Higher Chemistry
From session 2026/27, Higher Chemistry has one 100-mark paper lasting 2 hours 30 minutes. The assignment is scaled to 25 marks. The 2027 exam is on Friday 21 May, 9am to 11:30am.
- Question paper09:00 to 11:30
What grade is my mark?
Type a total mark to see the grade it would have got.
How the A and C boundaries have moved
Boundaries as a share of the total marks. A lower line means the papers were judged harder that year. Qualifications Scotland publishes boundaries from 2022 in this format.
| Year | Out of | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 150 | 105 | 87 | 70 | 52 |
| 2025 | 150 | 108 | 92 | 77 | 61 |
| 2024 | 150 | 101 | 83 | 65 | 47 |
| 2023 | 120 | 80 | 65 | 50 | 35 |
| 2022 | 120 | 84 | 68 | 53 | 37 |
The 2026/27 structure
Higher Chemistry now has one question paper in place of two. It is worth 100 marks and lasts 2 hours 30 minutes.
Section 1 is a 20-mark objective test. Section 2 holds 80 marks of restricted and extended response questions, including open-ended ones. A data booklet with formulae and data is provided.
The assignment is still marked out of 20, but is scaled to 25 marks, down from 30. The course is out of 125, with the exam worth 80%.
The 2027 exam is on Friday 21 May, from 9am to 11:30am.
What you study
Chemical changes and structure covers periodicity, bonding and oxidising and reducing agents. Nature's chemistry covers carbon compounds: alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, fats and oils, soaps, proteins and fragrances. Chemistry in society covers yields, rates, enthalpy, equilibria and chemical analysis.
Researching chemistry covers apparatus and practical techniques. It underpins the assignment and appears in the exam too.
The assignment
You choose a topic, collect data from an experiment, compare it with other sources, then write a report. The whole task should take no more than 8 hours. The report stage lasts up to 2 hours under supervision.
In 2025, most candidates stated a clear aim and presented their graphs well. Fewer made a valid comparison between their own results and data from the internet or literature.
Where marks were lost in 2025
The 2025 course report noted these weak spots:
- explaining fully why sodium has a higher second ionisation energy than magnesium
- defining ionic bonding accurately
- calculating the yield for a single step in a multi-step process
- predicting the effect of adding silver nitrate to an equilibrium mixture
Examiners advised learning the definitions in the course specification. They also recommended regular open-ended practice and solid practical technique, especially titration.
Making past papers work
Older papers separate the objective test from the written paper. Sit both together to match the new 2 hour 30 minute format.
Keep the data booklet beside you while revising, so you know where each value sits. Check every answer against the marking instructions. They show which explanations earn both marks on a two-mark question.
For open-ended questions, aim for a few correct chemistry ideas explained clearly. Long answers without real chemistry score little.
Revision checklist
Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.
- Sit the August 2026 specimen paper as a full 2 hour 30 minute mock
- Learn the definitions in the course specification, such as ionic bonding and electronegativity
- Explain ionisation energy trends using electron shells and nuclear charge
- Practise percentage yield and atom economy for multi-step reactions
- Predict equilibrium shifts for added reactants, temperature and pressure
- Work through titration calculations and describe the full titration method
- Name and draw functional groups across the Nature's chemistry topics
- Practise one open-ended question a week and compare with marking instructions
- Get to know the data booklet layout before the exam
- In the assignment, compare your results with a named internet or literature source
Quick answers
- How many papers are in Higher Chemistry from 2027?
One. A single 100-mark paper of 2 hours 30 minutes replaces the two old papers from session 2026/27.
- Is there a data booklet in Higher Chemistry?
Yes. A data booklet containing relevant data and formulae is provided for the question paper.
- How much is the Higher Chemistry assignment worth?
It is marked out of 20 and scaled to 25 marks, which is 20% of the 125-mark course total.
- When is the Higher Chemistry exam in 2027?
Friday 21 May 2027, from 9am to 11:30am.