National 4 Chemistry: the units, the assignment and practice questions

There's no National 4 exam to sit a prelim for, so use the National 4 daily paper as practice for your unit tests, and the National 5 paper to see the next step.

How National 4 Chemistry is assessed

The course specification sets out four units, each worth 6 SCQF credit points at level 4, making 24 in all.

The three units

Each unit has two outcomes (unit specification):

• An experiment. You plan it (aim, a variable to keep constant, measurements, method and safety), follow it safely, record your results with units, present them in a table or graph, draw a conclusion that refers to the aim, and suggest an improvement.
• Knowledge and problem solving. You make accurate statements across the unit and solve problems: predicting, selecting information and processing it, including calculations. When this is one combined test, you need at least 50% to pass.

One experiment can count towards all three units.

The National 4 Chemistry assignment

For the added value unit, you and your teacher agree a topical issue from the course, such as recycling metals or the effect of fertilisers on rivers. You research it, process and present what you find, explain the chemistry and communicate your findings. It's done in class under some supervision, with no more than 8 hours on the whole thing. Your teacher marks it, and you need at least 50% (7 marks or more) to pass.

• Assessed in school. Your teachers mark every unit, and Qualifications Scotland checks schools' standards.
• Not graded. You must pass all four units, including the assignment. There are no A to D grades at National 4.
• No exam date. National 4 courses aren't in the 2027 exam timetable.

Qualifications Scotland replaced SQA on 1 February 2026 and says these documents remain current.

From National 4 to National 5 Chemistry

Each National 4 unit leads into the matching part of National 5 Chemistry, which has the same three areas but is assessed by an exam and an assignment, and graded A to D. In 2027 the National 5 Chemistry exam is on Friday 21 May, 13:00 to 15:00.

National 4 Chemistry practice questions

We wrote these for this guide. Try each before reading the answer.

Question 1 (rates of reaction): marble chips react with acid, and 60 cm³ of carbon dioxide is collected in the first 20 s. Find the average rate. Answer: average rate = change in volume ÷ time = 60 ÷ 20 = 3 cm³/s. Try working out a mean rate in our Reaction Kinetics course and press Mark.

Question 2 (atomic structure): an atom has atomic number 11 and mass number 23. How many protons, electrons and neutrons does it have? Answer: 11 protons, 11 electrons (the atom is neutral) and 23 − 11 = 12 neutrons. It's sodium. Build it in the Atom Builder.

Question 3 (acids and bases): name the products when hydrochloric acid neutralises sodium hydroxide. Answer: sodium chloride and water. An acid and an alkali always give a salt and water.

Question 4 (hydrocarbons): in an alkane, the hydrogens number double the carbons, plus two. Write the formula of the alkane with 5 carbon atoms. Answer: 2 × 5 + 2 = 12 hydrogens, so C₅H₁₂ (pentane).

Common mistakes

• Forgetting the unit on a rate, such as cm³/s.
• Counting neutrons wrongly: neutrons = mass number − atomic number.
• A conclusion that ignores the aim. Say what your results show about the question you set out to answer.
• Copying sources in the assignment instead of explaining the chemistry yourself.

Practise with a daily paper

Today's National 4 Chemistry paper covers rates of reaction, atomic structure, the periodic table, bonding, fuels and hydrocarbons, and acids, alkalis and salts, which match much of the course. It also includes states of matter, separating mixtures and the atmosphere, and it doesn't cover metals and alloys, plastics, fertilisers or nuclear chemistry. It can't practise your experiment or assignment. When you're ready for more, try the National 5 Chemistry paper.

Read next

Scotland · National 4National 4 Physics: How It Is Assessed and PracticeNational 4 Physics explained: the three units, the added value assignment, how it is assessed in school with no exam, the step to National 5, and practice.