A Level Chemistry Super-Curricular Learning

Super-curricular learning allows you to explore topics that interest you, discover how Chemistry is applied in the real world and find out where the subject could take you in the future. There are plenty of ways to develop your interest beyond the A Level specification. You don’t need to do everything on this list. The aim is to follow your curiosity, try new experiences and discover what you genuinely enjoy.

What is super-curricular learning and why does it matter in Chemistry?

Super-curricular learning means exploring a subject beyond your school or college curriculum. Rather than simply revising for examinations or completing additional practice questions, you investigate ideas, ask questions and discover more about the subject for yourself. 

For A Level Chemistry students, this might mean reading about how new medicines are discovered, watching a documentary about the elements or attending a lecture on renewable energy.

Super-curricular learning can deepen your understanding of Chemistry, help you explore potential career paths and introduce you to areas you might want to study at university. 

Benefits of super-curricular learning in Chemistry

Deepen your scientific understanding

Exploring topics beyond the syllabus helps you connect ideas, understand how chemical principles are applied and appreciate the complexity of scientific questions. You might discover that a concept encountered in class has unexpected applications.

Discover what you actually enjoy

Chemistry covers a wide range of fields, including forensic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, environmental chemistry, cosmetics and materials science. Exploring these areas can help you identify what excites you most, inform your university choices and reveal potential career paths.

Develop scientific and analytical skills

Investigating unfamiliar questions, reading research and evaluating scientific claims can strengthen your ability to interpret evidence, analyse data, recognise limitations and think logically. You can also learn new laboratory techniques and applications. You may also learn how analytical techniques help chemists investigate substances and solve problems.

Improve communication and critical thinking

Discussing scientific ideas, asking questions at lectures and explaining concepts to others can help you communicate complex information clearly. Exploring different perspectives also encourages you to question assumptions and evaluate the evidence behind scientific claims. 

Connect with people working in Chemistry 

Lectures, outreach events and work experience can introduce you to researchers and professionals. These encounters may help you discover new resources, learn about different careers and identify opportunities to explore your interests further

Explore career opportunities and develop transferable skills

Super-curricular activities can help you understand the range of opportunities available in Chemistry while developing initiative, independent learning, problem-solving and teamwork. Volunteering, competitions and projects can also provide valuable examples of these skills. 

Strengthen university and job applications

Meaningful experiences give you something specific to discuss in university applications and interviews. Rather than simply listing activities, you can explain what you learned, how your thinking developed and why a particular area interests you.

Choosing the right Chemistry super-curricular activities for you 

There is no single route to becoming a more engaged Chemistry student. The best activities are those that interest you and encourage you to explore further. 

Start with a topic you have enjoyed in class, a question you cannot answer or answer real-world problem that you would like to understand. You can then explore it through reading, lectures, competitions, research or practical activities.

Read, watch and listen beyond the syllabus

Independent learning is one of the easiest ways to get started. You can explore Chemistry at your own pace through popular science books, articles, documentaries and podcasts covering scientific discoveries, debates or emerging technologies. 

You don’t need to understand every technical detail. Look up unfamiliar concepts, make notes on ideas that interest you and record questions that arise.

Attend lectures, webinars and scientific conferences 

Public lectures, online talks and outreach events can introduce you to research beyond the A Level specification. Look for events organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC; www.rsc.org), science museums, universities and research institutions. 

Conferences can also provide opportunities to hear from researchers and professionals, although some may be expensive. Look for student rates and events open to the public. 

Before attending a talk, prepare a question or identify a topic you would like to understand better. Afterwards, note an interesting idea and consider how you could explore it further.

Enter competitions and take part in STEM opportunities

Try the UK Chemistry Olympiad, the International Chemistry Olympiad or other problem-solving challenges to practice applying your knowledge to unfamiliar problems. Science fairs and independent projects also allow you to investigate questions of your own. 

You don’t have to win an award for an activity to be worthwhile. Focus on what challenged you, how you approached the problem and what you learned from the experience.

Explore university research

If you discover an area of Chemistry that fascinates you, find out more about the people researching it. University department websites often describe research groups, current projects and recent discoveries. 

Read a project summary, identify a question that interests you and look for opportunities to learn more. You could also email a researcher politely to ask for recommendations for introductory reading, public lectures or outreach opportunities. Keep your email concise and personal. Researchers are busy, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t receive a reply.

Visit science museums and outreach events

Science museums, exhibitions and public engagement events offer engaging ways to see scientific principles in action. Look for interactive demonstrations, Chemistry workshops and exhibitions that show how scientific discoveries are applied outside the classroom.

Undertake an independent research project

An independent research project allows you to investigate a question beyond the classroom and take responsibility for your own learning. 

Choose a manageable question that genuinely interests you. Find reliable sources of information, identify what scientists already know and compare different explanations or approaches. You could present your findings in a report or poster. 

You don't need to conduct laboratory experiments to complete a worthwhile project. If you do undertake practical work, ensure it is appropriate for your age and experience, with suitable supervision and safety arrangements.

Explore work experience and volunteering opportunities

Work experience can help you understand how Chemistry is used in practice. Depending on your interests and the opportunities available, you might explore pharmaceutical companies, analytical laboratories, manufacturing businesses or environmental organisations. 

Volunteering at science events or helping with STEM activities at school can also develop communication, teamwork and organisational skills. 

For example, you could adapt an A Level Chemistry concept for a younger audience using demonstrations, models or everyday examples. Explaining a topic to others encourages you to think carefully about what you know and how to communicate it clearly.

Activities involving younger pupils should be arranged with the school’s or organisation’s permission and appropriate adult supervision. 

Getting the most out of super-curricular learning

The key is depth rather than quantity. One activity explored thoughtfully is often more valuable than a long list of experiences you have only tried briefly. 

For example, if you read about battery chemistry, you could investigate how lithium-ion batteries store energy, compare them with alternative battery technologies and examine the environmental challenges involved. 

This approach allows you to build knowledge, evaluate different perspectives and develop new questions. Each activity becomes a starting point for further exploration rather than simply another item on your CV.

Record and reflect on your super-curricular learning experiences

Taking part in super-curricular activities is a great start, but one of the most valuable things you can do is record and reflect on what you have learned. 

Keeping a record of your super-curricular activities makes it easier to identify relevant experiences when applying for university courses, work experience, internships, scholarships or jobs. It also helps you recognise how your knowledge and interests have developed. 

I recommend creating a simple spreadsheet that you can update to keep track of your experiences. After each worthwhile activity, record the date and activity, the area of Chemistry it explored, the key ideas or knowledge you learned, what interested or surprised you and any questions you would like to investigate further. 

Reflection is particularly useful when preparing university applications and interviews. Rather than simply mentioning that you watched a lecture on food preservation, for example, explain what you learned about the chemistry involved, what interested you most and how it prompted you to explore the topic further.

If asked about an activity, you don’t need to have all the answers. Being able to explain your reasoning, evaluate what you have learned and identify what you would like to understand better can demonstrate genuine intellectual curiosity. 

Super-curricular activities can enrich a university application, but they do not guarantee admission, and academic requirements remain important. Ultimately, their greatest value lies in helping you think like a chemist, asking questions, investigating evidence and connecting scientific theory to the real world. 

Recommended Chemistry resources

The following resources provide a starting point for exploring Chemistry beyond the A Level specification. Choose those that match your interests rather than trying to use them all.

Books and magazines

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean

A collection of fascinating stories about the periodic table, the discovery of elements and the scientists behind them.

Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik

Explains the science behind everyday materials, from concrete to chocolate, introducing materials science and the relationship between a material’s structure and its properties.

Napoleon’s Buttons boy Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson

Explores how 17 groups of molecules have influenced history, from medicines and dyes to industrial materials. 

Chemistry World

The Royal Society of Chemistry’s magazine covers chemical discoveries, research, industry, careers and environmental challenges.

Chemistry Podcasts

The Naked Scientists

Accessible discussions of scientific discoveries, research and emerging technologies, with chemistry-related topics alongside other areas of science.

Let’s Talk Chemistry- ChemTalk

Explores chemistry research, emerging areas of the subject and scientific careers through conversations with researchers and academics.

Websites

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Explore interactive resources, watch practical demonstrations and find explanations and activities that extend A Level Chemistry. The RSC also publishes chemistry news and information about university courses and careers.

PhET Interactive Simulations

Use interactive simulations to investigate atoms, molecular interactions, solutions and other scientific concepts.

Chemguide

Provides detailed, accessible explanations of chemical bonding, equilibria, organic reaction mechanisms, spectroscopy and many other A Level Chemistry topics. 

PubChem

A free chemical information database where you can look up molecular structure, chemical properties, safety information and uses of individual substances.

International Chemistry Olympiad 

UK Chemistry Olympiad