Readable syllabus overview and practice questions
Cambridge International AS & A Level Thinking Skills 9694
Examinations 2026–2027. Readable text and equivalent practice questions. Practice scores are not Cambridge grades.
1 · Thinking Skills 9694
Cambridge International AS & A Level
Thinking Skills 9694
Explore the topics you will study and the skills you will develop.
Examinations 2026–2027 · Syllabus Overview
2 · How the course is organised
AS and A Level use the same content areas. A Level tasks increase in demand and complexity; do not invent a separate list of additional subject topics.
Use the syllabus for examinations 2026–2027. Confirm your examination year and any options with your centre.
3 · Problem Solving · AS and A Level · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
1 Organise information
Select relevant information and put it into a useful form.
2 Process information
Use information, calculations and logical procedures to solve problems.
4 · Problem Solving · AS and A Level · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
3 Analyse data
Identify relationships and patterns and evaluate possible solutions.
5 · Problem Solving · AS and A Level
Compulsory within this study stage.
4 Consider wider problems
Extend strategies and consider constraints in more complex problems.
6 · Critical Thinking · AS and A Level · 1
Compulsory within this study stage.
5 Evaluate and use evidence
Assess evidence and use it to support reasoned conclusions.
6 Analyse reasoning
Identify conclusions, reasons, assumptions and the structure of arguments.
7 · Critical Thinking · AS and A Level · 2
Compulsory within this study stage.
7 Evaluate reasoning
Judge whether reasons and evidence support a conclusion.
8 · Critical Thinking · AS and A Level
Compulsory within this study stage.
8 Construct reasoning
Develop coherent arguments supported by relevant evidence.
9 · Skills you will develop
Focus on the quality of deductions and arguments. Basic numeracy supports problem solving, while critical thinking uses evidence from varied contexts.
10 · Keep the syllabus beside you
– Use the official syllabus for 2026–2027.
– 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/697412-2026-2027-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 area focuses on judging and using evidence?
– 2 Process information
– 5 Evaluate and use evidence
– 4 Consider wider problems
Show answer and feedback
Correct: 5 Evaluate and use evidence
Correct feedback: 5 Evaluate and use evidence: Assess evidence and use it to support reasoned conclusions. Review slide 06 and 07.
If 2 Process information is selected: 2 Process information: Use information, calculations and logical procedures to solve problems. Review slide 03 and 04. The best match to this question is 5 Evaluate and use evidence.
If 4 Consider wider problems is selected: 4 Consider wider problems: Extend strategies and consider constraints in more complex problems. Review slide 05. The best match to this question is 5 Evaluate and use evidence.
Topic check 2 · Understand the course structure
True or false: AS and A Level use the same subject content; A Level assessment tasks are more demanding.
Show answer and feedback
Correct: True
Correct feedback: Correct. The content is the same; the assessment demand differs.
Incorrect feedback: Revisit slide 02. The content is the same; the assessment demand differs.
Topic check 3 · Complete the topic title
Identify conclusions, reasons, assumptions and the structure of arguments.
Complete the missing word in this topic title: 6 ____ reasoning
Show answer and feedback
Accepted answer: Analyse. Ignore case and surrounding whitespace; do not require the topic number.
Correct feedback: 6 Analyse reasoning: Identify conclusions, reasons, assumptions and the structure of arguments. Review slide 06 and 07.
Incorrect feedback: Use the description to identify the topic. The missing word is “Analyse”; the complete title is 6 Analyse reasoning. Review slide 06 and 07.
Topic check 4 · Match topics to their focus
Match each description with its topic label. Use each label once.
Draggable labels: 1 Organise information; 5 Evaluate and use evidence; 8 Construct reasoning
– Select relevant information and put it into a useful form. → [drop zone]
– Assess evidence and use it to support reasoned conclusions. → [drop zone]
– Develop coherent arguments supported by relevant evidence. → [drop zone]
Show answer and feedback
– Row 1: 1 Organise information. Review slide 03 and 04.
– Row 2: 5 Evaluate and use evidence. Review slide 06 and 07.
– Row 3: 8 Construct reasoning. Review slide 08.
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:
– Identify relationships and patterns and evaluate possible solutions.
– Judge whether reasons and evidence support a conclusion.
Selectable text:
3 Analyse data / 1 Organise information / 7 Evaluate reasoning / 2 Process information
Show answer and feedback
Correct labels: 3 Analyse data; 7 Evaluate reasoning.
Incorrect labels: 1 Organise information; 2 Process information.
Correct feedback: 3 Analyse data: Identify relationships and patterns and evaluate possible solutions. Review slide 03 and 04. 7 Evaluate reasoning: Judge whether reasons and evidence support a conclusion. Review slide 06 and 07.
Incorrect/partial feedback: Match the meaning of each description, not just a familiar word. 1 Organise information: Select relevant information and put it into a useful form. Review slide 03 and 04. 2 Process information: Use information, calculations and logical procedures to solve problems. Review slide 03 and 04.