OCR GCSE Combined Science Chemistry, Higher tier exam papers and weighting (J250)
Guide overview All topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
What each OCR GCSE Combined Science Chemistry, Higher tier paper assesses
OCR GCSE Combined Science A (Gateway Science, specification J250) is worth two GCSEs and is examined by six papers, two for each science, each 1 hour 10 minutes and 60 marks. The chemistry content is sat as Paper 9 (Chemistry) and Paper 10 (Chemistry), together a third of the qualification. This is the Higher tier: it carries everything on the Foundation papers plus the higher-tier content, and grades 9–9 to 4–4 of the double award are available, with an allowed grade 4–3 for a student just below the 4–4 boundary.
| Paper | Covers | Length | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Paper 9 (Chemistry) Paper 9 (Chemistry) |
Chemical Reactions Elements, Compounds and Mixtures Particles Tests for oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and chlorine, from Predicting and Identifying Reactions Mass of a solute and concentration, from Monitoring and Controlling Chemical Reactions |
1 hour 10 minutes | 60 marks | 16.7% |
|
Paper 10 (Chemistry) Paper 10 (Chemistry) |
Global Challenges Monitoring and Controlling Chemical Reactions, apart from the mass of a solute and concentration Predicting and Identifying Reactions, apart from the gas tests |
1 hour 10 minutes | 60 marks | 16.7% |
Every topic, and where it is examined
| Topic | Examined on | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Reactions | Paper 9 (Chemistry) | 276 |
| Elements, Compounds and Mixtures | Paper 9 (Chemistry) | 221 |
| Global Challenges | Paper 10 (Chemistry) | 175 |
| Monitoring and Controlling Chemical Reactions | 123 | |
| Particles | Paper 9 (Chemistry) | 68 |
| Predicting and Identifying Reactions | 53 |
Assessment details from the OCR GCSE Combined Science A (Gateway Science) J250, version 5.0, May 2026. OCR specification.
OCR GCSE Combined Science Chemistry, Higher tier Active Recall Guide
916 questions across every paper on the specification.