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Letts GCSE Biology 2008/09 (PC)

GSP
Letts GCSE Chemistry 2008/09 (PC)

GSP
Letts GCSE Physics 2008/09 (PC)

GSP
Britannica GCSE: Chemistry (PC)

Idigicon
The Times Education Series GCSE Chemistry

The Times

Written by practising teachers, The Times Education Series GCSE Chemistry is an interactive CD-ROM designed to be both a study aid during the two-year course and a revision top-up when you're preparing for the actual exam.
It's divided into six chapters and covers Basic Chemistry, the Atomic Model, Uses of Chemistry, Chemical Reactions, Measurements, along with Chemistry and the Earth. Within each chapter you'll find various sub-topics covering the key items in the syllabus including elements compounds and mixtures, gas laws, atomic structure, allotropes, acids and alkalis, the Periodic Table, rates of reaction, titrations, changes to the atmosphere and geological changes.
What distinguishes this from a printed text book however, is the level of interactivity, especially in the Experiments section where you'll find nine "virtual" experiments you can do on the computer without having to prepare all the equipment and clean up afterwards. These include flame and gas tests, evaporation and dissolving, combustion, determining empirical formulas, how temperature affects the rate of reaction and the principle and effect of concentrations. It's very like the real thing. In the flame tests, for example, you'll see eight 3-D bottles on the screen. Pick one and you'll then watch as it's introduced into a Bunsen burner flame--your job is to note the result and then name both the element and its chemical symbol. If you get stuck, you can click the Help button for context sensitive hints and tips.
Elsewhere the Tests & Achievement section quizzes you on the contents of the course, though rightly points out that the results--which you can review at any time--shouldn't be taken as an accurate guide of how you'll do in the final exam; you're not given marks for showing working out, for example.
In all, this is an excellent product that will support a motivated student throughout the GCSE Chemistry course. The Experiments section also makes excellent use of the multimedia features of your PC. --Rob Beattie
The Times Key Stage 3 Chemistry (Ages 11-14)

The Times

The Times Key Stage 3 Chemistry is a very easy-to-use and well-presented multimedia CD-ROM that would appeal to children aged 11-14.
The program consists of two CDs that cover classifying materials (including particle theory explanation and the periodic table) and patterns of behaviour (including chemical reactions and reactions of metals and non-metals).
There is a section for parents that shows the objectives for each unit of work and gives answers. Parents can view the answers that children have given to questions.
Children are given an explanation of each unit of work and then undertake a quick quiz to test their understanding. For example, children have to fill in a table by dragging and dropping the correct words to describe a metalic or non--metalic element. Children work towards playing the bonus games and the mega quiz which are revision exercises in the form of games and test the child's knowledge of all the topics covered on the CD.
Children can also practise their labelling skills in the labelling zone. There is also an extended question zone which consists of 15 questions requiring longer answers. Unfortunately, no answers are provided for this section, but it would give children good practice.
The Times Key Stage 3 Chemistry would be good to use with children aged 11-14 to consolidate what they have been learning at school or as a revision aid. The slick presentation and 3-D animation would appeal to this age range. --Amanda York
A-Level Mega Chemistry

LCL Multimedia Ltd
DK A Level Chemistry 2006/2007 (PC)

Avanquest Software
The Times GCSE Chemistry 2003/2004 Syllabus (Full National Curriculum)

The Times

The Times Revision Series GCSE Chemistry is an easy-to-use and very well put together revision aid that uses Explorer and Netscape browsers. It covers five subject areas all based on the GCSE 2003/4 syllabus and includes tests for each topic.
The program allows children to use the study plan wizard to create their own revision schedule according to their exam board, syllabus and time available. Children can choose to focus on areas of weakness, work sequentially through units of work or devise their own personal plan. Detailed reports show the child how they are doing and whether their revision schedule is on track.
The syllabus is covered in short units that are taught through explanations with text, diagrams and interactive activities. Questions take the form of multiple choice, labelling diagrams, analysis of tables, graphs and text.
Children can also study examination techniques and practise these skills. There are exam practice papers covering six exam boards with 80 mock questions. Children can also customise their own tests from the database of questions. Model answers are given. --Amanda York
Britannica Key Stage 2: Science (7 to 11 Years) (PC)

Idigicon
GCSE Chemistry 2003/2004

Dorling Kindersley
Britannica A Level: Chemistry (PC)

Idigicon
A Level Chemistry

Europress
GCSE Chemistry

Europress
AS / A2 Level Chemistry

Europress

This AS/A2 Level Chemistry interactive CD-ROM has been designed by senior chemistry teachers to help A level students revise their course work successfully and prepare for the end of year examinations; it's suitable no matter which examining board is setting your questions.
As such, it's simply divided into those core components and at the opening screen you'll see just two buttons--Exam Questions and Revision Notes. Clicking on either takes you to the next screen where you choose between AS or A2 (depending on the part of the course you're preparing for) before moving on to the appropriate notes or questions. Click the AS Level button for example and you'll find three main sections--atomic structure, bonding and periodicity, foundation, physical and inorganic chemistry and finally, organic chemistry. Within each of these main topics are pages and pages of well illustrated, easy to navigate bulleted revision notes. You can print out sections of the revision notes or search for a particular word by clicking the magnifying glass icon.
The exam papers are a cross section of real questions taken from recent years and set by different examining boards, and ought to give you a sound idea of what to expect. The best way to "sit" them is to print out the question and then write the answer in the space provided. When you've finished, go back to the program and click the "eye" button and you'll see the examiner's answer.
One last point. The program authors point out that "While every effort has been made to place each topic in its appropriate AS or A2 category, different boards have, on occasions, placed topics in different modules and year groups". In other words, if you can't find something where you expect it to be, use the search tool and you'll probably find it.
The use of multimedia is a bit disappointing, but elsewhere there's evidence of considerable care and most particularly, focus on providing an efficient aid to revision and some good exam practice. --Rob Beattie
Interactive Chemistry The Periodic Table

Attica
Science Adventure 2 with Isaac Asimov

Knowledge Adventure
Letts GCSE Chemistry 2003/2004

Letts

The Letts range of GCSE titles are revision courses on CD-ROM covering every exam board. Each title is designed with the specific course in mind--you cannot revise the same way for each subject (as there are no set "right" or "wrong" answers in English, unlike Chemistry for example). Once the program has been installed (please note you will still need to put the CD in the drive due to the large amount of content) you will need to log in as a user. Multiple users can be entered and all individual scores and progress will be stored. You're now ready to revise. The main screen provides three main options-Revision, Progress and Mock Exam. "Revision" is broken into the main study sections and includes exam and revision hints and tips. "Progress" is where you'll find the records of results, how much content you've covered and which areas need more practice. The "Mock Exam" includes the answers, so you can test yourself first or run through the paper and view the answers at the same time. As well, the software comes with a manual that's also available online within the program, a timer which allows you to set limits for revision sessions and a pop-up notebook. Titles available in the Letts GCSE range are Maths, English, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, French, German and Spanish.
A-Level Chemistry 2001/2002

Dorling Kindersley Ltd

The Chemistry CD from the Dorling Kindersley GCSE revision series is designed to run on a Windows (NT5, 95 or 98, or 2000) platform on a PC with at least Pentium 75MHz speed, or on a Macintosh with System 7.6.1 or later. It provides the user with the ability to tailor revision for particular tiers of Chemistry study within the A-level framework (including differences for Scotland and Ireland), and distinguish between the curriculum for 2001 and 2002. The content presentation is straightforward and linked visually. For example key facts from Chemistry--little lessons in themselves--can be pulled from a virtual filing system. These can be printed for off-line study or convenience.
You can create an exam by selecting the proportion of questions in various areas, so that revision can be concentrated on particularly troublesome or complicated area. Questions (and worked examples) feature sensible multiple choice answers--sometimes with multiple answers (labelling detailed layout diagrams, for example)--and give very clear explanations of the correct solution after you have answered. Quicktime 4 is required for driving multimedia components (printing, animation and sound, for example), and this is available for installation from the same CD. --Wilf Hey
GCSE Chemistry

Life Software