specification overview
Cambridge International A Level Physics (9702) is a two-year linear qualification covering physical quantities, mechanics, waves, electricity, atomic physics plus advanced content in fields, capacitance, quantum and medical/particle physics. Five papers cover theory and practical work; graded A*-E for the full A Level.
subject content
AS. AS Level content (topics 1-11)
Papers 1, 2, 3- Physical quantities and units; kinematics; dynamics
- Forces, density and pressure; work, energy, power
- Deformation of solids; waves; superposition; electricity
- DC circuits; particle physics
A2. A Level content (topics 12-25)
Papers 4, 5- 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
assessment structure
| Paper | What's assessed | Length | Marks | Weight | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (Multiple Choice) | AS content topics 1-11 | 1h 15m | 40 | 31% of AS Level / 15.5% of A Level | 40 multiple-choice questions |
| Paper 2 (AS Structured) | AS content topics 1-11 | 1h 15m | 60 | 46% of AS Level / 23% of A Level | Structured questions |
| Paper 3 (Advanced Practical Skills) | Practical work and structured questions | 2h | 40 | 23% of AS Level / 11.5% of A Level | Hands-on practical with structured questions; contexts may be outside syllabus |
| Paper 4 (A Level Structured) | A Level content topics 12-25 (AS content assumed) | 2h | 100 | 38.5% of A Level | Structured questions |
| Paper 5 (Planning, Analysis and Evaluation) | Practical-skills questions on planning, analysing and evaluating experiments | 1h 15m | 30 | 11.5% of A Level | Structured questions on planning, analysis and evaluation |
The full A Level route is all five papers. Students can also stage the qualification with Papers 1-3 as the standalone AS Level (grades a-e).
assessment objectives
| AO | What it means | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Knowledge and understanding of scientific phenomena, facts, laws, concepts and applications. | 40% |
| AO2 | Handling, applying and evaluating information, including translating between forms, manipulating data, drawing conclusions. | 40% |
| AO3 | Experimental skills and investigations: planning, recording, analysing and evaluating experimental methods and data. | 20% |
key tips for success
Take Papers 3 and 5 seriously
The two practical papers are worth 23% of the A Level combined. Practise a range of practical contexts, including unfamiliar ones.
AS content is assumed on Paper 4
Paper 4 covers topics 12-25 but assumes you still know topics 1-11. Revise AS content as part of your Paper 4 preparation.
Practise Paper 1 timing
Paper 1 is 40 marks in 75 minutes: under 2 minutes per question. Practise the format early.
Master gravitational, electric and magnetic field equations
The three field types have analogous equations. Learn the parallels to apply confidence to unfamiliar problems.
Practise capacitor and inductor equations
Charge/discharge equations, RC time constants, energy stored, all recur on Paper 4. Practise until automatic.
Know which route you're on
AS only (Papers 1-3), staged A Level, or all five papers in one series. Confirm with your school.
Where to next
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