Readable syllabus overview and practice questions
Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics 9702
Examinations 2025–2027. Readable text and equivalent practice questions. Practice scores are not Cambridge grades.
1 · Physics 9702
Cambridge International AS & A Level
Physics 9702
Explore the topics you will study and the skills you will develop.
Examinations 2025–2027 · Syllabus Overview
2 · How the course is organised
AS Level: topics 1–11 and practical skills. Full A Level: topics 1–25 and further practical skills. Agree staged or single-series entry with your centre.
Use the syllabus for examinations 2025–2027. Confirm your examination year and any options with your centre.
3 · AS Level · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
1 Physical quantities and units
Use SI units, estimate uncertainty and distinguish scalar and vector quantities.
2 Kinematics
Describe motion using displacement, velocity, acceleration, equations and graphs.
4 · AS Level · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
3 Dynamics
Connect forces with changes in motion, momentum and Newton’s laws.
5 · AS Level · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
4 Forces, density and pressure
Study force effects, moments, equilibrium, density and pressure.
5 Work, energy and power
Track energy transfers and calculate work, power and efficiency.
6 · AS Level · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
6 Deformation of solids
Investigate stretching, stress, strain and the elastic behaviour of materials.
7 · AS Level · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
7 Waves
Describe wave motion, intensity, polarisation and the Doppler effect.
8 Superposition
Explain interference, diffraction and stationary waves by combining waves.
8 · AS Level · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
9 Electricity
Connect charge, current, potential difference, resistance and electrical power.
9 · AS Level
Compulsory within this study stage.
10 D.C. circuits
Analyse circuit behaviour, including Kirchhoff’s laws and potential dividers.
11 Particle physics
Explore particles, antiparticles, quarks and particle interactions.
10 · A Level additional · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
12 Motion in a circle
Describe circular motion using angular speed and centripetal acceleration and force.
13 Gravitational fields
Model gravitational force, field strength, potential and orbital motion.
11 · A Level additional · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
14 Temperature
Understand thermal equilibrium, thermometric properties and the absolute temperature scale.
12 · A Level additional · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
15 Ideal gases
Use gas relationships and a kinetic model to connect pressure, volume and temperature.
16 Thermodynamics
Connect internal energy, heating and work through the first law of thermodynamics.
13 · A Level additional · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
17 Oscillations
Study simple harmonic motion, energy changes, damping and resonance.
14 · A Level additional · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
18 Electric fields
Model electric force, field strength and potential for charges and fields.
19 Capacitance
Explore capacitors, stored energy and charge or discharge behaviour.
15 · A Level additional · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
20 Magnetic fields
Study magnetic forces and the induction of electromotive force.
16 · A Level additional · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
21 Alternating currents
Describe alternating signals and investigate rectification and smoothing.
22 Quantum physics
Explore photons, the photoelectric effect, wave–particle ideas and energy levels.
17 · A Level additional · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
23 Nuclear physics
Investigate mass–energy, binding energy, radioactive decay and nuclear processes.
18 · A Level additional
Compulsory within this study stage.
24 Medical physics
Connect physics with ultrasound, X-ray and positron emission tomography imaging.
25 Astronomy and cosmology
Use stars, radiation and redshift to investigate distances and the expanding Universe.
19 · Skills you will develop
Develop practical skills alongside theory: make measurements, present and analyse data, evaluate uncertainty and improve investigations. Use mathematical models and evidence to connect the topics.
20 · Keep the syllabus beside you
– Use the official syllabus for 2025–2027.
– Find each numbered topic or labelled option in the subject-content section.
– Use its detailed requirements to plan study and review progress.
[Open the official Cambridge syllabus](https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/664565-2025-2027-syllabus.pdf)
The next five questions check your understanding of this topic map. They are optional practice with feedback and retries, not Cambridge grades.
Topic check 1 · Find the right area
Which topic includes interference, diffraction and stationary waves?
– 19 Capacitance
– 8 Superposition
– 25 Astronomy and cosmology
Show answer and feedback
Correct: 8 Superposition
Correct feedback: 8 Superposition: Explain interference, diffraction and stationary waves by combining waves. Review slide 07 and 08.
If 19 Capacitance is selected: 19 Capacitance: Explore capacitors, stored energy and charge or discharge behaviour. Review slide 14 and 15. The best match to this question is 8 Superposition.
If 25 Astronomy and cosmology is selected: 25 Astronomy and cosmology: Use stars, radiation and redshift to investigate distances and the expanding Universe. Review slide 18. The best match to this question is 8 Superposition.
Topic check 2 · Understand the course structure
True or false: AS Level includes topic 24 Medical physics.
Show answer and feedback
Correct: False
Correct feedback: Correct. Medical physics is additional A Level content; AS covers topics 1–11.
Incorrect feedback: Revisit slide 02. Medical physics is additional A Level content; AS covers topics 1–11.
Topic check 3 · Complete the topic title
Explore capacitors, stored energy and charge or discharge behaviour.
Complete the missing word in this topic title: 19 ____
Show answer and feedback
Accepted answer: Capacitance. Ignore case and surrounding whitespace; do not require the topic number.
Correct feedback: 19 Capacitance: Explore capacitors, stored energy and charge or discharge behaviour. Review slide 14 and 15.
Incorrect feedback: Use the description to identify the topic. The missing word is “Capacitance”; the complete title is 19 Capacitance. Review slide 14 and 15.
Topic check 4 · Match topics to their focus
Match each description with its topic label. Use each label once.
Draggable labels: 8 Superposition; 24 Medical physics; 25 Astronomy and cosmology
– Explain interference, diffraction and stationary waves by combining waves. → [drop zone]
– Connect physics with ultrasound, X-ray and positron emission tomography imaging. → [drop zone]
– Use stars, radiation and redshift to investigate distances and the expanding Universe. → [drop zone]
Show answer and feedback
– Row 1: 8 Superposition. Review slide 07 and 08.
– Row 2: 24 Medical physics. Review slide 18.
– Row 3: 25 Astronomy and cosmology. Review slide 18.
Correct feedback: Each label now matches its study focus.
Incorrect/partial feedback: Keep correct matches and revisit the topic descriptions above; use the solution to compare each pair.
Topic check 5 · Identify the study areas
Select the two topic labels that match these descriptions:
– Describe wave motion, intensity, polarisation and the Doppler effect.
– Connect charge, current, potential difference, resistance and electrical power.
Selectable text:
7 Waves / 1 Physical quantities and units / 9 Electricity / 2 Kinematics
Show answer and feedback
Correct labels: 7 Waves; 9 Electricity.
Incorrect labels: 1 Physical quantities and units; 2 Kinematics.
Correct feedback: 7 Waves: Describe wave motion, intensity, polarisation and the Doppler effect. Review slide 07 and 08. 9 Electricity: Connect charge, current, potential difference, resistance and electrical power. Review slide 07 and 08.
Incorrect/partial feedback: Match the meaning of each description, not just a familiar word. 1 Physical quantities and units: Use SI units, estimate uncertainty and distinguish scalar and vector quantities. Review slide 03 and 04. 2 Kinematics: Describe motion using displacement, velocity, acceleration, equations and graphs. Review slide 03 and 04.