Class details

Chemistry

IG Year 1

Who?
Students aged about 15 years. There is no prerequisite regarding work previously covered, but some exposure to the basic ideas of chemistry will definitely be helpful.

What?
This course offers an introduction to the core ideas of chemistry, including atoms and the structure of matter, the periodic table, bonding, chemical reactions, solutions and acids and bases. There is an emphasis on understanding the basic concepts and mastering the foundational skills so that students are well prepared for the more formal and detailed approach that is required for the IG Year 2 course and the IG exam.

Although this course is not essential for the IG Year 2 programme, students who have completed it will have a definite advantage.

Tutor
The tutor for this course is Bruce Button.

There is one class for this course:

IG Year 1 Chemistry 25a-25b (R+O)

Venue: Rietfontein and online
Course duration: January 2025 to December 2025
Lesson times: Thursday, 14h45–15h45
Fees: R650 per month over 12 months

The text book for this course is:

Physical science (6th edition), published by Bob Jones University Press (ISBN 978-1-62856-505-8).

The book can be purchased through Imago Education, but we do also offer the option of renting the text book. (Order link here.)

Each student must have the following items:

Pen, pencil, ruler
Lever arch file. A single file can be used for Physics and Chemistry. Ten chapter divisions are required for Chemistry and twelve for Physics. In addition, there should be one division each for Physics and Chemistry tests.
Scientific calculator: although any scientific calculator with a proper algebraic display is adequate for this course, explanations in class will be based on the Sharp EL-W535SA (obtainable at takealot.com).

IG Year 2 & Exam prep

Who?
Students aged about 16 years. It will be a definite advantage if the student has completed the equivalent of our IG Year 1 Chemistry course, although this is not a formal prerequisite. Students who have had no previous exposure to Chemistry at a high school level may find the course quite demanding, especially in the beginning, as there will be many new concepts to learn and apply in a short space of time.

Students who have completed the curriculum may join this course during the last semester for revision and exam preparation.

What?
The Cambridge IG Chemistry curriculum provides an interesting and useful introduction to some foundational topics in chemistry, including atomic structure, the periodic table, bonding, electrochemistry, chemical energetics and reaction rates, acids and bases, metals and organic chemistry. Some interesting industrial and environmental applications are also included.

This course spans three semesters, aiming to cover the whole IG syllabus in one year and leaving approximately ten weeks for revision and focussed exam preparation.

In order to cover the broad scope of the course we have one ninety-minute lesson per week. Homework exercises are also assigned and tests are written periodically. Solutions are provided for the homework so that students can check their work, and there is opportunity at the beginning of each lesson for students to discuss questions that they may have regarding the homework. Where possible, practical work or demonstrations are also included.

Classes are presented in Rietfontein, Pretoria, but may also be taken online.

Tutor
The tutor for this course is Bruce Button.

Currently we are offering the following classes for this course:

IG Year 2 Chemistry 24a-25a (R+O)

Venue: Rietfontein and online
Course duration: January 2024 to June 2025
Exam date: May-June 2025
Lesson times: Thursday 11h50–13h15
Fees: R 1,000 per month over 18 months

IG Year 2 Chemistry 25a-26a (R+O)

Venue: Rietfontein and online
Course duration: January 2025 to June 2026
Exam date: May-June 2026
Lesson times: Wednesday 11h50–13h15
Fees: R 1,000 per month over 18 months

The text books for this course are:

Cambridge IG^TM Chemistry (Fourth edition) by Bryan Earle & Doug Wilford, published by Hodder Education/Hachette (ISBN 9781 3983 1050 6).

Cambridge IG^TM Chemistry workbook (Third edition) by Bryan Earle & Doug Wilford, published by Hodder Education/Hachette (ISBN 9781 3983 1053 7).

The text book can be ordered from us using this link.

Students will need the following stationery:

Lever arch file with 14 divisions (one for each chapter of the text book, numbered 1 to 14) plus one division for tests.
Ring file for current work. This file is not essential for students who only attend online, but is important for students who attend in person. The ring file can be used to store the current month's work in a few subjects (e.g. Maths, Physics, Chemistry) so that students have all their current work with them in class without having to carry three lever arch files around.
Scientific calculator: although any scientific calculator with a proper algebraic display is adequate for this course, explanations in class will be based on the Sharp EL-W535SA (obtainable at takealot.com).

AS Level: 18-month programme

Who?

Students who have mastered the concepts of the IG Chemistry course. Students entering AS Level Chemistry should ideally have written the IG examination and should have obtained at least a C. Students who have not written the IG examination but can, nevertheless, demonstrate their competence on the IG Chemistry syllabus may also register for this course.

What?
The Cambridge AS Chemistry curriculum covers many of the same topics as the IG curriculum, but deals with them in significantly more detail. This is very satisfying for students seeking to understand the world more deeply as phenomena which were previously just accepted in a matter of fact way can now be understood!

This course is based on the Cambridge University Press text book. Lessons involve detailed, systematic explanations of the various concepts and skills, and provide students with the opportunity of interacting, asking questions and discussing the material. Attention is given to the needs of each student.

Homework is prescribed each week and students have the opportunity of discussing questions arising from the homework at the next lesson. Students also write tests from time to time to provide an opportunity of measuring their progress.

The course includes a week of practical work in the July holidays so that students are properly prepared for their practical exam.

Substantial time will be allocated at the end of the course for revision and exam practice.

Tutor
The tutor for this course is Mia Ackermann.

AS Chemistry 24b-25b (R+O)

Venue: Rietfontein and online
Course duration: August 2024 to December 2025
Exam date: October-November 2025
Lesson times: Tuesday 09h30–11h00
Fees: R1200 per month over 17 months

AS Chemistry 25a-26a (R+O)

Venue: Rietfontein and online
Course duration: January 2025 to June 2026
Exam date: May-June 2026
Lesson times: Tuesday 08h00–09h30
Fees: R1200 per month over 18 months

The text books for these courses are:

Chemistry for Cambridge International AS & A Level: coursebook (Third edition) by Lawrie Ryan & Roger Norris, published by Cambridge University Press (ISBN 9781 1088 6319 3).

Chemistry for Cambridge International AS & A Level: workbook (Third edition) by Roger Norris & Mike Wooster, published by Cambridge University Press (ISBN 9781 1088 5905 9).

The text books can be ordered from us using this link.