Examiner-informed workshops. Not more content — exam mastery.
Cambridge AS Physics 9702 has no option split — every candidate sits the same three papers. This page covers the full structure, current grade thresholds, and exactly how our workshops are mapped to your specification.
Cambridge mark schemes for 9702 reward precise scientific language and method, not just a correct numerical answer. Students who understand the physics but have not been taught how Cambridge marks a solution consistently lose marks on:
Paper 1 rewards elimination strategy and spotting deliberately plausible distractors — guessing without a process loses marks that disciplined elimination would have secured.
Cambridge mark schemes require exact definitions (e.g. "force is the rate of change of momentum") and consistent SI units — an almost-right definition often scores zero.
Paper 3 tests experimental design, uncertainty calculation, and graph interpretation as a written paper, not a lab — students who have only practised physically in the lab often struggle with the written analysis format.
With Paper 2's structured questions worth 46% of the AS, students who under-practise Paper 2 timing lose marks disproportionate to its single-paper weight.
Our workshops are built from these patterns — not from the textbook.
Every 9702 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.
Cambridge AS Physics 9702 is the one subject across all three boards in our coverage with no route or option split — every AS candidate sits all three papers below. Our workshops are scheduled per paper so you train for the exam you will actually sit.
| Paper | Title | Format | Weighting | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | Multiple Choice | 40 questions, 1h | 31% of AS | AS content — MCQ technique, elimination, common distractors |
| P2 | AS Level Structured Questions | Structured, 1h 15m | 46% of AS | Kinematics, dynamics, work & energy, waves, electricity, atomic physics |
| P3 | Advanced Practical Skills | Written practical, 2h | 23% of AS | Experimental design, uncertainty, data analysis, graph interpretation |
All three papers compulsory — there is no choice to confirm with your school for 9702 AS, unlike Mathematics or Further Mathematics on this board.
Grade thresholds vary by session based on paper difficulty and cohort performance — this is Cambridge's "grade protection" system. AS Level is graded A to E only — there is no A* at AS.
| Combination | Max | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1+P2+P3 (all candidates) | — | 97 | 85 | 73 | 61 | 49 |
Source: Cambridge International published grade threshold table, Nov 2025 series. Always verify current thresholds at cambridgeinternational.org — boundaries are set after each series and change every Masterclass.
Because there's no option split, every AS Physics candidate is competing on the same scale — there is no "easier route" available, which makes consistent exam technique across all three papers the deciding factor.
Cambridge mark schemes attach precise meaning to command words in Physics — often more rigidly than in Mathematics, because a "state" answer with the wrong units scores zero regardless of the value given.
| Command Word | What It Demands | Common Student Error | Workshop Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| State | A concise answer with no supporting argument, but with correct units where applicable | Omitting units, or adding unnecessary working that risks contradicting a correct initial answer | Drill phase: rapid-fire "State" questions scored strictly on unit precision |
| Explain | A reasoned account using physics principles — not a description of what happens, but why | Describing the observation ("the current decreases") without explaining the underlying cause | Anatomy phase: "describe vs explain" comparison using past Paper 2 mark schemes |
| Determine | Calculate using given data, showing method and arriving at a numerical answer with correct units and significant figures | Rounding too early in multi-step calculations, propagating small errors into the final answer | Close phase: peer-compared significant-figure discipline drills |
| Sketch | A graph showing the correct general shape and key features (intercepts, gradients, asymptotes) — not measured precision | Either over-investing time on a precise plot, or omitting a key labelled feature the mark scheme requires | Open Forum: live sketch-and-critique exercises against the mark scheme's expected shape |
9702 facilitation is led by team members who have sat this exact specification — not generic tutors working from a textbook.
Our facilitators are current and former exam board markers. Rather than displaying a generic pool, we match the right facilitator to your specific board, subject, year group, and cohort profile — after an introductory conversation. Start with a free trial →
All three papers, no option to confirm — UK, Africa, the Gulf, or anywhere else 9702 is examined.
You understand the physics but want to close the gap between "knowing the content" and "winning the marks."
Two scheduled sessions a week, paper-mapped, with Discord support between Masterclasses — not unstructured self-study.
No payment, no card details. One full 60-minute workshop, then decide.
The Mastery plan (£199/month) includes 8 live workshops covering 9702 AS Papers 1, 2 and 3, full recordings, and Discord support 7 days a week. Try one Masterclass free before paying anything.
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