Here is a summary of the OCR A Level Chemistry B (Salters) specification (H433), version 3.0 (June 2025).

Key Characteristics:

• Context-led ("Storyline") Approach: Chemistry concepts are introduced within real-world, contemporary contexts (e.g., developing fuels, medicine, the ozone layer) rather than as standalone topics. This "spiral curriculum" revisits and reinforces ideas throughout the course.
• Focus on Skills: Strong emphasis on developing practical skills and chemical literacy (the ability to comprehend, extract, and apply information from scientific texts and data).
• Co-teachable with AS Level: The first five storylines and practical skills module form the standalone AS Level, allowing flexible progression to the full A Level.

Content Overview: The specification is divided into three main sections, taught through ten storylines:

1. Development of Practical Skills in Chemistry (Module 1): Skills assessed both in written exams (planning, implementing, analysis, evaluation) and through the Practical Endorsement (non-exam assessment).
2. Storylines (Section 2d): Ten thematic modules:
   • Elements of Life
   • Developing Fuels
   • Elements from the Sea
   • The Ozone Story
   • What's in a Medicine?
   • The Chemical Industry
   • Polymers and Life
   • Oceans
   • Developing Metals
   • Colour by Design
3. Chemical Literacy (Section 2e): Skills in extracting, interpreting, and communicating scientific information, assessed across all written papers.

Assessment Structure (A Level):

• Component 01: Fundamentals of Chemistry (2h 15min, 110 marks, 41%) – Written paper covering all content.
• Component 02: Scientific Literacy in Chemistry (2h 15min, 100 marks, 37%) – Written paper with a pre-release article, focusing on chemical literacy.
• Component 03: Practical Skills in Chemistry (1h 30min, 60 marks, 22%) – Written paper assessing practical skills knowledge.
• Component 04: Practical Endorsement in Chemistry (Non-exam assessment) – Teacher-assessed competency in practical work, reported separately as Pass/Not Classified.

Practical Endorsement:

• Requires completion of a minimum of 12 practical activities across defined Practical Activity Groups (PAGs 1-12).
• Students are assessed against Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) covering skills like following procedures, safe working, making observations, and research.
• A pass is required and reported on the certificate but does not contribute to the A-Level grade.

Support & Resources:

• Developed in collaboration with the University of York Science Education Group and supported by the Salters' Institute.
• Offers extensive resources: Delivery Guides, Transition Guides, Topic Exploration Packs, Lesson Elements, Active Results (analysis service), and ExamBuilder (past paper service).
• Includes a pre-release "Advance Notice" article for Component 02, issued in March before the exam.

Administrative Details:

• Total Qualification Time: 360 hours.
• Grading: A* to E for the exam components. The Practical Endorsement is a separate Pass/Not Classified.
• Retakes: Students can retake examined components. The Practical Endorsement result can be carried forward.
• Mathematical Requirements: At least 20% of written exam marks assess Level 2 (or above) mathematical skills applied in a chemistry context.