Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics 9702 Syllabus, Content, Assessment and Routes for 2025, 2026 and 2027
Assessment
Syllabus overview
Aims
The aims describe the purposes of a course based on this syllabus.
The aims are to enable students to:
- acquire knowledge and understanding and develop practical skills, including efficient, accurate and safe scientific practices
- learn to apply the scientific method, while developing an awareness of the limitations of scientific theories and models
- develop skills in data analysis, evaluation and drawing conclusions, cultivating attitudes relevant to science such as objectivity, integrity, enquiry, initiative and inventiveness
- develop effective scientific communication skills, using appropriate terminology and scientific conventions
- understand their responsibility to others/society and to care for the environment
- enjoy science and develop an informed interest in the subject that may lead to further study.
Content overview
Candidates for Cambridge International AS Level Physics study the following topics:
- Physical quantities and units
- Kinematics
- Dynamics
- Forces, density and pressure
- Work, energy and power
- Deformation of solids
- Waves
- Superposition
- Electricity
- D.C. circuits
- Particle physics
AS Level candidates also study practical skills.
Candidates for Cambridge International A Level Physics study the AS Level topics and the following topics:
- Motion in a circle
- Gravitational fields
- Temperature
- Ideal gases
- Thermodynamics
- Oscillations
- Electric fields
- Capacitance
- Magnetic fields
- Alternating currents
- Quantum physics
- Nuclear physics
- Medical physics
- Astronomy and cosmology
A Level candidates also study practical skills.
Assessment overview
Multiple Choice 1 hour 15 minutes
- 40 marks
- 40 multiple-choice questions
- Questions are based on the AS Level syllabus content.
- Externally assessed
- 31% of the AS Level
- 15.5% of the A Level
AS Level Structured Questions 1 hour 15 minutes
- 60 marks
- Structured questions
- Questions are based on the AS Level syllabus content.
- Externally assessed
- 46% of the AS Level
- 23% of the A Level
Advanced Practical Skills 2 hours
- 40 marks
- Practical work and structured questions
- Questions are based on the experimental skills in the Practical assessment section of the syllabus.
- The context of the questions may be outside the syllabus content.
- Externally assessed
- 23% of the AS Level
- 11.5% of the A Level
A Level Structured Questions 2 hours
- 100 marks
- Structured questions
- Questions are based on the A Level syllabus content; knowledge of material from the AS Level syllabus content will be required.
- Externally assessed
- 38.5% of the A Level
Planning, Analysis and Evaluation 1 hour 15 minutes
- 30 marks
- Candidates answer two compulsory questions.
- Questions are based on the experimental skills in the Practical assessment section of the syllabus. The context of the questions may be outside the syllabus content.
- Externally assessed
- 11.5% of the A Level
Information on availability is in the Before you start section.
There are three routes for Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics:
| Route | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 3 | Paper 4 | Paper 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 AS Level only (Candidates take all AS components in the same exam series) |
yes | yes | yes | ||
| 2 A Level (staged over two years) Year 1 AS Level* |
yes | yes | yes | ||
| Year 2 Complete the A Level | yes | yes | |||
| 3 A Level (Candidates take all components in the same exam series) |
yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
* Candidates carry forward their AS Level result subject to the rules and time limits described in the Cambridge Handbook. See Making entries for more information on carry forward of results.
Candidates following an AS Level route are eligible for grades a–e. Candidates following an A Level route are eligible for grades A*–E.
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