9702 · Cambridge International AS Level
9702/21
Structured Questions
Physics · June 2025 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.2 / 5
140
270 min
Oscillatory and wave mechanics paired with practical laboratory investigations.
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
140
Duration
270 min
Session difficulty
3.2 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The overall difficulty of this exam series is moderate, requiring robust conceptual clarity and precision in mathematical manipulation.
While Paper 11 contains several standard multiple-choice questions, Paper 21 introduces demanding conceptual requirements, particularly in graphical interpretation and system justifications.
Paper 31 remains accessible but punishes minor errors in precision and uncertainty calculations.
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.
Mathematical
Weight: 4100%Conceptual
Weight: 375%Explanation
Weight: 250%Experimental
Weight: 125%
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. 73% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 66% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 56% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 49% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 40% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Define” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Sketch” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.9
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Physical quantities and units (AS Level Physics)
22 marks this session
Simple harmonic oscillations (Oscillations)
20 marks this session
Equations of motion (Kinematics)
7 marks this session
Stress and strain (Deformation of solids)
7 marks this session
Turning effects of forces
7 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
Simple harmonic oscillations (Oscillations)
Dynamics (AS Level Physics)
Elastic and plastic behaviour (Deformation of solids)
Physical quantities and units (AS Level Physics)
D.C. circuits (AS Level Physics)
Kinematics (AS Level Physics)
Practical circuits (D.C. circuits)
Equations of motion (Kinematics)
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 11 - Multiple Choice:
Paper 21 - Structured Questions:
Paper 31 - Advanced Practical Skills 1:
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
Physical quantities and units (AS Level Physics)
22 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSimple harmonic oscillations (Oscillations)
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiEquations of motion (Kinematics)
7 marks this session
Practise in RevuiStress and strain (Deformation of solids)
7 marks this session
Practise in RevuiTurning effects of forces
7 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The overall difficulty of this exam series is moderate, requiring robust conceptual clarity and precision in mathematical manipulation.
- 2Message
While Paper 11 contains several standard multiple-choice questions, Paper 21 introduces demanding conceptual requirements, particularly in graphical interpretation and system justifications.
- 3Message
Paper 31 remains accessible but punishes minor errors in precision and uncertainty calculations.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2025 2025
Physics
The overall difficulty of this exam series is moderate, requiring robust conceptual clarity and precision in mathematical manipulation. While Paper 11 contains several standard multiple-choice questions, Paper 21 introduces demanding conceptual requirements, particularly in graph
The overall difficulty of this exam series is moderate, requiring robust conceptual clarity and precision in mathematical manipulation.
While Paper 11 contains several standard multiple-choice questions, Paper 21 introduces demanding conceptual requirements, particularly in graphical interpretation and system justifications.
Paper 31 remains accessible but punishes minor errors in precision and uncertainty calculations.
- Total marks
- 140
- Duration
- 270 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.2 / 5
Session analysis
The overall difficulty of this exam series is moderate, requiring robust conceptual clarity and precision in mathematical manipulation. While Paper 11 contains several standard multiple-choice questions, Paper 21 introduces demanding conceptual requirements, particularly in graphical interpretation and system justifications. Paper 31 remains accessible but punishes minor errors in precision and uncertainty calculations.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 11 - Multiple Choice:
Paper 21 - Structured Questions:
Paper 31 - Advanced Practical Skills 1:
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.
79% 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.
Structured Questions
60·26·43%
Multiple Choice
40·40·29%
Practical Investigation
40·15·29%
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 11 (Multiple
0.53 m/minPaper 21 (Structure
0.80 m/minTotal marks
100
Total time
150 min
Avg pace
0.67
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Polarisation & Malus's Law
85%85%
Electric fields and field lines
80%80%
Potential dividers
75%75%
Difficulty Verdict
The overall difficulty of this exam series is moderate, requiring robust conceptual clarity and precision in mathematical manipulation. While Paper 11 contains several standard multiple-choice questions, Paper 21 introduces demanding conceptual requirements, particularly in graphical interpretation and system justifications. Paper 31 remains accessible but punishes minor errors in precision and uncertainty calculations.
Where the Marks Are
High-scoring opportunities reside in direct calculations, such as using kinematics equations, applying the principle of moments, and finding the drift velocity or resistivity in electricity. Students can also easily secure marks in Paper 21 by completing the nuclear decay equation and defining core terms like acceleration or the principle of superposition. In Paper 31, the core marks are heavily concentrated in generating clear tables with proper units and plotting accurate graphs.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 15min
- Total marks
- 60
- Weighting
- 46%
- Question types
- structured
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.