Foundation Level (Fail → Pass)

Basic prompts to build fundamental understanding.

1. Identify the functional group present in alcohols.

2. Name one common alcohol and its use.

3. What functional group do aldehydes contain?

4. What functional group do ketones contain?

5. Define a carboxylic acid.

6. Give one example of a carboxylic acid.

7. What is an ester?

8. State one everyday use of esters.

9. Distinguish between an aldehyde and a ketone.

10. Write the formula of the hydroxyl group.

 Intermediate Level (Pass → Credit)

Prompts requiring reasoning, explanation, and application.

1. Compare the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols.

2. Write the equation for the oxidation of ethanol to ethanoic acid.

3. Explain why aldehydes give a positive Tollens' test but ketones do not.

4. Describe the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.

5. Write the ester formed from methanol and ethanoic acid.

6. Explain why alcohols have higher boiling points than alkanes.

7. Describe one method to distinguish alcohols from phenols.

8. Explain what happens when an ester undergoes hydrolysis.

9. Draw the structure of propanone.

10. Compare the acidity of phenol and ethanol.

Advanced Level (Credit → Distinction)

Higher-order analytical and synthesis prompts.

1. Analyse why phenols are more acidic than alcohols using resonance.

2. Predict oxidation products of various alcohols under controlled and uncontrolled conditions.

3. Discuss nucleophilic addition mechanisms in aldehydes and ketones.

4. Explain esterification in terms of reaction mechanism and equilibrium.

5. Compare reactivity of aldehydes and ketones using steric and electronic factors.

6. Propose a synthesis route to prepare an ester from an alkene.

7. Evaluate how electron-withdrawing groups affect acidity of carboxylic acids.

8. Predict the products of reducing aldehydes and ketones with NaBH₄.

9. Explain why ketones are harder to oxidise compared to aldehydes.

10. Design a multi-step synthesis converting an alcohol into a carboxylic acid derivative.