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Edexcel · GCSE · Chemistry

Free Edexcel GCSE Chemistry
Practice Paper

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

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What the real Edexcel 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

What is crude oil?

  1. A complex mixture of hydrocarbons formed from the remains of ancient sea organisms
  2. A single compound
  3. Water with dissolved minerals
  4. A pure substance
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — A complex mixture of hydrocarbons formed from the remains of ancient sea organisms
Crude oil formed from dead marine organisms over millions of years under heat and pressure. It is a finite (non-renewable) resource.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?

  1. It causes acid rain
  2. It smells bad
  3. It is colourless and odourless, and binds to haemoglobin preventing oxygen transport
  4. It is explosive
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — It is colourless and odourless, and binds to haemoglobin preventing oxygen transport
CO from incomplete combustion binds irreversibly to haemoglobin. This reduces the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. CO is undetectable by smell — hence CO alarms are vital.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3

How do Group 1 metals react with water?

  1. They react vigorously, producing a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
  2. They dissolve quietly
  3. They produce an oxide
  4. They don't react
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — They react vigorously, producing a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
Example: 2Na + 2H₂O → 2NaOH + H₂. Sodium fizzes, melts into a ball, moves around. Potassium reacts even more vigorously (catches fire — lilac flame).
Q4 · Difficulty 1/3

Propanoic acid and ethanol are heated together with a concentrated sulfuric acid catalyst. Which type of reaction is taking place?

  1. Neutralisation
  2. Esterification
  3. Oxidation
  4. Hydrolysis
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Esterification
Esterification is the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol (with an acid catalyst, typically concentrated H₂SO₄) to form an ester and water. Neutralisation involves an acid and a base producing a salt and water. Oxidation would convert an alcohol to an aldehyde, ketone, or acid. Hydrolysis breaks an ester down using water.
Q5 · Difficulty 1/3

How many electrons can the first three electron shells hold?

  1. 2, 8, 8
  2. 2, 8, 18
  3. 2, 6, 10
  4. 1, 8, 8
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — 2, 8, 8
First shell: max 2 electrons. Second shell: max 8. Third shell: max 8 (at GCSE level). Fourth shell then begins filling.
Q6 · Difficulty 1/3

What are the Group 7 elements called?

  1. Noble gases
  2. Halogens
  3. Alkali metals
  4. Metalloids
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Halogens
Group 7: halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine). Reactive non-metals with 7 outer electrons. They exist as diatomic molecules.
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3

What happens during neutralisation?

  1. An acid reacts with a base/alkali to produce salt and water: H⁺ + OH⁻ → H₂O
  2. A metal burns in oxygen
  3. Carbon dioxide is produced
  4. A metal reacts with acid
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — An acid reacts with a base/alkali to produce salt and water: H⁺ + OH⁻ → H₂O
Neutralisation: hydrogen ions from the acid react with hydroxide ions from the alkali to form water. A salt is also produced.
Q8 · Difficulty 1/3

What is an atom?

  1. A molecule
  2. The smallest particle of an element that retains its chemical properties
  3. A compound
  4. An ion
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — The smallest particle of an element that retains its chemical properties
Atoms are the building blocks of matter. They consist of a nucleus (protons + neutrons) surrounded by electrons in shells.
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Edexcel GCSE Chemistry FAQ

What does the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry exam look like?
The Edexcel 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 Edexcel GCSE Chemistry past paper?
Real Edexcel past papers are published directly by Edexcel 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 Edexcel 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.