What the board asks

We went through the ISC board papers, question by question, and matched each question to a topic. Here is what was asked, how often, and what was never asked.

Chemistry: 384 topics in the 2027 syllabus, across 10 units. The board has asked 252 of them at least once. 132 were never asked in the papers we checked.

Pick a unit

C9 Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen

This unit carries about 6 marks in the paper. We split it into 42 topics: each is one thing an examiner can ask, and you can practise it on paper in 5 to 25 minutes. The board has asked 30 of them. 12 were never asked. The top 5 topics make 33% of all the times this unit was asked. Last asked: Specimen 2027.

30asked by the board at least once

12in the syllabus, never asked

73times a topic of this unit was asked

5.5hours for one attempt at every topic

What the papers ask most

  • Identify A, B, C: amide, Hoffmann and amine-test chains7 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Diazotisation of aniline: equation and conditions5 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Sandmeyer reaction: Cl, Br and CN on the ring4 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Coupling of benzenediazonium chloride with phenol4 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Carbylamine reaction: equation and use as a test4 times, last 2025
  • Reduction of cyanides (nitriles) to primary amines3 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Hoffmann bromamide degradation: equation and use3 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Coupling of benzenediazonium chloride with aniline3 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Aromatic conversions through the diazonium salt3 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Aliphatic conversions: stepping the carbon chain up or down3 times, last Specimen 2027

In the syllabus, never asked (12)

They can still come, because they are in the syllabus. Give each one clean attempt. Your plan has two practice questions for each.

  • Classify amines and name them by IUPACStructure or name
  • Amines from alcohols with ammoniaReaction
  • Gabriel phthalimide synthesis: steps and limitsReaction
  • Arrange amines and alcohols by boiling pointComparison
  • Effect of substituents on the basic strength of anilineComparison
  • Mechanism of alkylation and acylation of aminesMechanism
  • Distinguish pairs of amines by a chemical testTell apart (test)
  • Aniline with HCl and H2SO4: salt formationReaction
  • Nitration and sulphonation of anilineReaction
  • Tests for aniline and uses of amines and anilineStatement
  • Give reasons: stability and synthetic importance of diazonium saltsGive reason
  • Replacement of the diazo group by -NO2Reaction

All the topics in Chemistry: Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen →

The 10 topics Chemistry papers ask most

Counted on the board papers from 2018 to the 2027 specimen paper, which every unit has been checked against.

  1. 1.IUPAC names of coordination compounds from formulaC5 Coordination Compounds · asked 8 times since 2018
  2. 2.Faraday's first law: mass, charge, current or timeC2 Electrochemistry · asked 7 times since 2018
  3. 3.Give reasons: transition metal ions are coloured, some colourlessC4 d- and f-Block Elements · asked 7 times since 2018
  4. 4.Alcohols from Grignard reagent: 1, 2, 3 degreeC7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers · asked 7 times since 2018
  5. 5.Williamson's synthesis of ethersC7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers · asked 7 times since 2018
  6. 6.Identify A, B, C, D in a given reagent chainC8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids · asked 7 times since 2018
  7. 7.Identify compounds from formula and test results (case problem)C8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids · asked 7 times since 2018
  8. 8.Identify A, B, C: amide, Hoffmann and amine-test chainsC9 Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen · asked 7 times since 2018
  9. 9.Gibbs energy and maximum work from cell emfC2 Electrochemistry · asked 6 times since 2018
  10. 10.Coordination number and oxidation state of the central metalC5 Coordination Compounds · asked 6 times since 2018

See when each unit comes in your plan