Raffles Institution

What Our Subject is About

Chemistry is the study of the structure, properties and transformation of matter at the atomic/molecular level. Hence, chemistry is often seen to play a central role in science. It is built on an understanding of the laws of physics that govern the nature of particles and at the same time provides a basis for studying and understanding the molecules and reactions in biological systems.

H1 Chemistry provides you with an experience that develops interest in Chemistry and builds the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for you to become a scientifically literate citizen who is well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. You will develop the understanding, skills, ethics and attitudes relevant to the Practices of Science. You will also develop the way of thinking to explain phenomena, approach and solve problems in chemical systems.

H2 Chemistry aims to develop students’ understanding of the chemical concepts and how these concepts are related within chemistry and to other science disciplines. A key feature in the study of H2 Chemistry is the development of students’ ability to navigate between the macroscopic phenomena, submicroscopic interactions and symbolic representations to attain a deep conceptual understanding of the behaviours of chemical systems. It will enable students to extend this way of viewing and thinking about the behaviours of chemical systems to physical and biological phenomena, which are present in many aspects of daily life, e.g. environmental pollution and food science.

H3 Chemistry is aimed at students who have exceptional ability and interest in Chemistry and is designed with a strong emphasis on independent and self-directed learning. H3 Chemistry syllabus has been designed to build on and extend the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired from the H2 Chemistry syllabus. The H3 Chemistry syllabus is meant to nurture students’ passion for the subject and provide greater depth and rigour in the subject for those pursuing further studies in chemistry-related fields. Students who offer H3 Chemistry are also expected to tackle more sophisticated problems than other students who only offer H2 Chemistry.

Please refer to the SEAB website for more details pertaining to the H1, H2 or H3 Chemistry syllabus.

What We Do To Develop Students' Interest/Abilities

The Raffles Academy (RA) is a programme for students with higher capabilities in specific subjects, including Chemistry. RA offers a curriculum pitched at a deeper level.

During academic periods, RA students may join a special pull-out class. This programme develops in students the fundamental skills and passion for creative problem-solving, to cater to the interests of students beyond the standard stipulated academic curriculum and to stretch and challenge students with advanced knowledge and skills in Chemistry.

For the academically inclined who wish to challenge themselves with competitions on Chemistry, the Singapore Chemistry Olympiad (SChO) provides a conducive platform for students to hone their skills and practice adequately. The SChO is jointly organised by the Singapore National Institute of Chemistry (SNIC), Chemistry Department of National University of Singapore and the Ministry of Education.

The general aims of the Singapore Chemistry Olympiad are to:
promote an interest in Chemistry,
provide an opportunity for academically inclined Chemistry JC students to pit their knowledge in Chemistry and spar against each other,
identify a pool of students who are talented in the Chemistry discipline for training for eventual selection of a national team to represent Singapore in the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO).

What Our Students Say

"I feel chemistry helps inform us on various phenomena in the world and gives me a fuller understanding of how processes work. I think it’s always exciting to learn, experiment and discover, and the beauty of the subject should be its fluidity and history."

"Our teacher challenged us to consider other aspects and find the links between different topics so that we could understand the content we learnt better."

"I really enjoy the fact that my teacher uses real-life examples and case studies to explain concepts and let us apply our theoretical knowledge to real world scenarios and current affairs."