawings to secure full marks.

Where the Marks Are

High-yield mark areas were concentrated in Period 3 Periodicity and Carbonyl Compounds, which together accounted for nearly a quarter of the total marks across both papers. Success in these sections was driven by knowing specific reaction equations, such as the acidic hydrolysis of nitriles, and the direct observation of flame tests and precipitate formations.

Examiner Pitfalls & Lost Marks

Vague Definitions: Many candidates lost marks on Paper 22 by failing to reference the unified atomic mass unit or 1/12th the mass of an atom of carbon-12 when defining relative isotopic mass.
Mechanism Inaccuracies: In the electrophilic addition of bromine to ethene, curly arrows must originate directly from the electron-dense double bond or lone pairs, pointing directly to the target electrophilic center. Loose arrows cost easy marks.
IE Equations: Forgetting state symbols (g) in gaseous ionisation energy equations is a recurring error that cost marks in the phosphorus question.

Preparation Strategy

To succeed, students must transition from rote memorisation to active structural drawing. Focus on sketching clear mechanisms with explicit dipoles and intermediate charges. Additionally, practice converting skeletal structures into molecular formulas to avoid simple counting errors in mass spectrometry and stoichiometry questions.

Prediction for Future Sessions

Expect upcoming sessions to heavily test Group 17 halide reactions and Born-Haber cycles, which were relatively light in this series. Mastery of enthalpy of hydration trends and transition element characteristics should also be prioritised as these topics are highly overdue for prominent structured questions.

Charts

Marks by chapter

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Question type mix

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Multiple Choice40 marks · 40 questions
Structured Questions60 marks · 4 questions

Mark accessibility

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80%within easy or medium reach

easy: 35 marksmedium: 45 markshard: 20 marks

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

Command word frequency

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Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

Period 3 Oxides & Chlorides

12 marks · Difficulty 2 · recurrence 5%

Isotopes & Stoichiometry

9 marks · Difficulty 2.2 · recurrence 5%

Carbonyl Chemistry Reactions

11 marks · Difficulty 3.5 · recurrence 5%

Organic Mechanism Curly Arrows

6 marks · Difficulty 4 · recurrence 4%

Group 2 Carbonate & Nitrate trends

8 marks · Difficulty 2.5 · recurrence 4%

Time vs marks

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marksmins

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Born-Haber Cycles & Lattice Energy85%

Lattice energy calculations were noticeably absent from Paper 22 structured questions this session, making it a primary candidate for the next exam cycle.

Group 17 Halide Reactions80%

Halide displacement and reducing power of halides are core inorganic focus areas that were tested briefly in Paper 12 but are overdue for a deep-dive structured question.

Infrared and Mass Spectroscopy Deduction75%

Analytical techniques are consistently paired with organic synthesis pathways to test real-world deductive skills in AS organic chemistry.

Topic-year heatmap

Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.

Jun 2023 (V1)

Jun 2023 (V2)

Jun 2023 (V3)

Nov 2023 (V1)

Nov 2023 (V2)

Nov 2023 (V3)

Jun 2024 (V1)

Jun 2024 (V2)

Jun 2024 (V3)

Nov 2024 (V1)

Nov 2024 (V2)

Atomic structure (Physical chemistry (AS Level))

Electrons, energy levels and atomic orbitals

Ionisation energy

Particles in the atom and atomic radius

Atoms, molecules and stoichiometry (Physical chemistry (AS Level))

Relative masses of atoms and molecules

Reacting masses and volumes

The gaseous state: ideal and real gases and pV = nRT

Formulas

Shapes of molecules

Examiner insights

Official report

Common pitfalls

Starting curly arrows from atoms instead of lone pairs or pi bonds in electrophilic mechanisms.
Omitting the gas state symbol '(g)' when defining or writing equations for first, second, or third ionisation energies.
Confusing the acidic hydrolysis of nitriles (forming carboxylic acids + NH4+) with alkaline hydrolysis.

Misconceptions

Assuming that all compounds containing both oxygen and hydrogen automatically undergo intermolecular hydrogen bonding.
Believing that P=P triple bonds are stronger and less reactive than N=N triple bonds, whereas P2 is highly reactive due to orbital overlap inefficiencies.
Thinking that the common ion effect decreases mass rather than shifting equilibrium towards the solid phase.

Where marks are lost

Under-specifying the standard carbon-12 scale when defining relative isotopic mass.
Miscounting structural isomers by forgetting that cyclic structures can exhibit optical or cis/trans stereoisomerism.
Failing to balance equations with appropriate coefficients for water in organic acid hydrolyses.

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