MG
Mrs Gillian Ross, parent
June 2026
Verified
A*My daughter kept losing marks on mechanisms — curly arrows in the wrong places. The tutor rebuilt her understanding from scratch and she went from a B to an A* ...
AQA A-Level Chemistry · London
A-Level specialist tutoring
A-Level ChemistryTutoring
Expert 1-on-1 A-Level Chemistry tutoring for AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and CIE. Master organic mechanisms, equilibria, and spectroscopy — and reach Grade A or A*.
91%
reach Grade A or above
+1.9
average grade improvement
11+
years average tutor experience
Free
first lesson, no commitment
AQAEdexcel (Pearson)OCR ACIE AAQAEdexcel (Pearson)OCR ACIE AAQAEdexcel (Pearson)OCR ACIE A
Built around your exact paper, not generic tutoring.
We cover every major specification. Your tutor matches your board, tier, and mark-scheme language so every lesson points toward exam performance.
AQA7405+
Three 2-hour papers. Papers 1 and 2 cover inorganic/organic content respectively; Paper 3 covers practical skills and synoptic questions across the whole syllabus.
Edexcel (Pearson)9CH0+
Three papers including a core practical paper. Strong quantitative chemistry emphasis. Includes a Nuffield-influenced practical approach.
OCR AH432+
Three papers covering foundations, core organic/inorganic chemistry, and a unified chemistry paper with practical assessment.
CIE A-Level9701+
The international A-Level Chemistry specification. AS and A2 components plus a practical paper. Taken by students at international schools worldwide.
AQA
7405Three 2-hour papers. Papers 1 and 2 cover inorganic/organic content respectively; Paper 3 covers practical skills and synoptic questions across the whole syllabus.
Edexcel (Pearson)
9CH0Three papers including a core practical paper. Strong quantitative chemistry emphasis. Includes a Nuffield-influenced practical approach.
OCR A
H432Three papers covering foundations, core organic/inorganic chemistry, and a unified chemistry paper with practical assessment.
CIE A-Level
9701The international A-Level Chemistry specification. AS and A2 components plus a practical paper. Taken by students at international schools worldwide.
Lesson flow
From confusion to calm, one lesson at a time.
Our tutors cover the full A-Level syllabus with particular emphasis on organic mechanisms and the calculations that determine grade boundaries at the top end.
Step 1
Pinpoint the gaps
We start with recent marks, confidence blockers, and the exact exam board so sessions feel personal from lesson one.
Step 2
Teach the mark scheme
Tutors connect concepts to examiner language, worked examples, and the habits that turn knowledge into marks.
Step 3
Track the lift
Parents see what changed after each session: topics covered, next steps, and the grade trajectory we are building toward.
What we cover
A syllabus map students can actually follow.
1Physical Chemistry — Atomic Structure & Bonding+
Ionisation energies, electron configuration, ionic and covalent bonding, shapes of molecules (VSEPR), and intermolecular forces — with exam application at every stage.
2Physical Chemistry — Energetics & Equilibrium+
Enthalpy changes (Hess's law, Born-Haber cycles), entropy, Gibbs free energy, equilibrium constants (Kc, Kp), and Le Chatelier's principle.
3Physical Chemistry — Kinetics & Electrochemistry+
Rate equations, order of reaction, activation energy (Arrhenius equation), electrode potentials, electrochemical cells, and electrolysis.
4Inorganic Chemistry+
Periodicity, Group 2 (alkaline earth metals), Group 7 (halogens), transition metals (ligand substitution, colour, redox), and qualitative analysis.
5Organic Chemistry — Core Mechanisms+
Nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic addition, electrophilic aromatic substitution, nucleophilic addition-elimination, and free radical substitution.
6Organic Chemistry — Synthesis & Analysis+
Multi-step synthesis routes, functional group interconversions, retrosynthesis, chromatography, and spectroscopic analysis (IR, mass spec, NMR).
7Practical Skills & Synoptic Chemistry+
Required practicals, data analysis, evaluating experimental results, and synoptic questions that link topics across the full specification.
Physical Chemistry — Atomic Structure & Bonding
Ionisation energies, electron configuration, ionic and covalent bonding, shapes of molecules (VSEPR), and intermolecular forces — with exam application at every stage.
Physical Chemistry — Energetics & Equilibrium
Enthalpy changes (Hess's law, Born-Haber cycles), entropy, Gibbs free energy, equilibrium constants (Kc, Kp), and Le Chatelier's principle.
Physical Chemistry — Kinetics & Electrochemistry
Rate equations, order of reaction, activation energy (Arrhenius equation), electrode potentials, electrochemical cells, and electrolysis.
Inorganic Chemistry
Periodicity, Group 2 (alkaline earth metals), Group 7 (halogens), transition metals (ligand substitution, colour, redox), and qualitative analysis.
Organic Chemistry — Core Mechanisms
Nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic addition, electrophilic aromatic substitution, nucleophilic addition-elimination, and free radical substitution.
Organic Chemistry — Synthesis & Analysis
Multi-step synthesis routes, functional group interconversions, retrosynthesis, chromatography, and spectroscopic analysis (IR, mass spec, NMR).
Practical Skills & Synoptic Chemistry
Required practicals, data analysis, evaluating experimental results, and synoptic questions that link topics across the full specification.
+1.9
average grade improvement
Common blockers
Where students struggle, and how we fix it.
1Organic mechanisms under exam conditions+
Mechanisms must be drawn with correct curly arrows, lone pairs, charges, and intermediates. We build each mechanism systematically — nucleophiles attacking electrophiles, leaving groups departing, and delocalised systems stabilising — until students can draw any mechanism from first principles.
2Equilibrium and thermodynamics calculations+
Kc, Kp, Born-Haber cycles, and Gibbs free energy calculations involve careful unit tracking and multi-step reasoning. We practise with real past-paper questions and teach a consistent method for each calculation type.
3NMR and spectroscopic analysis+
Students often lose marks on spectroscopy because they do not know the systematic approach. We teach the method: use the molecular formula, then IR, then ¹H NMR (integration ratios, chemical shifts, splitting patterns), then mass spectrum fragmentation — to deduce the structure step by step.
Real specialists
Meet tutors with examiner instincts.
Specialist tutors with board knowledge, strong academic backgrounds, and proven grade-improvement records.
AQA Senior ExaminerDr Emma Clarke
Cambridge PhD Chemistry · AQA Examiner
A-Level Chemistry (all boards), IGCSE Chemistry, IB Chemistry
Avg +2.0 grade improvement
Organic SpecialistMr Yusuf Ibrahim
UCL MSc Chemistry
A-Level Chemistry AQA and Edexcel, organic mechanisms specialist
93% of students reach Grade A+
CIE ExaminerDr Priya Nair
Imperial PhD Chemistry
CIE A-Level Chemistry 9701, IB Chemistry HL
Physical chemistry and spectroscopy specialist
Proof that feels close to home.
NK
Nathan K., student
June 2026
Verified
ANMR interpretation was completely lost on me. After two sessions with a clear systematic method, I could work out any structure. The spectroscopy questions beca...
Edexcel A-Level Chemistry · Birmingham
MW
Mr William Fong, parent
June 2026
Verified
AWe needed a CIE Chemistry examiner for our son at an international school. The tutor's knowledge of the CIE question style and mark scheme was exactly what he n...
CIE A-Level Chemistry 9701 · Hong Kong
Sarah M.
June 2026
Verified
Grade 4 → 6My daughter was struggling with IB Mathematics HL and had almost given up hope of getting a 7. After just two months of weekly sessions with her ComboTutors tut...
Parent of IB Student · London
James P.
June 2026
Verified
B → A*My son started tutoring for A-Level Physics about three months before his exams. His tutor was incredibly patient and broke down complex topics like electromagn...
Parent of A-Level Student · Manchester
Priya K.
June 2026
Verified
+2 GradesWe needed help with GCSE Science for my son who found chemistry particularly challenging. His tutor made the sessions engaging and relatable—using real-world ex...
Parent of GCSE Student · Birmingham
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98%
Student Improvement Rate
4.97
Average Rating
1,200+
Families Supported
Since 2020
Academic Excellence
Family trust
Why parents chose Combo.
Families usually want three things: a tutor their child respects, a plan that fits the real paper, and updates that make progress easy to follow.
Handpicked tutors
We shortlist tutors who know the curriculum, teach clearly, and can coach the exact exam habits that lift marks.
Top-university academics and exam-savvy specialists.
Clear weekly updates
Parents see what was covered, what improved, and what needs attention next, so progress never feels vague.
Structured feedback after every lesson block.
A plan built around your child's paper
Sessions are matched to the student's board, tier, topic gaps, and exam timeline instead of generic subject tutoring.
Board-specific support with a measurable target grade path.
Questions families ask before starting.
How important is organic chemistry at A-Level?+
Organic chemistry makes up approximately 30–40% of most A-Level Chemistry specifications. Mechanisms, synthesis routes, and spectroscopic analysis appear in all three papers. Strong organic chemistry knowledge is arguably the single biggest factor separating B from A/A* students.
What are the required practicals?+
AQA, Edexcel, and OCR each specify a set of required practicals that must be completed at school. Questions based on these practicals appear in the written papers. We cover the procedures, data analysis, and evaluation for all major required practicals across all boards.
Is A-Level Chemistry harder than Biology?+
A-Level Chemistry has a heavier calculation burden and requires more mechanical skill (mechanisms, equation writing). A-Level Biology has more descriptive content and longer essays. Many students find Chemistry the harder step-up from GCSE. Both reward consistent practice.
Do you cover spectroscopy (NMR, IR, mass spec)?+
Yes — spectroscopic analysis is a major section of all A-Level Chemistry specifications. We teach a systematic approach to IR (functional group identification), mass spectrometry (fragmentation), and ¹H and ¹³C NMR (chemical shifts, splitting patterns, integration).
How important is organic chemistry at A-Level?
Organic chemistry makes up approximately 30–40% of most A-Level Chemistry specifications. Mechanisms, synthesis routes, and spectroscopic analysis appear in all three papers. Strong organic chemistry knowledge is arguably the single biggest factor separating B from A/A* students.
What are the required practicals?
AQA, Edexcel, and OCR each specify a set of required practicals that must be completed at school. Questions based on these practicals appear in the written papers. We cover the procedures, data analysis, and evaluation for all major required practicals across all boards.
Is A-Level Chemistry harder than Biology?
A-Level Chemistry has a heavier calculation burden and requires more mechanical skill (mechanisms, equation writing). A-Level Biology has more descriptive content and longer essays. Many students find Chemistry the harder step-up from GCSE. Both reward consistent practice.
Do you cover spectroscopy (NMR, IR, mass spec)?
Yes — spectroscopic analysis is a major section of all A-Level Chemistry specifications. We teach a systematic approach to IR (functional group identification), mass spectrometry (fragmentation), and ¹H and ¹³C NMR (chemical shifts, splitting patterns, integration).
Ready to Excel in A-Level Chemistry?
Book a free consultation and we will match you with a specialist A-Level a-level chemistry tutor who can make a real difference.