The Cambridge AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) May/June 2026 papers and mark schemes are out, and they’re free. All six papers, 9709/12 to 9709/62, can be downloaded and printed on the Tutopiya Learning Portal. Below is a question-by-question breakdown of what each paper tested and how the mark scheme gave method and accuracy marks, taken from the papers themselves.

Key points from the 2026 9709 papers

• Exact answers were everywhere. Paper 1 asked for a chord length as a surd and an exact value of a; Paper 2 wanted an exact area and an exact y-coordinate; Paper 3 asked for exact square roots of a complex number, exact coordinates and an exact integral.
• Iteration appeared on both later pure papers, with different accuracy rules each time: 4 significant figures with iterates to 6 on Paper 2, and 3 decimal places with iterates to 5 on Paper 3.
• Parametric curves came up twice. Paper 2 Question 8 and Paper 3 Question 5 both gave x and y in terms of a parameter and asked for a gradient or a special point.
• Mechanics leaned on energy and friction. Paper 4 had a work done by friction question, an “energy method” show-that on a rough slope, and a crate that slows to rest under friction.
• Statistics tested the normal distribution from three angles: a normal approximation to the binomial (Paper 5), finding μ and σ from two percentages (Paper 5), and a one-tailed z-test with the Central Limit Theorem (Paper 6).
• Every mark scheme is built on M, A and B marks. Showing a correct method is worth marks even when the final answer is wrong, but a bare calculator answer often scores nothing.

All May/June 2026 9709 papers

Paper	Code	Duration	Marks	What it tests
Paper 1 Pure Mathematics 1	9709/12	1 hour 50 minutes	75	AS pure (all candidates)
Paper 2 Pure Mathematics 2	9709/22	1 hour 15 minutes	50	AS pure (AS-only route)
Paper 3 Pure Mathematics 3	9709/32	1 hour 50 minutes	75	A Level pure
Paper 4 Mechanics	9709/42	1 hour 15 minutes	50	Mechanics
Paper 5 Probability & Statistics 1	9709/52	1 hour 15 minutes	50	Statistics 1
Paper 6 Probability & Statistics 2	9709/62	1 hour 15 minutes	50	Statistics 2

Timings and marks are taken from the front cover of each 2026 paper. Papers 1 and 3 are answered in an answer booklet; Papers 2, 4, 5 and 6 are answered on the question paper. All six need the formula list (MF19). For the full syllabus content, see the Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics 9709 syllabus.

Which variant is this? Cambridge sets different versions of each paper (variants) for different time zones. The papers here are variant 2: 9709/12, /22, /32, /42, /52 and /62. All variants cover the same syllabus at the same difficulty, so variant 2 is just as good for practice as the one your school sat.

Download the 9709 May/June 2026 papers →

What came up in 9709 Paper 1 (Pure Mathematics 1), May/June 2026?

Paper 1 had ten questions worth 75 marks. The last four questions carried 41 of them.

Question	Topic	Marks
1	An equation in x² and 1/x² solved as a quadratic in x²	3
2	Graph transformations from a diagram: describe the translation and stretch in order, then write g(x) in the form af(x + b) + c	7
3	Perpendicular bisector of two points, meeting a given line	6
4	Binomial expansions of (3 − ½x)⁴ and (2 + ax)³, then a coefficient of their product to find a	7
5	A curve from its second derivative: two minimum points given, find the other stationary point	7
6	An inverse cosine equation that becomes a quadratic in sin x, for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π	4
7	Arithmetic progression from its 2nd, 4th and last terms (sum of all terms); geometric progression with a negative k and its sum to infinity	10
8	Circle from the ends of a diameter; exact length of a chord cut by a line, in the form a√b	11
9	Area under y = 3√(2x + 1); the normal at R(4, 9) and a triangle with exact area	11
10	A quadratic function: values of p for repeated roots, least a for an inverse to exist, then the inverse	9

What made it hard: Question 5 started from d²y/dx², so you had to integrate twice and use both minimum points before you could find the third stationary point. The mark scheme made every later mark depend on getting the first substitution right.

What came up in 9709 Paper 2 (Pure Mathematics 2)?

Paper 2 had eight questions worth 50 marks.

Question	Topic	Marks
1	Integrate (1 + e⁻ˣ)² between a and 2a	4
2	Trig equation in cosec² and cot², for −180° < θ < 180°	4
3	y = kaˣ⁺² from a straight-line graph of ln y against x; k and a to 2 significant figures	5
4	Normal to y = e²ˣ/(eˣ + 2) where it crosses the y-axis, with integer coefficients	6
5	Modulus inequality, then the same inequality with ln(½N) to find the smallest and largest integers N	7
6	Quartic with factor (x + 2): find a, show the cubic factor gives an iterative formula, iterate to 4 significant figures	8
7	Exact area under a curve involving cos 2x and 1/cos² 2x	7
8	Parametric curve: gradient at t = 0 and the exact y-coordinate of the maximum	9

Watch for: Question 7 hinged on recognising 1/cos² 2x as sec² 2x. Once you saw it, the integral was standard; the mark scheme gave a B1 for that step alone.

What came up in 9709 Paper 3 (Pure Mathematics 3)?

Paper 3 had ten questions worth 75 marks, with three questions worth 10 or more marks.

Question	Topic	Marks
1	Quotient and remainder when a cubic is divided by 2x − 1	3
2	Exponential equation, answer in the form ln a/ln b	4
3	Complex numbers: product in the form re^(iθ), then the two geometric effects of multiplying by t	4
4	Square roots of 3 − 6√2 i by forming a quartic	5
5	Parametric equations with tan 2θ and ln(cos 2θ): dy/dx in terms of tan 2θ, then the point where the gradient is −1	10
6	y = x tan⁻¹ 3x: exact gradient at x = ⅓, exact integral by parts	10
7	Quotient rule to show a quadratic in sin 3a, then all solutions for 0 ≤ a ≤ π	7
8	cosec(½x) = ½(x + 3): sketch, sign change between 1 and 1.2, rearrange to an iterative formula, iterate to 3 decimal places	9
9	Vectors: equation of line m, whether lines l and m are parallel, intersect or are skew, then a point P with angle PAB = 60°	12
10	Partial fractions, then a separable differential equation with ln(2y) needing integration by parts	11

What made it hard: Question 10(b) combined three skills: separating variables, using the partial fractions from part (a), and integrating ln(2y) by parts. The vectors question also asked you to reject one of two possible points for P.

What came up in 9709 Paper 4 (Mechanics)?

Paper 4 had seven questions worth 50 marks.

Question	Topic	Marks
1	Power of a car at constant speed (P = Fv), then the instantaneous acceleration after a power increase	4
2	Two particles coalesce, then rebound from a wall with speed reduced by 25%; time to return to 9 m from the wall	4
3	Connected particles over a pulley, rough horizontal plane and smooth 55° slope: tension, coefficient of friction, work done by friction after the string breaks	10
4	Rough slope with tan θ = 4/3 and μ = ⅓: energy method to show AB = 0.8 m, then the total time up and back	9
5	One particle released and another projected downwards a second later; same landing time, find the height	6
6	A crate pulled by a rope at an angle with constant acceleration: find its weight, then the distance to rest	8
7	Variable acceleration: v in terms of t with two constants, find k₁ from a deceleration, then distance travelled for 0 ≤ t ≤ 1	9

Watch for: Question 4(a) said “using an energy method”. A Newton’s second law solution doesn’t answer the question as set.

What came up in 9709 Paper 5 (Probability & Statistics 1)?

Paper 5 had seven questions worth 50 marks.

Question	Topic	Marks
1	Selections: probability of more men than women in a team of 5; ways to split 13 people into groups of 6, 4 and 3	6
2	Probability distribution for heads on three biased coins; first and second success on given throws (geometric-style)	8
3	Counting 3-digit numbers greater than 200: divisible by 5 with repeats allowed; even with no repeats	4
4	Binomial: at least 7 successes in 9 days; normal approximation with continuity correction over 120 days	8
5	Pens taken from a box with a pen added between picks: joint, total and conditional probability	7
6	Back-to-back stem-and-leaf diagram for two rugby teams, interquartile range, a replacement player who raises the mean	8
7	Normal distribution: find μ and σ from two percentages; expected number of leaves within 0.6 cm of the mean	9

What came up in 9709 Paper 6 (Probability & Statistics 2)?

Paper 6 had seven questions worth 50 marks.

Question	Topic	Marks
1	Unbiased estimates of population mean and variance from ten values	3
2	Linear combination of independent normal variables: P(C > 2(A + B))	5
3	Poisson hypothesis test (mean 2.4): hypotheses, smallest value that rejects H₀, P(Type I error)	6
4	Sum of two Poisson variables, a conditional probability, and a normal approximation for the total of 100 values	10
5	Approximate confidence interval for a proportion: find x from the interval width; find a% from two intervals	7
6	One-tailed z-test for a mean (sample of 75), whether the Central Limit Theorem was needed, range of sample sizes	9
7	Probability density function f(x) = a − x: find E(X) in the form k√2, then the exact median	10

Watch for: Question 7(b) gave two roots for the median. The mark scheme gave a B1 for rejecting the one outside the domain of X, with a reason.

How the 9709 May/June 2026 mark scheme gives marks

All six 2026 schemes use the same marking system. Learn it once and you can mark every paper accurately.

1. M marks are for a method applied to this question. An M mark is not lost for numerical or algebraic slips, but quoting a formula is not enough: you must substitute into it. In Paper 4 Question 3(a), the M1 for Newton’s second law needed the correct number of terms and dimensional consistency. Sign errors and a sin/cos mix were allowed.

2. A marks need the method mark first. An A mark is for a correct answer or step, and it can’t be given unless the linked M mark is earned. In Paper 5 Question 4(b), the normal approximation had three method marks: standardising with your mean and standard deviation, the continuity correction to 65.5, and choosing the right area. The final A1 came only after those.

3. B marks stand alone. They don’t depend on any method mark. Paper 1 Question 2(a) was all B marks: B2 for the three parts of the translation, B2 for the three parts of the stretch, and B1 for the correct order. The vertical translation had to come before the stretch in one route, and after it in the other. Words like “factor” for a translation, or just “right” or “up”, did not earn the component marks.

4. A star (*) means later marks depend on it. DM and DB marks are dependent on an earlier starred mark. In Paper 1 Question 5, the M1* was for substituting x = 2 and x = −2 and setting both equal to zero. The scheme said all later marks depended on it. Miss that step and the rest of the question scores nothing.

5. FT allows follow-through; CAO does not. FT means an A or B mark can follow from your own earlier wrong answer. Paper 4 Question 1(b) gave A1FT using your power from part (a). Paper 3 Question 10(b) gave B1FT for log terms using your partial fraction constants. CAO means correct answer only: Paper 5 Question 1(b) required 60060 exactly. In Paper 6 Question 6(c), the answer had to be n ≥ 70; writing n > 70 lost the A mark.

6. AG means the answer is printed, so your working must be complete. Paper 2 Question 6(b) was marked AG with “necessary detail needed”. In Paper 4 Question 4(a), showing AB = 0.8 m lost the A mark if any error was seen. Setting m to a number without justification, or leaving it out, scored 0. Paper 3 Question 7(a) gave A0 if an error appeared and wasn’t fixed in the next line.

7. ISW usually protects you, but not always. The general rule is that marks once gained are not lost: wrong working after a correct answer is ignored (isw). The 2026 schemes switched this off in places. Paper 4 Question 3(c) on work done by friction said “do not ISW”. Paper 1 Question 9(a) said not to ISW if you went on to find a different area, and Paper 3 Question 2 did the same for the ln a/ln b answer.

8. Accuracy has firm rules. Give non-exact answers to 3 significant figures (1 decimal place for degrees) unless told otherwise. An answer is accepted if it rounds correctly, often written AWRT. Where a question sets the accuracy, follow it: Paper 2 Question 3 wanted 2 significant figures, and Paper 2 Question 6(c) required exactly four. Paper 3 Question 7(b) needed radians to at least 3 significant figures; answers in degrees were treated as a misread, which costs one A mark. Paper 1 Question 6 gave only a special-case mark for degrees in a radian range. Don’t round early: Paper 4 Question 4(a) refused 0.8006 rounded to 0.8.

One more rule worth knowing: working matters even when the answer is right. In Paper 1 Question 9(a), an answer with no working scored 0 out of 4. Paper 3 Question 2 and Question 7(b) gave no marks for a correct answer with no working.

Which papers should you sit?

Cambridge offers set routes through 9709, and you take two papers for AS Level or four for A Level.

• AS Level: Paper 1 with Paper 2, Paper 4 or Paper 5. The Paper 1 and Paper 2 route is AS only and can’t be carried forward to the full A Level.
• A Level: Papers 1 and 3, plus either Papers 4 and 5 (mechanics and statistics) or Papers 5 and 6 (statistics only). You can’t pair Paper 4 with Paper 6, because Paper 6 builds on Paper 5.

Check with your school which route you are entered for before choosing which 2026 papers to sit as a mock.

How to use the 2026 papers as a mock

1. Keep them for last. Use older 9709 papers for topic practice and save May/June 2026 for a timed mock two to four weeks before your exam.
2. Sit each paper in one go, timed. Paper 1 and Paper 3 run for 1 hour 50 minutes; the others are 1 hour 15 minutes.
3. Mark line by line with the scheme. Award each M, A and B mark separately, and check whether a lost M mark also costs you the dependent marks after it.
4. Check your accuracy against the question. For each answer, ask whether it needed 3 significant figures, a set number of decimal places, an exact form or radians.
5. Redo every “show that” question. Compare your working with the AG steps in the scheme and add any line you skipped.

More A Level Maths resources

• Cambridge A Level Maths past papers (9709, all years)
• A Level past papers 2026: all subjects

🔍 Looking for a specific past paper? Use our free Past Paper Finder to search by subject, year and exam board.

Need help with a 9709 topic? Book a free trial lesson with an A Level Maths tutor →

Frequently asked questions

Are the 9709 May/June 2026 past papers free? +

Yes. All six question papers (9709/12, 9709/22, 9709/32, 9709/42, 9709/52 and 9709/62) and their official mark schemes are free to download and print on the Tutopiya Learning Portal.

What topics came up in 9709 Paper 1 May/June 2026? +

Paper 1 had ten questions: a quadratic in x squared, graph transformations, a perpendicular bisector, binomial expansions, finding a curve from its second derivative, an inverse cosine equation, arithmetic and geometric progressions, a circle and chord, an area and a normal, and a quadratic function with its inverse.

What came up in 9709 Paper 3 May/June 2026? +

Paper 3 covered polynomial division, an exponential equation, complex numbers in exponential form and square roots of a complex number, parametric and product-rule differentiation, integration by parts with inverse tan, a trig equation from a derivative, iteration, vectors with skew lines, and a differential equation solved with partial fractions.

How is 9709 marked? +

Every question is marked with M marks for a valid method, A marks for accurate answers that depend on the method, and B marks that stand alone. Some marks are dependent (DM or DB) and are lost if the earlier starred mark is missing. Answers are accepted to 3 significant figures unless the question asks for something else.

Why can't I find 9709/11 or 9709/13 for 2026? +

Only variant 2 of the May/June 2026 papers is on the portal at the moment. Cambridge sets different variants for different time zones; variants 1 and 3 test the same syllabus in the same format, so variant 2 prepares you just as well.

When will the October/November 2026 9709 papers be available? +

Cambridge usually releases the October/November papers in the new year. We add them to the Learning Portal once they are published.

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