AQAGCSE106 resourcesFoundation & Higher

AQA GCSE Chemistry Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Foundation & Higher tiers. 98 resources from June 2018 to 2024.

📅June 2018 – June 2024📄106 resources availableFree to download

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106 of 106 resources — page 1 of 2

June 2023

19 files
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 24pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 24pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation; Higher) : periodic table – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Foundation; Higher) : periodic table – June 2023

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation; Higher) : periodic table – June 2023

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June 2022

18 files
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Foundation; Higher) : periodic table – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation; Higher) : periodic table – June 2022

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation; Higher) : periodic table – June 2022

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November 2021

14 files
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 2 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 2 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 1 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 2 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 1 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 2 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 1 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 2 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 1 – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation; Higher) : periodic table: – November 2021

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Foundation; Higher) : periodic table: – November 2021

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November 2020

18 files
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – November 2020

Question PaperFoundation
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher) : Paper 2 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 2 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 2 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 1 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 2 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 1 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 2 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 1 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 2 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 1 – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation; Higher) : periodic table – November 2020

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Foundation; Higher) : periodic table – November 2020

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June 2019

7 files
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2019

Question PaperHigher
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2019

Question PaperHigher
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2019

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2019

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2019

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GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2019

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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2019

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June 2018

22 files
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2018

Question PaperHigher
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2018

Question PaperHigher
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2018

Question PaperFoundation
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2018

Question PaperHigher
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2018

Question PaperFoundation
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2018

Question PaperFoundation
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2018

Question PaperHigher
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2018

Question Paper

GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2018

Mark Scheme
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2018

Question Paper
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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2018

InsertFoundation
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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Modified A4 18pt) (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2018

InsertHigher

GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2018

Mark Scheme

GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2018

Mark Scheme
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2018

Question Paper

GCSE Chemistry – Mark scheme (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2018

Mark Scheme
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GCSE Chemistry – Question paper (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2018

Question Paper
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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Modified A4 18pt) (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2018

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Foundation) : Paper 1 – June 2018

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Foundation) : Paper 2 – June 2018

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Higher) : Paper 1 – June 2018

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GCSE Chemistry – Insert (Higher) : Paper 2 – June 2018

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June 2016

2 files

A-Level Chemistry – Mark scheme – Paper 1 – June 2016

Mark Scheme

A-Level Chemistry – Mark scheme – Paper 2 – June 2016

Mark Scheme

About AQA GCSE Chemistry

AQA GCSE Chemistry (specification code 8462) is a Triple Science qualification assessed through two written exams, each worth 100 marks and lasting 1 hour 45 minutes. Both papers are available at Foundation (grades 1–5) or Higher (grades 4–9) tier. A periodic table is provided with each paper. Paper 1 covers Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table, Bonding/Structure/Properties of Matter, Quantitative Chemistry, Chemical Changes, and Energy Changes. The atomic structure topic includes the history of atomic models, electronic configuration, and isotopes. Bonding covers ionic, covalent, and metallic bonding. Quantitative Chemistry is mathematically demanding — it includes moles calculations, empirical and molecular formulae, and gas volumes at Higher tier. Paper 2 covers the Rate and Extent of Chemical Change, Organic Chemistry, Chemical Analysis, Chemistry of the Atmosphere, and Using Resources. Rate of reaction connects to required practical work (temperature, concentration, surface area, catalyst effects). Organic chemistry introduces hydrocarbons, polymers, alcohols, and carboxylic acids. Chemical analysis covers pure substances, formulations, chromatography, and flame tests. The Using Resources topic includes the Haber process, life cycle assessment, and potable water treatment. Required practicals are embedded throughout both papers. Students should expect at least 3–5 questions per paper relating to practical methods, safety, and data analysis. Equations — both word equations and symbol equations including state symbols — are expected to be written correctly and are regularly examined. The periodic table is provided but groups, periods, and trends must be learned alongside it.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1Calculator ✓

Atomic structure, bonding, quantitative chemistry, chemical changes and energy

1 hour 45 minutes🎯 100 marks📊 50% of grade
Atomic structure and the periodic tableBonding, structure and propertiesQuantitative chemistryChemical changesEnergy changes
Paper 2Calculator ✓

Rate and equilibrium, organic chemistry, analysis, atmosphere and using resources

1 hour 45 minutes🎯 100 marks📊 50% of grade
Rate and extent of chemical changeOrganic chemistryChemical analysisChemistry of the atmosphereUsing resources

Key Information

Exam BoardAQA
Specification Code8462
QualificationGCSE
Grading Scale9–1
Assessment Type2 written exams (no coursework)
TiersFoundation (grades 1–5) and Higher (grades 4–9)
Number Of Papers2
Exam Duration1 hour 45 minutes per paper
Total Marks200 (100 per paper)
Calculator StatusCalculators permitted on both papers
Available SessionsJune 2018 – June 2024
Total Resources98

Key Topics in Chemistry

Topics you need to know

Atomic structure and the periodic tableBonding, structure and properties of matterQuantitative chemistry (moles and calculations)Chemical changes and electrochemistryEnergy changes in reactionsRate and extent of chemical changeOrganic chemistryChemical analysis

Exam Command Words

Command wordWhat the examiner expects
CalculateWork out a numerical answer, showing all working including units
DescribeState what you observe or what happens in a reaction or experiment
ExplainGive chemical reasons for an observation or trend
PredictState what you expect based on trends in the periodic table or reaction patterns
WriteGive a balanced symbol equation or ionic equation with state symbols if required
SuggestApply your knowledge to an unfamiliar context to propose a reason or solution
CompareState similarities and differences between two substances, processes or properties
IdentifyName a specific chemical, ion or element from the information given

Typical Grade Boundaries

GradeApproximate mark needed
Grade 976–86%
Grade 863–75%
Grade 751–62%
Grade 643–50%
Grade 535–42%
Grade 427–34%

⚠️ Typical Higher tier boundaries across two papers (200 total marks). Actual boundaries vary by series — check AQA's website.

How to Use AQA GCSE Chemistry Past Papers Effectively

Chemistry past papers reward students who can move fluently between qualitative description, balanced equations, and quantitative calculation. When you practise with papers, notice which of these three modes each question is asking for — mixing them up is a common source of lost marks. Quantitative Chemistry questions (moles, concentration, percentage yield, atom economy) are consistently the most discriminating questions at Higher tier. Work through every moles calculation in your past papers, checking each step against the mark scheme. A single error in unit conversion or rearranging the moles formula will cascade through your answer — but AQA mark schemes award follow-through marks (ecf), so it's worth finishing the calculation even if you think an earlier step is wrong. For required practical questions, examiner reports highlight that students often describe what they do without explaining why. For example, writing 'I measured 25 cm³ of acid' scores nothing — 'I used a measuring cylinder to measure 25 cm³ to ensure accurate volume' scores marks by linking the technique to its purpose. Equation writing is frequently tested and is a reliable source of marks for prepared students. Practise writing symbol equations with state symbols for all the common reactions: neutralisation, combustion, precipitation. The mark scheme typically awards one mark for correct formulae and one mark for balancing — these are separate marks.

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