If you are looking for clear information on Cambridge A Level Physics grade boundaries, this guide covers the paper structure for syllabus 9702, the grade thresholds Cambridge has published in recent years, the patterns they tend to follow, and the most-asked question for any A Level Physics candidate: what raw mark do I need for an A* in Cambridge International A Level Physics?

Cambridge International publishes official grade thresholds for every subject after each series. Those documents are authoritative — but they are dense, formatted as multi-syllabus tables, and rarely give a student the answer they need quickly. Below we summarise how Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 is graded, what the boundaries usually look like, and how to use them while you revise.

Free tool: Use Tutopiya’s Cambridge A Level Physics grade boundary tracker (9702) to enter your raw mark and instantly see the most likely grade band based on published Cambridge thresholds.

---

How Cambridge A Level Physics grade boundaries work

A grade boundary is the minimum total raw mark required for a particular grade. For Cambridge International A Level Physics (syllabus code 9702), grades range from A* down to E, with anything below E ungraded.

Three points to remember:

1. Boundaries are set after marking. Cambridge looks at the difficulty of the actual papers sat and the cohort’s performance, then sets thresholds so that a candidate who performed as well as a comparable candidate from a previous series receives the same grade. This is grade protection.
2. Thresholds change every series. A June 2025 boundary is not a November 2024 boundary. They cluster within a band, but the exact mark moves up or down each session.
3. Boundaries are total marks, not percentages. Cambridge publishes them as raw marks out of the total available, even though students often think in percentages.

---

Cambridge A Level Physics paper structure (9702)

Cambridge International A Level Physics (9702) is assessed across five papers split between AS Level and the full A Level:

Paper	Title	Marks	Duration	Stage
1	Multiple Choice	40	1 h 15 min	AS
2	AS Structured Questions	60	1 h 15 min	AS
3	Advanced Practical Skills	40	2 h	AS
4	A Level Structured Questions	100	2 h	A2
5	Planning, Analysis and Evaluation	30	1 h 15 min	A2

A candidate sitting the full A Level completes all five papers (total 270 marks). A standalone AS Level candidate sits Papers 1, 2 and 3 (total 140 marks) and is awarded an AS grade only.

Cambridge publishes two sets of thresholds per series:

• A Level thresholds (A* / A / B / C / D / E) — applied to the combined raw mark across all five papers.
• AS Level thresholds (a / b / c / d / e) — applied to AS-only candidates.

When you read the Cambridge grade thresholds PDF, the column you want depends on whether you are sitting the full A Level or AS only.

---

What raw mark do I need for an A* in Cambridge A Level Physics?

Across recent series, the A* threshold for Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 has typically required somewhere in the 76–84% range of total marks — but the exact figure shifts each session.

Representative bands from published Cambridge thresholds:

• A* has commonly required around 78–82% of total marks.
• A has commonly required around 66–72%.
• B has commonly required around 56–62%.
• C has commonly required around 46–52%.
• E (the pass mark) has commonly sat around 28–33%.

Two caveats apply:

1. These are typical bands, not predictions. A particular series might sit a few marks above or below.
2. Cambridge publishes thresholds as raw marks, not percentages. Always work from the published raw-mark threshold for the specific series you are looking at.

The Tutopiya grade boundary tracker for Cambridge A Level Physics stores published threshold data and converts your raw mark into a likely grade band.

---

Why Cambridge A Level Physics boundaries move each series

Three factors drive most of the year-to-year variation:

• Paper 4 difficulty. Paper 4 carries 100 marks and decides much of the final grade. A particularly demanding question on quantum physics, capacitors or electromagnetic induction will see Cambridge lower the threshold slightly so candidates are not penalised for sitting a tougher paper.
• Cohort performance. If the global cohort performs unusually well or poorly, thresholds adjust to maintain fair comparison with previous years.
• Practical paper variation. Paper 3 and Paper 5 involve specific experimental procedures and analytical tasks. Variations between series can move the overall threshold by a few marks.

This is why Cambridge does not publish boundaries before the series — they are calibrated against the cohort’s actual performance.

---

How to use Cambridge A Level Physics boundaries while you revise

Grade boundaries are most useful before results day. Three practical applications:

1. Convert past-paper marks into a target grade

When you sit a past Paper 4 under timed conditions and score 68/100, that number alone tells you little. Cross-reference with the published threshold for that series — or with the combined-paper boundary — and you immediately know whether you are tracking at A, B or C standard. The Cambridge A Level Physics tracker does this conversion automatically.

2. Identify the gap to your next grade

If you are scoring 60% on Paper 4 and the historical A boundary is 68%, you know you need to pick up around eight percentage points to be on the A border. Combine the gap with a confidence-rated revision checklist to choose where those marks come from — typically capacitors, simple harmonic motion, gravitational fields or particle physics.

3. Sanity-check your predicted grade

Schools issue predicted grades for university applications based on mock performance. If your predicted grade looks higher or lower than the boundary maths suggests, raise it with your teacher early.

---

Cambridge A Level Physics grade boundaries by paper component

Cambridge publishes component-level thresholds alongside overall thresholds. Component thresholds are useful when you want to know what an “A standard” performance on Paper 4 specifically looked like in previous series.

Component thresholds typically sit a few marks above or below the equivalent percentage of the overall threshold. They are most useful for:

• Teachers benchmarking mock papers across cohorts.
• Students who want to identify whether they are weaker in practical papers (3 and 5) or theory papers (1, 2 and 4).

For a general student, the overall A Level threshold is the number that decides your final grade — you can only convert one combined mark.

---

How AS Level Physics boundaries connect to the full A Level

If you sit AS in one series and A2 in a later series (the staged route), Cambridge carries your AS marks forward and combines them with your A2 marks for the final A Level award. The A Level threshold is then applied to the combined raw mark across all five papers, not separately to your AS and A2 totals.

A strong AS performance can therefore offset a weaker A2 series. A borderline AS grade still leaves the full A Level grade open to a strong A2 finish. Cambridge’s 9702 syllabus document details the staged-versus-linear route in full.

---

Cambridge A Level Physics grade thresholds: where to find the official numbers

Cambridge International publishes a grade thresholds PDF for each series shortly after results day. Three reliable routes:

1. Cambridge International website → Help with results → Grade thresholds (filter by series).
2. Your school’s exam officer receives the document as part of the results pack.
3. Tutopiya’s grade boundary tracker stores recent published thresholds for reference.

A note on data freshness: the 2026 thresholds for the June 2026 series have not been set at the time of writing — they are released on results day in August 2026. Until then, the most useful reference is the most recent published series (typically November 2025 or June 2025).

---

Common mistakes students make with Physics grade boundaries

A handful of errors come up every year:

• Using last year’s threshold as a target without margin. If the A* boundary was 213/270 last June, a 213/270 mock score does not guarantee A*. Aim for a buffer of 8–10 marks above the historical threshold.
• Mixing up component-level and overall thresholds. A “65% A standard” on Paper 4 alone is not the same as “65% A standard” overall.
• Comparing 9702 thresholds to 9700 (Biology) or 9701 (Chemistry). Physics A* boundaries are typically a touch lower than Chemistry or Biology in some series — never assume parity.
• Forgetting that the grade is set per-series, not per-year. June and November of the same year have separate thresholds.

---

Cambridge A Level Physics revision: from threshold to grade

Published thresholds tell you the destination. The route is the same set of evidence-based revision habits:

• Past-paper Paper 4 timing practice. Sit a full Paper 4 in 2 hours, marked against the official mark scheme, at least once a fortnight in the final eight weeks. Use the past paper exam timer to enforce timing.
• Practical methodology drilling. Paper 3 and Paper 5 reward precision in describing methods, identifying variables, calculating uncertainties and analysing log–log graphs. Drill methodology questions specifically.
• Topic-by-topic confidence rating. Use the A Level Physics revision checklist to mark your confidence in each syllabus topic. Spend the most time on amber and red topics.
• Formula memorisation and given-formula awareness. Cambridge supplies a formula sheet for 9702 — know which equations are given and which you must memorise. Spending revision time memorising a formula that is already supplied is wasted time.
• Definition and command-word precision. Examiners reward exact wording. Revise the Cambridge command words — state, describe, explain, deduce, show, suggest — and the keyword definitions Cambridge expects.

For broader preparation, see our Cambridge A Level Physics common mistakes guide.

---

Frequently asked questions

What are Cambridge A Level Physics grade boundaries?

Grade boundaries are the minimum total raw marks required for each grade (A* to E) in Cambridge International A Level Physics 9702. Cambridge publishes a table after each series with separate thresholds for the full A Level and for AS Level only.

What raw mark do I need for an A* in Cambridge A Level Physics 9702?

The A* threshold has typically required around 78–82% of total marks across recent series, but the exact figure changes every session. Use the Tutopiya grade boundary tracker to check the latest published threshold and convert your raw mark.

Are 2026 Cambridge A Level Physics grade boundaries published yet?

No — Cambridge publishes grade thresholds on results day. For the June 2026 series, thresholds will be released in August 2026. For revision and target-setting, use the most recent published series as a reference band.

Where can I find the official Cambridge International grade thresholds document?

On the Cambridge International website, under Help with results → Grade thresholds, filtered by series. Your school’s exam officer also holds the document.

Do AS Level and A Level Physics have separate grade boundaries?

Yes. AS Level (Papers 1, 2, 3) is graded a–e and has its own thresholds. The full A Level (Papers 1–5) is graded A*–E using combined-paper thresholds.

Why do Cambridge Physics boundaries change every series?

Boundaries are adjusted for paper difficulty and cohort performance so that comparable candidates receive comparable grades across series. A harder paper sees the threshold drop slightly; an easier paper sees it rise.

Are Cambridge A Level boundaries the same as Edexcel International A Level Physics boundaries?

No. Cambridge (9702) and Pearson Edexcel International A Level Physics have separate thresholds, separate paper structures and separate mark totals. The A*–E grades are comparable, but the raw-mark thresholds are not.

Can I use Cambridge A Level thresholds to predict my IGCSE Physics grade?

No — IGCSE Physics (0625) and A Level Physics (9702) are different qualifications with separate threshold tables. For IGCSE, see the Cambridge IGCSE Physics grade boundary tracker instead.

What happens if I miss the A* boundary by one mark?

Cambridge does not round up. A candidate one mark below the A* threshold is awarded A. Reviews of marking can be requested through your school exam officer if you believe a paper has been mis-marked, but boundaries themselves are fixed once published.

How accurate is the Tutopiya grade boundary tracker?

The tracker uses published Cambridge International grade thresholds for past series and is for reference only. The 2026 thresholds will be set after the June 2026 series. For confirmed boundaries, always check the official Cambridge document.

Does Paper 5 (Planning, Analysis and Evaluation) really matter for the A*?

Yes — disproportionately. Paper 5 contributes 30 marks to the combined total but the marks-per-minute density is the highest of any paper. Many borderline candidates push into A* through a strong Paper 5; many candidates miss A* because they treat Paper 5 as low-priority revision.

How does the formula sheet affect grade boundaries?

The supplied formula list does not directly affect boundaries — Cambridge sets the same paper for every candidate. However, candidates who use the formula list efficiently typically gain a few marks per paper, which over a 270-mark total moves them up a grade band.

---

Last reviewed: 29 April 2026. Cambridge International grade thresholds are released on results day for each series. Always verify current boundaries on the official Cambridge International website or with your school exam officer.

Ready to Excel in Your Studies?

Get personalised help from Tutopiya's expert tutors. Whether it's IGCSE, IB, A-Levels, or any other curriculum — we match you with the perfect tutor and your first session is free.

Book Your Free Trial