H2 Chemistry Paper 1 Format

Q: What does H2 Chemistry Paper 1 Format cover? A: A clear breakdown of the 2026 H2 Chemistry Paper 1 structure, including multiple completion items, assessment weightings, and tactics to secure marks in the one-hour MCQ paper.

Paper 1 sets the tone for the entire H2 Chemistry examination. Although it looks like a conventional multiple-choice paper at first glance, five to eight of the thirty questions adopt the multiple completion format. Understanding the mechanics of these items—and rehearsing the pace needed to finish within an hour—helps candidates bank marks before the longer papers.

1 Structure and Timing

• Duration: 60 minutes, no extra reading time.
• Total marks / weighting: 30 marks; contributes 15 % to the subject grade.
• Coverage: All Core Idea and Extension topics; data booklet use is permitted.
• Calculator policy: Follows the main examination rules—approved calculators only.

Tempo benchmark: aim for two minutes per four questions. Completing the first pass in about 45 minutes leaves a safety buffer for flagging and reviewing tricky items.

2 Multiple Completion Explained

Unlike standard MCQs where you pick one option from four distinct statements, multiple completion items give you three or four mini-statements labelled (1), (2), (3), (4). The answer options describe which combination of statements is correct. A typical scaffold looks like:

In the 2026 format, five to eight questions will use this structure. SEAB’s rationale is to probe nuanced conceptual understanding—especially in areas where distractors rely on partial truths, such as equilibrium shifts, acid–base behaviour, and qualitative inorganic analysis.