9702 Syllabus 2025–2027: Papers, Routes, Topics and What Changed
Published Oct 18, 2026
This guide summarises the Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics (9702) syllabus for exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027: the five papers, how they combine into AS and A Level, the topic list and what has changed. Everything is taken from Cambridge's own syllabus documents, linked at the end.
What changed?
Cambridge states there are no significant changes which affect teaching in the 2025–2027 syllabus. The only content change is updated wording in learning outcomes 3.3.3, 7.5.2, 15.3.4 and 25.3.1. The syllabus for 2028, 2029 and 2030 has also been published, again with no significant changes which affect teaching. Textbooks endorsed for exams from 2022 remain suitable.
The five papers
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Multiple Choice | 1 h 15 min | 40 | 31% of AS · 15.5% of A Level |
| 2 AS Level Structured Questions | 1 h 15 min | 60 | 46% of AS · 23% of A Level |
| 3 Advanced Practical Skills | 2 h | 40 | 23% of AS · 11.5% of A Level |
| 4 A Level Structured Questions | 2 h | 100 | 38.5% of A Level |
| 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation | 1 h 15 min | 30 | 11.5% of A Level |
Routes to AS and A Level
- AS Level: Papers 1, 2 and 3 in the same series.
- A Level in one series: all five papers.
- Staged A Level: Papers 1, 2 and 3 for AS, then Papers 4 and 5 in a later series.
Paper 4 is based on the A Level content but needs knowledge of the AS content too. Papers 3 and 5 test the experimental skills in the syllabus's practical assessment section.
Topics
AS Level content (topics 1–11)
- 1. Physical quantities and units
- 2. Kinematics
- 3. Dynamics
- 4. Forces, density and pressure
- 5. Work, energy and power
- 6. Deformation of solids
- 7. Waves
- 8. Superposition
- 9. Electricity
- 10. D.C. circuits
- 11. Particle physics
A Level content (topics 12–25)
- 12. Motion in a circle
- 13. Gravitational fields
- 14. Temperature
- 15. Ideal gases
- 16. Thermodynamics
- 17. Oscillations
- 18. Electric fields
- 19. Capacitance
- 20. Magnetic fields
- 21. Alternating currents
- 22. Quantum physics
- 23. Nuclear physics
- 24. Medical physics
- 25. Astronomy and cosmology
Practise by topic on our 9702 topical questions page.
Useful next steps
- 9702 past papers and mark schemes
- 9702 grade boundaries explained
- Every 9702 definition you must know
- A Level Physics 9702 tuition · Book a free demo
Sources: 9702 syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027, 9702 syllabus for 2028–2030. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
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