Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics is examined through five components. Three of them make up AS Level and can be sat on their own; the other two complete the full A Level. Two of the five — Paper 3 and Paper 5 — test experimental skill rather than physics content, which is what makes them the most trainable marks on the qualification.
This page is the map. Each paper links to the free CIE Insider trainers built for it.
The five papers
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weighting | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Multiple Choice |
1 h 15 min | 40 | 31% of AS 15.5% of A Level |
40 multiple-choice questions on the AS Level syllabus content. |
| Paper 2 AS Structured |
1 h 15 min | 60 | 46% of AS 23% of A Level |
Structured questions on the AS Level syllabus content. The largest single share of AS. |
| Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills |
2 h | 40 | 23% of AS 11.5% of A Level |
Practical work and structured questions, based on the experimental skills in the syllabus. The context may sit outside the syllabus content. |
| Paper 4 A Level Structured |
2 h | 100 | 38.5% of A Level | Structured questions on the A Level content, with AS knowledge assumed throughout. |
| Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation |
1 h 15 min | 30 | 11.5% of A Level | Two compulsory questions on experimental planning and data analysis. No apparatus, and the context may sit outside the syllabus content. |
Source: Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics 9702 syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027, assessment overview. Check the syllabus for the years you are sitting.
Where AS ends and A Level begins
Cambridge sets out three ways to take 9702, and which one you are on decides what you should be revising this term:
- AS Level only — Papers 1, 2 and 3, all in the same exam series.
- A Level staged over two years — the AS papers in year one, then Papers 4 and 5 in year two.
- A Level in one series — all five components together.
Whichever route you are on, the AS content is never behind you: Paper 4 assumes it, and Paper 5 assumes the measurement and graph work Paper 3 introduced. If you are arriving from IGCSE, the numerical handling is the usual first stumble — start with the AS readiness check.
Free 9702 trainers
Starting AS
AS Readiness Check
Ten questions on the six maths and unit skills AS assumes from day one, with a readiness verdict at the end.
Start the check → Before AS · CourseIGCSE → AS Bridge
Eight self-paced modules on base units, notation, rearranging and significant figures, with every drill worked in full.
See the course →Paper 1 · Multiple Choice
AS MCQ Trainer
Sit a full 40-question AS multiple-choice paper with the PDF beside the answer panel. Practice mode or exam conditions, marked instantly.
Open trainer → Paper 1 · Printable9702 MCQ One-Pager
A single printable sheet of multiple-choice technique for 9702, free to download.
Get the sheet →Paper 3 · Advanced Practical Skills
Limitations & Improvements Trainer
The end-of-paper marks, drilled against real experimental contexts with examiner-level answers.
Open trainer → Papers 3 & 5 · DrillUncertainties Trainer
Absolute and percentage uncertainties, the combining rules and graph-based uncertainty. Reference and drill modes.
Open trainer →Paper 5 · Planning, Analysis and Evaluation
Planning & Analysis: Full Guide
How Q1 and Q2 are marked, mark type by mark type, with every Paper 5 trainer gathered in one place.
Open guide → Paper 5 · DrillLinearisation Trainer
Eighteen relationships to force into y = mx + c, step by step, with worked sketches.
Open trainer → Paper 5 · ReferencePlanning & Analysis Cheatsheet
Every Paper 5 mark type on one sheet: planning structure, analysis steps and the recurring pitfalls.
Open cheatsheet → Paper 5 · Self-auditPlanning & Analysis Checklist
Score yourself across variables, diagram, measurement, graph, gradient and intercept, with mistakes ranked.
Open checklist →Papers 2 and 4 · Recall
Frequently asked questions
What papers do you sit for Cambridge AS & A Level Physics 9702?
There are five components. AS Level is Paper 1 (Multiple Choice), Paper 2 (AS Level Structured Questions) and Paper 3 (Advanced Practical Skills). The full A Level adds Paper 4 (A Level Structured Questions) and Paper 5 (Planning, Analysis and Evaluation).
How long is each 9702 paper and how many marks is it worth?
Paper 1 is 1 hour 15 minutes and 40 marks. Paper 2 is 1 hour 15 minutes and 60 marks. Paper 3 is 2 hours and 40 marks. Paper 4 is 2 hours and 100 marks. Paper 5 is 1 hour 15 minutes and 30 marks.
How much is AS Level worth towards the full A Level?
The three AS components carry half of the full A Level: Paper 1 is 15.5%, Paper 2 is 23% and Paper 3 is 11.5%. The two A Level components carry the other half: Paper 4 is 38.5% and Paper 5 is 11.5%.
Can you take AS Physics without completing the full A Level?
Yes. Cambridge sets out three routes: AS Level only, with all AS components taken in the same exam series; the A Level staged over two years, with the AS components in year one and Papers 4 and 5 in year two; or the full A Level with every component taken in the same series.
What is the difference between Paper 3 and Paper 5 in A Level Physics?
Paper 3 is the laboratory paper: practical work and structured questions, 2 hours and 40 marks. Paper 5 is a written paper of two compulsory questions on planning, analysis and evaluation, 1 hour 15 minutes and 30 marks. Both are based on the experimental skills in the practical assessment section of the syllabus, and the context of the questions may sit outside the syllabus content.
Keep going
Elsewhere on the site:
- A Level Physics: Examiner Led — the paid room, with two live sessions a week
- IGCSE Physics 0625 — the same map for the IGCSE papers
- The examiner-report blog
- Free printable resources