IBDP Chemistry Course Outline May 2025

The DP chemistry course promotes concept-based teaching and learning to foster critical thinking.  The DP chemistry course is built on:  

• approaches to learning  

• nature of science  

• skills in the study of chemistry.  

These three pillars support a broad and balanced experimental programme. As students’ progress through  the course, they become familiar with traditional experimentation techniques, as well as the application of  technology.  

These opportunities help them to develop their investigative skills and evaluate the impact of error and  uncertainty in scientific inquiry. The scientific investigation then places a specific emphasis on inquiry based skills and the formal communication of scientific knowledge.  

Finally, the collaborative sciences project extends the development of scientific communication in a  collaborative and interdisciplinary context, allowing students to work together beyond the confines of  chemistry.

Subtopic  Number Subtopic Recommended Teaching  Hours
Syllabus Component SL(110) HL (180)
Structure 1: Models of the Particular Nature of Matter 17 21
Structure 1.1 Introduction to the particular nature of matter
Structure 1.2 The nuclear atom
Structure 1.3 Electron configurations
Structure 1.4 Counting particles by mass: The mole
Structure 1.5 Ideal gases
Structure 2: Models of Bonding and Structure 20 30
Structure 2.1 The ionic model
Structure 2.2 The covalent model
Structure 2.3 The metallic model
Structure 2.4 From models to materials
Structure 3: Classification of Matter 16 31
Structure 3.1 The periodic table: Classification of elements
Structure 3.2 Functional groups: Classification of organic  compounds
Reactivity 1: What Drives Chemical Reactions? 12 22
Reactivity 1.1 Measuring enthalpy change
Reactivity 1.2 Energy cycles in reactions
Reactivity 1.3 Energy from fuels
Reactivity 1.4 Entropy and spontaneity (additional HL content)
Reactivity 2: How Much, How Fast and How Far? 21 31
Reactivity 2.1 How much? The amount of chemical change
Reactivity 2.2 How fast? The rate of chemical change
Reactivity 2.3 How far? The extent of chemical change
Reactivity 3: What are the mechanisms of chemical change? 24 45
Reactivity 3.1 Proton transfer reactions 
Reactivity 3.2 Electron transfer reactions
Reactivity 3.3 Electron sharing reactions
Reactivity 3.4 Electron-pair sharing reactions

Assessment Model

There are four assessment objectives for the DP chemistry course. Following the chemistry course, students  are expected to demonstrate the following assessment objectives. 

Assessment objective 1: 

Demonstrate knowledge of: 

• terminology, facts and concepts  

• skills, techniques and methodologies.  

Assessment objective 2

Understand and apply knowledge of:  

• terminology and concepts  

• skills, techniques and methodologies.  

Assessment Objective 3

Analyse, evaluate, and synthesize:  

• experimental procedures  

• primary and secondary data  

• trends, patterns and predictions. 

Assessment Objective 4

Demonstrate the application of skills necessary to carry out insightful and ethical investigations.

Type of  AssessmentFormat Of Assessment Time  (Hrs)Weightage (%)
SL HL 80
Paper 1- 75 marksPaper 1 A- Multiple Choice Questions Paper 1 B- Data based Questions and questions on  experimental work1.5 36
Paper 2 Short answer and extended- response questions1.5 2.5 44
Internal  Assessment20
Scientific investigationThe scientific investigation is an open ended task in which the student gathers and analyses data in order to answer their own formulated research question. The outcome of the scientific investigation will be assessed through the form of a written report. The maximum overall word count for the report is 3,000 words.10 10
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