About this practice. Revision Robin is built and maintained by Bloor Engineering Ltd, a UK-registered company. Our GCSE Chemistry (AQA) questions are written and reviewed in-house to match the current syllabus, each with a plain-English worked explanation. They are original practice material, not the official exam questions and not affiliated with or endorsed by AQA. Always confirm current test rules, fees and content with the official provider. See our Terms and Privacy.
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Free practice questions
Try 3 real GCSE Chemistry (AQA) questions
Have a go, then reveal the worked explanation. A taster from a bank of 214 original questions. Unlock for unlimited drills and full timed mocks.
Q1. What is found in the nucleus of an atom?
A. Protons and neutrons
B. Protons and electrons
C. Neutrons and electrons
D. Protons only
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A. Protons and neutrons
The nucleus contains protons (positive charge) and neutrons (no charge), giving it an overall positive charge. Electrons are much lighter and occupy shells around the nucleus, not inside it.
Q2. A student draws a dot-and-cross diagram for magnesium oxide. What should it show happening to the electrons?
A. Magnesium keeps both outer electrons and oxygen shares two electrons with it
B. Two electrons transfer from magnesium's outer shell to oxygen's outer shell
C. One electron transfers from magnesium to oxygen, leaving both with a single charge
D. Electrons are shared equally between magnesium and oxygen atoms
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B. Two electrons transfer from magnesium's outer shell to oxygen's outer shell
Magnesium has two outer electrons and oxygen needs two to complete its outer shell, so both electrons transfer, giving Mg2+ and O2- with full outer shells. A single electron transfer would leave oxygen's outer shell incomplete, which does not match a stable ionic compound.
Q3. A reaction between zinc and hydrochloric acid uses 6.5 g of zinc (0.1 mol) and 200 cm3 of 0.4 mol/dm3 HCl (0.08 mol), following Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2. Which reactant is the limiting reactant?
A. Zinc, because it has a smaller mass in grams
B. Hydrochloric acid, because 0.1 mol of zinc needs 0.2 mol of HCl but only 0.08 mol is available
C. Zinc, because 0.1 mol is less than 0.08 mol of HCl
D. Neither, because both are used up at exactly the same time
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B. Hydrochloric acid, because 0.1 mol of zinc needs 0.2 mol of HCl but only 0.08 mol is available
The equation requires 2 moles of HCl for every 1 mole of zinc, so 0.1 mol of zinc would need 0.2 mol of HCl to fully react. Only 0.08 mol of HCl is available, which is far less than needed, so HCl runs out first and is the limiting reactant. Comparing masses directly (option A) ignores the mole ratio required by the balanced equation.
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Who has to sit the GCSE Chemistry (AQA)
Who needs a GCSE Chemistry (AQA)?
Typically taken by students aged 15-16 at the end of secondary school, also available to private candidates, resit students, and adult learners aged 16 and over.
The real GCSE Chemistry (AQA): format
How many questions are in the GCSE Chemistry (AQA)?
The real GCSE Chemistry (AQA) has 2 questions and lasts 210 minutes. Our mock uses 40 questions in 60 minutes.
What it costs, and what a resit costs
How much does the GCSE Chemistry (AQA) cost?
Real exam fee: £380. Resit fee: £380. Rebooking after a fail: May/June series annually, as November resits are only for English Language and Maths.
How hard is it
What is the GCSE Chemistry (AQA) pass rate?
Real exam first-time pass rate: 92.2% achieved Grade 4 or above in 2026 for AQA GCSE Chemistry. Difficulty: Often seen as challenging due to extensive curriculum, complex concepts, abstract ideas, and significant mathematical content requiring deep application.
Why people fail it
Why do people fail the GCSE Chemistry (AQA)?
Failing to apply fundamental knowledge from earlier topics across different exam papers.
Figures for the real exam from vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the test provider before you book.
GCSE Chemistry (AQA): common questions
Frequently asked
What is the pass mark for the GCSE Chemistry (AQA)?
You need 24 out of 40 correct to pass, which is about 60%. Our mocks mark you against this exact threshold.
How long do you get?
The test is timed at 60 minutes. Our full mock runs on the same clock so you can practise your pacing.
Are these the real exam questions?
No. Our questions are original and written to match the current syllabus, so they give realistic practice without copying the official paper. Every answer comes with a plain-English explanation. Always confirm current rules and content with AQA.