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Cambridge CAIE · 9702 · Oct/Nov & May/Jun Series

Cambridge A Level Physics 9702

Examiner-informed workshops. Not more content — exam mastery.

If you are sitting Cambridge International A Level Physics 9702 -- in the UK, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, the UAE, or anywhere else 9702 is examined -- this page covers every paper, current grade thresholds, and exactly how our workshops are mapped to your specification.

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Why Strong Students Still Miss A*

It is rarely the
subject knowledge.

Cambridge 9702 mark schemes reward precise scientific communication, not just correct calculations. Students who understand the physics consistently lose marks on:

Significant figures and units

Cambridge examiner reports repeatedly note marks lost for answers given to the wrong number of significant figures or missing units -- even when the calculation method was entirely correct.

Paper 3 and Paper 5 practical write-ups

The Advanced Practical Skills and Planning, Analysis and Evaluation papers require specific language for uncertainty, error analysis, and experimental evaluation -- generic "improve the experiment" answers score poorly.

"Explain" vs "State" on Paper 4

Paper 4 structured questions frequently mix command words within a single question -- students who explain when only a statement was required (or vice versa) lose time or marks.

Graph and diagram presentation

Marks for graphs require correct axes, scales, and best-fit lines drawn to a specific standard -- a frequent source of lost marks even when the underlying physics is correct.

Our workshops are built from these patterns — not from the textbook.

How Our Workshops Work

Examiner intelligence.
Peer learning. 60 minutes.

Every workshop follows the same structure: the examiner's pattern for that paper is deconstructed first (Anatomy), then solved live with the mark scheme revealed at each stage (Drill), then you attempt it yourself with peer comparison (Close), then your own questions are answered (Open Forum). 87% of students report that seeing a peer's different approach revealed a method they had never considered.

See the full workshop structure →
Examination Structure

Paper-by-Paper
Breakdown

Cambridge 9702 is assessed across five papers spanning AS and A Level. The AC combination (the standard A2 route building on AS) totals 260 marks. Our workshops are scheduled per paper, not per topic, so you train for the exam you will actually sit.

PaperTitleDurationMarksWeightingKey Topics
P1Multiple Choice (AS)1h 15m4015%AS Level physics -- MCQ technique, process of elimination, common traps
P2AS Level Structured Questions1h 15m6023%Kinematics, dynamics, work/energy, waves, electricity, atomic physics
P3Advanced Practical Skills2h40--Experimental design, uncertainty, data analysis, graph interpretation
P4A Level Structured Questions
Most demanded
2h10038%Circular motion, gravitational fields, oscillations, electromagnetism, nuclear, medical, astrophysics
P5Planning, Analysis and Evaluation1h 15m30--Planning experiments, identifying errors, statistical analysis, evaluating conclusions
Grade Boundaries

What an A* actually
requires.

Grade thresholds vary by session based on paper difficulty and cohort performance -- Cambridge's grade protection system. The table below shows official thresholds for the AC combination (260 marks total).

SessionA*ABCDE
Nov 202521419016613811083
Jun 202520217715212610074

Out of 260 (AC combination -- Papers 1, 2, 4, 4, 5). Source: Cambridge International published grade threshold tables, Nov 2025 & Jun 2025. Always verify current thresholds at cambridgeinternational.org -- boundaries are set after each series and change every session.

An A* in Nov 2025 required 214/260 -- 82% of available marks. The November series ran noticeably higher than June -- a reminder that boundaries reflect paper difficulty that session, not a fixed standard.

Command Word Mastery

What Cambridge
Examiners Reward.

Mark schemes attach specific meaning to command words. Misreading one of these costs marks the student's working had already earned.

Command WordWhat It DemandsCommon Student ErrorWorkshop Fix
DetermineCalculate a numerical answer with method shown, to the correct number of significant figures with correct unitsCorrect method and value but wrong significant figures, or missing units -- both cost the final markDrill phase: every "Determine" answer checked against Cambridge's significant-figure and unit conventions
ExplainGive a reasoned account using physics principles -- not just a restatement of the observationDescribing what happens without explaining why it happens in terms of the underlying physicsAnatomy phase: "Explain" answers deconstructed against the mark scheme's required physics vocabulary
SuggestApply known physics to an unfamiliar context -- there may be more than one acceptable answerTreating "Suggest" as requiring a single "correct" textbook answer, and second-guessing a valid responseClose phase: peer comparison of "Suggest" answers shows multiple mark-scheme-acceptable approaches
EstimateUse a sensible assumption and simple calculation to arrive at an order-of-magnitude answerEither refusing to make an assumption, or over-calculating with unnecessary precisionOpen Forum: rapid "Estimate" drills building confidence in stating reasonable assumptions
Your Facilitator

They sat this exam.
In the room you'll be in.

Facilitation is led by team members who have sat this exact specification — not generic A Level tutors working from a textbook.

Priya Subramaniam -- Cambridge 9702 Physics facilitator
Ms. Priya Subramaniam
Physics · Cambridge CAIE · Edexcel · AQA
BSc Physics (First Class), University of Cape Town · MSc Astrophysics, University College London · Sat Cambridge CAIE 9702, Cape Town, 2016 · 5 years facilitating A-Level Physics

"Physics examinations reward clear reasoning. I teach students to communicate their thinking -- that is where grades are won."

✓ Enhanced DBS Cleared
Is This Right For You?

Built for students
who prepare properly.

✓ You're sitting Cambridge 9702

Year 12 or Year 13, AS or A Level, any combination of papers — UK, Africa, the Gulf, or anywhere else this specification is examined.

✓ You want A or A*

You understand the content but want to close the gap between "knowing the subject" and "winning the marks."

✓ You want structure

Two scheduled sessions a week, paper-mapped, with Discord support between sessions — not unstructured self-study.

✓ You're willing to try one session free

No payment, no card details. One full 60-minute workshop, then decide.

Pricing

Master Cambridge 9702
from £49.

The Mastery plan (£199/month) includes 8 live workshops, full recordings, and Discord support 7 days a week. Try one session free before paying anything.

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✓ No card required  ·  ✓ 7-day refund on paid plans  ·  ✓ Cohorts capped at 15

Frequently Asked

Cambridge 9702 — Common Questions

How many papers does Cambridge 9702 Physics have?▼
9702 is assessed across five papers spanning AS and A Level: Paper 1 (Multiple Choice), Paper 2 (AS Structured Questions), Paper 3 (Advanced Practical Skills), Paper 4 (A Level Structured Questions), and Paper 5 (Planning, Analysis and Evaluation).
Is Cambridge 9702 Physics hard?▼
9702 is demanding, particularly Paper 4. The physics itself is comparable to other boards -- the difficulty most students underestimate is precise scientific communication: significant figures, units, and the specific language Cambridge mark schemes require for explanations.
Is this tutoring?▼
No. A private tutor teaches one student the subject. Our workshops put up to 15 students sitting the same papers into a single session, focused on what the Cambridge examiner rewards. The peer comparison is the core of the method, not an add-on.
Can I join if I'm only taking AS Level?▼
Yes. AS Level Physics (Papers 1 and 2) is fully covered. WhatsApp us to confirm which papers your current cohort is covering.
What if I miss a live workshop?▼
Every session is recorded and available within 1 hour of the session ending. Recordings remain accessible for the duration of your subscription.
How many students are in a workshop?▼
Cohorts are capped at 15 -- a principle, not a marketing figure. Operationally most cohorts run with 10-13 students, because the peer-learning method depends on the facilitator knowing every student's approach by name.
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