9709 · Cambridge International A Level
9709/42
Structured Questions
Mathematics · June 2024 · Variant 2
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.4 / 5
350
520 min
Newton’s laws of motion on rough inclined planes
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
350
Duration
520 min
Session difficulty
3.4 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The May/June 2024 series of the Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) exam was of moderate-to-high difficulty, falling well within standard expectations.
While standard algebraic manipulations and basic probability distributions offered highly accessible pathways to securing passing marks, the inclusion of multi-stage integration, implicit parametric differentiation, and complex dynamical systems on rough inclined planes served as key grade differentiators for top candidates.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Algebraic Manipulation
Weight: 10100%Integration Proficiency
Weight: 880%Trigonometric
Weight: 770%Probability Modeling
Weight: 660%Vector
Weight: 440%Geometry
Weight: 330%Physical / Dynamics
Weight: 220%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards
Level A*
Approx. 85% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 72% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 59% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 46% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 33% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 20% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
Overall Difficulty Verdict
The May/June 2024 series of the Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) exam was of moderate-to-high difficulty, falling well within standard expectations. While standard algebraic manipulations and basic probability distributions offered highly accessible pathways to securing passing marks, the inclusion of multi-stage integration, implicit parametric differentiation, and complex
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Match the expected response style for “Find” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Show” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Solve” questions.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Prove” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Verify” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 2
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Newton’s laws of motion (Mechanics)
18 marks this session
Coordinate geometry (Pure Mathematics 1)
14 marks this session
Integration (Pure Mathematics 2)
13 marks this session
Linear combinations of random variables
13 marks this session
Series (Pure Mathematics 1)
12 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Kinematics of motion in a straight line (Mechanics (for Paper 4))
Differentiation
Differentiation (Pure Mathematics 1 (for Paper 1))
Differentiation (Pure Mathematics 2 (for Paper 2))
The Poisson distribution (Probability & Statistics 2 (for Paper 6))
Integration (Pure Mathematics 2 (for Paper 2))
Series (Pure Mathematics 1 (for Paper 1))
Integration (Pure Mathematics 3 (for Paper 3))
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 12 (Pure Mathematics 1):
Paper 22 (Pure Mathematics 2):
Paper 32 (Pure Mathematics 3):
Paper 42 (Mechanics):
Paper 52 (Probability & Statistics 1):
Paper 62 (Probability & Statistics 2):
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Newton’s laws of motion (Mechanics)
18 marks this session
Practise in RevuiCoordinate geometry (Pure Mathematics 1)
14 marks this session
Practise in RevuiIntegration (Pure Mathematics 2)
13 marks this session
Practise in RevuiLinear combinations of random variables
13 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSeries (Pure Mathematics 1)
12 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The May/June 2024 series of the Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) exam was of moderate-to-high difficulty, falling well within standard expectations.
- 2Message
While standard algebraic manipulations and basic probability distributions offered highly accessible pathways to securing passing marks, the inclusion of multi-stage integration, implicit parametric differentiation, and complex dynamical systems on rough inclined planes served as key grade differentiators for top candidates.
- 3Strength
Overall Difficulty Verdict: The May/June 2024 series of the Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) exam was of
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Mathematics
The May/June 2024 series of the Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) exam was of moderate-to-high difficulty, falling well within standard expectations. While standard algebraic manipulations and basic probability distributions offered highly accessible pathway
The May/June 2024 series of the Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) exam was of moderate-to-high difficulty, falling well within standard expectations.
While standard algebraic manipulations and basic probability distributions offered highly accessible pathways to securing passing marks, the inclusion of multi-stage integration, implicit parametric differentiation, and complex dynamical systems on rough inclined planes served as key grade differentiators for top candidates.
- Total marks
- 350
- Duration
- 520 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.4 / 5
Session analysis
The May/June 2024 series of the Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) exam was of moderate-to-high difficulty, falling well within standard expectations. While standard algebraic manipulations and basic probability distributions offered highly accessible pathways to securing passing marks, the inclusion of multi-stage integration, implicit parametric differentiation, and complex dynamical systems on rough inclined planes served as key grade differentiators for top candidates.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 12 (Pure Mathematics 1):
Paper 22 (Pure Mathematics 2):
Paper 32 (Pure Mathematics 3):
Paper 42 (Mechanics):
Paper 52 (Probability & Statistics 1):
Paper 62 (Probability & Statistics 2):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
80% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Probability & Statistics Analysis
100·15·29%
Algebraic Proofs & Trigonometry
62·12·18%
Structured Calculus & Integration
51·8·15%
Kinematics & Dynamics
50·10·14%
Geometry & Vectors
44·8·13%
Numerical Iteration & Functions
43·9·12%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 12
0.50 m/minPaper 22
0.67 m/minPaper 42
0.67 m/minPaper 52
0.67 m/minPaper 62
0.67 m/minTotal marks
220
Total time
340 min
Avg pace
0.65
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Differential equations (Pure 3)
95%95%
Numerical solution of equations (Pure 3)
90%90%
Hypothesis testing (S2)
85%85%
Overall Difficulty Verdict
The May/June 2024 series of the Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) exam was of moderate-to-high difficulty, falling well within standard expectations. While standard algebraic manipulations and basic probability distributions offered highly accessible pathways to securing passing marks, the inclusion of multi-stage integration, implicit parametric differentiation, and complex dynamical systems on rough inclined planes served as key grade differentiators for top candidates.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.