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AQA · GCSE · Chemistry

Free AQA GCSE Chemistry
Practice Paper

8 mixed-difficulty practice questions in the style of real AQA GCSE papers — answers, mark-scheme-style explanations, and the official exam structure all on one page.

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What the real AQA GCSE Chemistry paper looks like

Paper 1
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 1-4 of the specification.
Paper 2
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 5-8 of the specification.
Paper 3
Where applicable — e.g. Combined Science, Languages. Includes synoptic and applied questions.
Total exam time: ~3 hours across two or three papers.
Grading: Grades: 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), with U (ungraded). A grade of 4 is a standard pass; 5 is a strong pass.

Mini practice paper: 8 questions

Mixed-difficulty questions from across the Chemistry syllabus. Tap "Show answer" after each to check yourself.

Q1 · Difficulty 1/3

Electrons are arranged around the nucleus in:

  1. The nucleus
  2. Random positions touching the nucleus
  3. A single layer only
  4. Shells (energy levels)
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — Shells (energy levels)
Electrons occupy shells (energy levels) around the nucleus, filling the lowest energy level first.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3

Which reagent is added first when testing for sulfate ions in a solution?

  1. Dilute hydrochloric acid
  2. Dilute nitric acid
  3. Dilute sulfuric acid
  4. Dilute ethanoic acid
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — Dilute hydrochloric acid
Dilute hydrochloric acid is added first to acidify the solution and remove any carbonate ions that could give a false positive precipitate. Barium chloride solution is then added; a white precipitate of barium sulfate confirms sulfate ions.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the relative mass of a neutron?

  1. 1/1836
  2. 2
  3. 0
  4. 1
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — 1
A neutron has a relative mass of 1, the same as a proton. Only the electron has a negligible relative mass of about 1/1836.
Q4 · Difficulty 1/3

An element is a substance made of:

  1. Only molecules of water
  2. Only one type of atom
  3. Two or more elements chemically joined
  4. A mixture of atoms
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Only one type of atom
An element contains only one type of atom and cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
Q5 · Difficulty 1/3

In an exothermic reaction, which of the following correctly describes the energy change?

  1. Energy is transferred from the surroundings to the reaction
  2. Energy is transferred from the reaction to the surroundings
  3. The temperature of the surroundings decreases
  4. The bond energies of the products are lower than those of the reactants
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Energy is transferred from the reaction to the surroundings
That transfer is what makes a reaction exothermic, and it is why the temperature of the surroundings rises rather than falls. A transfer in the opposite direction, or a fall in the temperature of the surroundings, describes an endothermic reaction instead; and in an exothermic reaction the bonds formed in the products are stronger than those broken in the reactants, not weaker.
Q6 · Difficulty 1/3

In an endothermic reaction, the temperature of the surroundings:

  1. Decreases
  2. Increases
  3. Stays exactly the same
  4. Doubles
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — Decreases
Endothermic reactions take in energy from the surroundings, so the surrounding temperature decreases.
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3

Which of the following correctly describes an exothermic reaction?

  1. Energy is transferred from the surroundings to the reaction
  2. Energy is transferred from the reaction to the surroundings
  3. Bond breaking releases more energy than bond forming absorbs
  4. The temperature of the surroundings decreases during the reaction
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Energy is transferred from the reaction to the surroundings
The temperature of the surroundings rises as a result. A transfer from the surroundings into the reaction and a fall in the temperature of the surroundings both describe endothermic changes, and in an exothermic reaction it is bond forming, not bond breaking, that involves the greater quantity of energy.
Q8 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the definition of percentage yield?

  1. (actual yield ÷ theoretical yield) × 100
  2. (theoretical yield ÷ actual yield) × 100
  3. (mass of reactants ÷ mass of products) × 100
  4. (atom economy ÷ actual yield) × 100
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — (actual yield ÷ theoretical yield) × 100
Percentage yield compares the actual yield obtained in an experiment to the maximum theoretical yield possible, expressed as a percentage. Option B inverts the fraction, which is a common student error. Options C and D describe unrelated or invented quantities.
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AQA GCSE Chemistry FAQ

What does the AQA GCSE Chemistry exam look like?
The AQA GCSE Chemistry exam is structured across 3 components. Paper 1: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 1-4 of the specification. Paper 2: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 5-8 of the specification. Paper 3: Where applicable — e.g. Combined Science, Languages. Includes synoptic and applied questions. Total exam time: ~3 hours across two or three papers.
Can I download a free AQA GCSE Chemistry past paper?
Real AQA past papers are published directly by AQA on their official website. Kramizo doesn't redistribute copyrighted past papers, but we do generate free AI-written practice papers in the exact same style — same command words, same difficulty tier, same mark conventions. Use this practice paper as warm-up, then time yourself on official past papers before exam day.
How is AQA GCSE Chemistry graded?
Grades: 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), with U (ungraded). A grade of 4 is a standard pass; 5 is a strong pass. Kramizo's practice questions are tagged with difficulty 1-3 mapping roughly to the lower, middle, and top grade boundaries you'll encounter in the real exam.