- Official Cambridge A Level past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports come from Cambridge; students usually access them through their school, and Cambridge's website provides syllabuses, specimen papers and, for many subjects, a selection of past papers.
- Quiz Portal does not host official past papers; it offers original A Level questions organised by topic, blueprint mocks for each paper and full original practical papers.
- Chemistry 9701, Biology 9700 and Physics 9702 each have five papers, with Paper 1 being 40 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Mathematics 9709 has six papers, and A Level candidates take Paper 1, Paper 3 and either Papers 4 and 5 or Papers 5 and 6.
- Use topical practice to fix weak topics first, then full timed papers in the final months.
On this page
A Level past papers are the core of most Cambridge AS and A Level revision plans. They show the exact style of questions, the way marks are split and the depth examiners expect. This guide explains where to get official papers, how A Level topical past papers and full papers fit together, and what to watch for in Mathematics 9709, Chemistry 9701, Biology 9700 and Physics 9702.
Official A Level past papers: what they are and where to get them
For each exam series, Cambridge publishes question papers, mark schemes, examiner reports and, for practical papers, confidential instructions for teachers. They are Cambridge's copyright material. Quiz Portal is not affiliated with Cambridge and does not host or redistribute them.
- Through your school: Cambridge schools access past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports on Cambridge's School Support Hub. Your subject teacher can give you sets by paper.
- On Cambridge's website: each syllabus page on cambridgeinternational.org has the syllabus and specimen papers and, for many subjects, a selection of recent past papers.
- Published resources: endorsed textbooks and revision guides contain exam-style questions.
Topical past papers versus full papers
A Level topical past papers group questions by syllabus topic, which is ideal while you are still learning or fixing gaps. Full papers test something different: choosing methods without being told the topic, managing time and staying accurate for up to 2 hours. You need both, in that order.
| Phase | When | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Topical | During the course and early revision | Short sets on one topic, marked straight away; redo errors after a few days |
| Mixed | Middle of revision | Questions from several topics so you must recognise the method |
| Full timed papers | Final 6–8 weeks | Official papers and mocks in the official time, marked strictly against the mark scheme |
On Quiz Portal, each A Level subject page offers topic quizzes, quick sets, Smart practice (which adapts to aim for about 70% predicted success) and retries of missed questions, all with original questions. The A Level papers page assembles blueprint mocks for each paper by marks, at the official minutes-per-mark rate.
A Level mathematics past papers (9709)
| Paper | Time | Marks | AS | A Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Pure Mathematics 1 | 1 h 50 min | 75 | 60% | 30% |
| 2 Pure Mathematics 2 | 1 h 15 min | 50 | 40% | – |
| 3 Pure Mathematics 3 | 1 h 50 min | 75 | – | 30% |
| 4 Mechanics | 1 h 15 min | 50 | 40% | 20% |
| 5 Probability & Statistics 1 | 1 h 15 min | 50 | 40% | 20% |
| 6 Probability & Statistics 2 | 1 h 15 min | 50 | – | 20% |
Only practise the papers on your route. For Maths A Level past papers, the 2026–2027 and 2028–2030 syllabuses have no significant changes from 2023–2025, so recent papers match closely. You get the MF19 list of formulae and statistical tables in the exam, so practise with it. Our A Level maths revision plan explains the routes in detail.
A Level chemistry, biology and physics past papers
Chemistry 9701, Biology 9700 and Physics 9702 share the same five-paper structure:
| Paper | Time | Marks | AS | A Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Multiple Choice | 1 h 15 min | 40 | 31% | 15.5% |
| 2 AS Level Structured Questions | 1 h 15 min | 60 | 46% | 23% |
| 3 Advanced Practical Skills | 2 h | 40 | 23% | 11.5% |
| 4 A Level Structured Questions | 2 h | 100 | – | 38.5% |
| 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation | 1 h 15 min | 30 | – | 11.5% |
- A Level chemistry past papers: the assessment structure has been the same since the 2022–2024 syllabus, and the 2028–2030 syllabus has no significant changes. Paper 3 contexts may lie outside the syllabus content, so practical technique matters more than memorised experiments.
- A Level biology past papers: content and structure have been essentially unchanged since the syllabus first examined in 2022, so papers from 2022 onwards are the most useful.
- Physics: the data and formulae appear on page 2 of Papers 1 and 2 and on pages 2 and 3 of Paper 4. Learn which formulas are given and which you must recall.
AS papers or A Level papers first?
If you are taking the full A Level in one series, practise the AS papers (Papers 1 and 2 in the sciences, Paper 1 and your applied AS paper in Mathematics) first, because the A Level papers build on that content. If you are on a staged route and carrying forward your AS result, focus on the A Level papers and use AS questions only to refresh assumed knowledge. In Mathematics, for example, Paper 3 assumes Paper 1 content and Paper 6 assumes Paper 5 and Paper 3 calculus.
How to mark and review A Level papers
- Mark strictly with the mark scheme, including method and accuracy marks. In 9709, give non-exact answers to three significant figures (angles in degrees to one decimal place) unless told otherwise.
- Read the examiner report for every question where you lost marks; it often names the exact misconception.
- Log lost marks by topic and by error type (knowledge, method, accuracy, wording).
- Feed the weakest topics back into topical practice before your next full paper.
Start with Mathematics 9709, Chemistry 9701, Biology 9700 or Physics 9702, or browse every subject on the A Level page.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get Cambridge A Level past papers?
Your school is the main source: Cambridge schools access past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports through the School Support Hub. Cambridge's website also provides syllabuses, specimen papers and, for many subjects, a selection of past papers on each syllabus page.
Does Quiz Portal provide official A Level past papers?
No. Quiz Portal is independent of Cambridge and does not host or redistribute official papers. It provides original topical questions, blueprint mocks for each paper and full original practical papers written to the current syllabuses.
What are A Level topical past papers?
They are exam-style questions grouped by syllabus topic rather than by exam session. They are best for learning and fixing weak topics before you move on to full timed papers.
How many papers are in A Level Mathematics 9709?
There are six papers. A Level candidates take four: Paper 1 and Paper 3, plus either Paper 4 and Paper 5 or Paper 5 and Paper 6. Paper 4 and Paper 6 cannot be combined.
When should I start doing full A Level past papers?
Once you have covered and practised most topics, usually in the final six to eight weeks before the exams. Before that, topical practice gives faster improvement.
Quiz Portal is independent and is not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment or College Board. Practice questions in this guide are original.