Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) Past Papers: Grade Thresholds and Examiner Report Notes

This page is a guide to past papers for Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709). It covers eleven series, from March 2023 to June 2026, across Pure Mathematics, Mechanics and Probability & Statistics. The grade thresholds are copied from Cambridge’s grade-threshold documents, and the examiner notes are our own summaries of Cambridge’s Principal Examiner Reports for Teachers. We do not host any papers: every paper, mark scheme and report comes from Cambridge’s own website.

Where to get the official papers

• Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) syllabus page
• 9709 past papers page

Cambridge publishes recent papers, mark schemes, examiner reports and grade thresholds on the syllabus’s past-papers page; older series are available to schools through the School Support Hub.

Use the three documents together. Sit the paper first, under timed conditions. Mark it strictly with the mark scheme, which shows where each mark comes from. Then read the examiner report for that paper, which explains why answers lost marks. The notes on this page give you the short version of each report.

The March and June 2026 papers were set on the current syllabus, which Cambridge publishes for examination in 2026 and 2027. Papers from 2023 to 2025 come from before that, so check the syllabus version on the paper’s front cover against the current syllabus before you use an older paper. Topic names on this page follow the current syllabus.

Series index

Series	Papers (components) examined	Examiner report notes	Grade thresholds
June 2026	11-13, 15, 21-23, 25, 31-33, 35, 41-43, 45, 51-53, 55, 61-63, 65	Yes	Yes
March 2026	12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62	Yes	Yes
November 2025	11-13, 15, 21-23, 25, 31-33, 35, 41-43, 45, 51-53, 55, 61-63, 65	Yes	Yes
June 2025	11-13, 15, 21-23, 25, 31-33, 35, 41-43, 45, 51-53, 55, 61-63, 65	Yes	Yes
March 2025	12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62	Yes	Yes
November 2024	11-13, 21-23, 31-33, 41-43, 51-53, 61-63	Yes	Yes
June 2024	11-13, 21-23, 31-33, 41-43, 51-53, 61-63	Yes	Yes
March 2024	12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62	Yes	Yes
November 2023	11-13, 21-23, 31-33, 41-43, 51-53, 61-63	Yes	Yes
June 2023	11-13, 21-23, 31-34, 41-43, 51-53, 61-63	Yes	Yes
March 2023	12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62	Yes	Yes

Earlier series are on Cambridge’s past-papers page and are not summarised here.

What examiners keep saying

These errors come back across the eleven series summarised here, grouped by syllabus topic.

• Quadratics. Show a method: factorise, complete the square or substitute into the formula. Read the discriminant condition carefully (equal to zero, positive, or a perfect square). (March 2023, June 2023, November 2023, June 2024, November 2024, November 2025, June 2026)
• Functions. Name transformations exactly, with a vector or a scale factor and direction, and apply them in the right order. Let the domain fix the sign of an inverse; never swap domain and range. (March 2023, June 2023, November 2023, June 2024, November 2024, June 2025, June 2026)
• Trigonometry. Solutions go missing: the negative root of a squared ratio, negative or second angles, roots lost by cancelling a factor. Use radians when the question does. (every series from March 2023 to June 2026)
• Differentiation. The chain-rule factor gets dropped, rates of change are tried without it, and the product rule is missed in implicit and parametric work. (June 2023, November 2023, June 2024, November 2024, June 2025, November 2025)
• Integration. Show the integral and the substituted limits. Rewrite first: squared trig terms with an identity, improper fractions by division, fractions as powers. For a volume, square each function. (March 2023, June 2023, November 2023, June 2024, November 2024, March 2025, November 2025, March 2026, June 2026)
• Logarithmic and exponential functions. The log of a sum or difference cannot be split, and brackets matter with the power law. Reject any root that makes a log invalid. (June 2023, June 2024, November 2024, March 2025, June 2025, November 2025, March 2026, June 2026)
• Numerical solution of equations. A sign-change argument needs both values and a conclusion. Iterate in radians and keep going until the accuracy is settled. (June 2023, November 2023, June 2024, June 2025, November 2025, June 2026)
• Complex numbers. Draw Argand diagrams with a ruler, equal scales and labels. Many loci are arcs or half-lines, not full circles or lines. Check the quadrant of an argument. (March 2023, June 2023, November 2023, March 2024, June 2024, November 2024, March 2026)
• Vectors. A line equation starts r = …; a single vector such as AB is not a line. Never assume lines meet, and keep position, direction and displacement vectors apart. (March 2023, June 2023, November 2023, November 2024, March 2025, June 2025, November 2025, June 2026)
• Kinematics of motion in a straight line. Distance is not displacement when velocity changes sign: split at v = 0. Constant-acceleration formulae do not apply when acceleration varies. (November 2023, March 2024, June 2024, November 2024, June 2025, November 2025, March 2026, June 2026)
• Forces and equilibrium; Newton’s laws of motion. The normal reaction includes any component of an applied force; it is not always the weight. Check friction’s direction. When the set-up changes, find the new acceleration. (March 2023, November 2023, November 2024, June 2025, November 2025, June 2026)
• Energy, work and power; Momentum. Use energy when told to, with every term: friction, resistance, driving force, vertical height. In collisions, use velocities just before impact and conserve momentum, not kinetic energy. (June 2023, November 2023, March 2024, June 2024, June 2025, November 2025, March 2026, June 2026)
• Permutations and combinations. List the scenarios before counting. Divide for repeated letters, multiply independent choices rather than adding them, and count the possible orders. (every series from March 2023 to June 2026)
• Discrete random variables; The normal distribution. Read the success criterion exactly and spot a geometric model. A z-value is not a probability: write the standardisation and sketch the curve. (every series from March 2023 to June 2026)
• Linear combinations of random variables; Sampling and estimation; Hypothesis tests. Square coefficients and add variances, even for a difference. Use a tail probability, not one term, and conclude in context without certainty. (every series from March 2023 to June 2026)

Exam technique the reports repeat:

• Show the method. The reports say unsupported calculator answers can score nothing. Write the factorisation, the limits and the standardisation.
• Carry four significant figures. Round only at the end, keep exact answers exact, and know 3 s.f. from 3 d.p.
• Follow hence. Build on the earlier part. Stem information holds throughout, but data given in one part belongs to that part.
• Derive a given answer. Write every step of a show that; checking by substitution is not a proof. If it will not come out, find the slip.
• Draw a diagram. Force diagrams, normal-curve sketches, and Argand diagrams with a ruler and equal scales all appear in the best scripts.
• Present one attempt. Cross out rather than overwrite, label any additional page, and reread the question at the end.

June 2026

Routine calculus, binomial expansions, quadratics and standard statistics were mostly secure. The best scripts stood out for precision: a visible method for quadratics, limits and standardising, earlier work reused after Hence, answers in the exact form or accuracy asked for, and every step of a show that. On Pure Mathematics 3, vector notation, sketches used to locate roots and radian mode in iteration were weak. Mechanics went wrong when the situation changed partway through a question or when the normal reaction was taken as the weight. In statistics, success criteria, continuity corrections and test wording cost marks.

Where marks were lost

• Paper 11: the wrong radius in arc and sector formulae; functions subtracted before squaring for a volume of revolution.
• Papers 13, 15 and 31-33: trigonometric solutions dropped from one factor or missing from the interval.
• Papers 31-33 and 35: position, direction and displacement vectors confused; a line not written as r = … (Paper 33).
• Paper 42: an earlier acceleration or reaction reused after the set-up changed; friction’s work left out.
• Papers 52 and 55: an extreme case missed and counts added, not multiplied; continuity correction in the wrong direction.
• Papers 61 and 63: one item’s distribution used for a total; coefficients not squared; a z-value compared with an area.

Grade thresholds – June 2026

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11, 31, 41, 51	250	223	197	163	128	94	60
11, 31, 51, 61	250	222	194	163	129	95	62
12, 32, 42, 52	250	222	194	161	124	88	52
12, 32, 52, 62	250	223	196	166	131	96	61
13, 33, 43, 53	250	231	212	186	149	113	77
13, 33, 53, 63	250	234	218	194	155	116	77
15, 35, 45, 55	250	226	202	175	136	98	60
15, 35, 55, 65	250	227	204	178	138	98	58

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
11, 21	125	99	83	65	47	30
11, 41	125	102	84	66	48	30
11, 51	125	98	79	62	45	28
12, 22	125	101	87	67	47	27
12, 42	125	99	80	60	40	20
12, 52	125	102	86	65	44	23
13, 23	125	101	88	68	49	30
13, 43	125	100	85	66	47	29
13, 53	125	107	94	72	50	29
15, 25	125	100	87	68	49	31
15, 45	125	102	86	67	49	31
15, 55	125	105	92	70	48	27

Not shown: 32 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

March 2026

This series favoured candidates who linked the parts of a question and wrote out each step. On the pure papers, hence and use your answer were often ignored, given results were checked by substitution instead of derived, and less familiar forms caught people out: fractions to rewrite as powers, products of trig functions, and complex loci that are arcs. In Mechanics, energy methods and motion in several phases split the entry. In both statistics papers, careful reading of success criteria, accurate use of normal tables and four significant figures before rounding marked the strongest scripts. Test conclusions still needed context and non-definite wording.

Where marks were lost

• Paper 12: a fraction integrated top and bottom separately instead of rewritten as powers; only the positive root taken in a trig equation.
• Paper 32: logs taken term by term instead of spotting a disguised quadratic; an arc locus drawn as a full circle.
• Paper 42: only three of four phases of motion used for total distance or time; potential energy counted twice, or a force given for work done.
• Paper 52: no division for repeated letters; cumulative frequency plotted at upper class values, not boundaries.
• Paper 52: a probability from the tables used as a z-value; a rounded value used as a conditional-probability denominator.
• Paper 62: the estimated variance used when the true value was given; no continuity correction for a normal approximation to a Poisson.

Grade thresholds – March 2026

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12, 32, 42, 52	250	228	206	181	148	115	83
12, 32, 52, 62	250	227	204	179	146	113	80

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
12, 22	125	105	94	76	58	41
12, 42	125	111	100	83	66	49
12, 52	125	111	101	83	65	48

Not shown: 9 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

November 2025

One theme ran through every strand: calculator answers with no working. Quadratic and trig equations, definite integrals and probabilities simply written down lost marks under the rubric. On the pure papers, strong scripts used earlier parts after “hence”, kept answers exact and found every angle in range; weaker ones slipped on brackets, improper fractions and the chain rule, and the report found Paper 32 challenging for many. In Mechanics, the normal reaction with an applied force at an angle, friction direction and energy equations for several particles separated scripts. Statistics stressed success criteria, 4 s.f. working, continuity corrections and careful test conclusions.

Where marks were lost

• Paper 11: discriminant inequalities solved on a calculator or left as equations; rates of change without the chain rule.
• Papers 12, 22, 31 and 33: angles outside the calculator’s principal range missed.
• Papers 31 and 32: improper fractions not spotted before partial fractions; iteration stopped too soon (Paper 32).
• Papers 41-43: the normal reaction taken as the weight alone; friction reversed; an instructed energy method ignored.
• Papers 51, 52 and 55: repeated or grouped items mishandled in arrangements; success criteria misread (Paper 52).
• Papers 62 and 65: definite or context-free conclusions; standard deviations added (Paper 62); a one-tailed comparison in a two-tailed test (Paper 65).

Grade thresholds – November 2025

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11, 31, 41, 51	250	223	197	169	134	99	64
11, 31, 51, 61	250	227	205	179	143	107	71
12, 32, 42, 52	250	205	178	151	118	86	54
12, 32, 52, 62	250	204	179	154	122	90	59
13, 33, 43, 53	250	225	200	171	137	103	70
13, 33, 53, 63	250	230	210	185	149	113	77
15, 35, 45, 55	250	227	204	176	140	104	69
15, 35, 55, 65	250	230	210	184	148	112	77

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
11, 21	125	102	88	68	48	29
11, 41	125	98	83	64	46	28
11, 51	125	101	88	69	50	31
12, 22	125	102	88	68	48	29
12, 42	125	95	80	62	44	27
12, 52	125	98	84	64	45	26
13, 23	125	103	91	71	51	32
13, 43	125	97	82	65	48	31
13, 53	125	106	94	74	55	36
15, 25	125	105	92	71	51	31
15, 45	125	101	86	67	48	29
15, 55	125	106	94	75	56	37

Not shown: 27 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

June 2025

The June 2025 report weighs method and presentation as heavily as knowledge. Pure papers rewarded secure algebra, visible working for quadratic and trigonometric equations, and earlier parts used in later ones. Weaker scripts struggled with transformations, domain and range, complex numbers and vectors, and left trig solution sets incomplete. In Mechanics, force diagrams, calculus for variable motion and energy methods when instructed separated candidates. In statistics, the strongest scripts showed standardisation, applied continuity corrections, kept four significant figures, read success criteria exactly and wrote test conclusions in context, without claiming certainty.

Where marks were lost

• Papers 11, 13, 15 and 35: trig solution sets incomplete, with negative or second angles missing.
• Papers 12 and 15: the wrong square-root sign in an inverse; domain and range confused.
• Papers 31-33: a vector such as AB given where a line equation was needed; complex transformations described informally (Papers 31 and 35).
• Papers 42 and 45: constant-acceleration formulae where energy was required; friction assumed up the plane only (Paper 45).
• Papers 51, 52 and 55: standardisation not shown, or set equal to a probability; repeated letters mishandled (Paper 51).
• Papers 61-63: faulty continuity corrections for a Poisson approximated by a normal; a variance multiplied by a coefficient, not its square (Paper 61).

Grade thresholds – June 2025

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11, 31, 41, 51	250	224	198	171	133	95	57
11, 31, 51, 61	250	221	195	169	133	97	61
12, 32, 42, 52	250	224	198	171	138	105	72
12, 32, 52, 62	250	224	198	169	132	95	59
13, 33, 43, 53	250	223	197	170	131	93	55
13, 33, 53, 63	250	219	195	171	134	97	61
15, 35, 45, 55	250	225	201	175	136	97	59
15, 35, 55, 65	250	226	202	178	139	101	63

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
11, 21	125	97	82	63	45	27
11, 41	125	102	87	67	47	27
11, 51	125	100	85	66	47	29
12, 22	125	99	83	64	45	27
12, 42	125	104	91	75	60	45
12, 52	125	100	85	65	46	27
13, 23	125	100	85	65	45	26
13, 43	125	103	88	67	46	25
13, 53	125	104	90	69	49	29
15, 25	125	102	85	65	45	25
15, 45	125	105	89	68	47	27
15, 55	125	105	91	70	50	30

Not shown: 25 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

March 2025

The report keeps returning to method and accuracy rather than gaps in knowledge. Pure papers penalised calculator-only answers for equations, cubic factorisation and definite integrals, and careless handling of negative values in series and expansions. Strong scripts carried at least four significant figures, left exact answers exact and set out show that steps in full. Weak scripts misread the demand, rounded too early and lost signs on crowded pages. In statistics, reading of success criteria improved, but normal and geometric work, cumulative frequency graphs and hypothesis-test conclusions still divided the entry.

Where marks were lost

• Paper 12: minus signs dropped in a binomial expansion; a valid negative common ratio rejected for a convergent progression.
• Paper 32: the log of a difference split; complex loci missing modulus signs or a second inequality.
• Paper 32: lines called skew without showing the direction vectors are not multiples; integration by parts done once, not twice.
• Paper 42: constant-acceleration formulae for a particle at constant speed; g missing from a weight component on a slope.
• Paper 52: cumulative frequency plotted at class values or midpoints; a switch to the geometric distribution not spotted.
• Paper 62: √n missing from a test, or a definite conclusion; Type II probabilities found from the original distribution.

Grade thresholds – March 2025

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12, 32, 42, 52	250	231	212	187	156	125	94
12, 32, 52, 62	250	231	213	188	156	125	94

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
12, 22	125	101	91	74	58	42
12, 42	125	105	93	77	62	47
12, 52	125	104	93	78	63	49

Not shown: 9 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

November 2024

Every component came back to visible working: quadratic and trig solutions, definite integrals and normal standardisations done only on a calculator scored little or nothing. Pure papers leaned on functions and inverses, series, trig identities, iteration, implicit and parametric differentiation, vectors and complex numbers. Mechanics centred on resolving forces, calculus for variable acceleration and multi-stage motion; statistics on arrangements, binomial, geometric and normal work and hypothesis tests. Strong scripts read how a question was built, kept exact values and enough figures, and wrote out every step of a given result. Weak scripts rounded early, misread inequality wording and lost signs.

Where marks were lost

• Paper 11: a bracketed product raised to a power without powering its coefficient, an error the report sees every year.
• Paper 13: the negative root of a squared trig ratio dropped, halving the solutions; transformations in the wrong order.
• Paper 33: complex loci drawn as full circles or regions, not arcs; the cosine rule used where a scalar product was required (Papers 32 and 33).
• Papers 41-43: constant-acceleration formulae for variable acceleration; integration constants set to zero (Paper 42).
• Papers 51-53: missed cases, wrong divisors or adding instead of multiplying in arrangements; continuity corrections misapplied.
• Papers 62 and 63: √n omitted or the wrong critical value; definite test conclusions.

Grade thresholds – November 2024

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11, 31, 41, 51	250	209	184	159	126	94	62
11, 31, 51, 61	250	215	189	163	131	99	67
12, 32, 42, 52	250	203	176	149	118	88	58
12, 32, 52, 62	250	210	185	160	127	95	63
13, 33, 43, 53	250	220	191	160	128	96	64
13, 33, 53, 63	250	221	193	164	132	101	70

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
11, 21	125	92	79	61	44	27
11, 41	125	90	78	61	44	27
11, 51	125	92	80	63	46	30
12, 22	125	92	79	61	44	27
12, 42	125	85	71	55	39	24
12, 52	125	92	80	63	46	30
13, 23	125	95	82	64	47	30
13, 43	125	96	81	63	46	29
13, 53	125	95	81	65	49	33

Not shown: 20 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

June 2024

The June 2024 report puts evidence first: unsupported calculator answers earned nothing, from quadratics and cubics to Poisson and normal probabilities. Pure papers leaned on graph transformations, trig equations, circles, iteration, partial fractions, complex numbers and vectors, and the last two were often left blank on Paper 31. Mechanics rewarded clear force diagrams, connected-particle work and complete work-energy equations. Statistics rewarded organised lists of scenarios and test conclusions in context. Stronger scripts linked parts, carried more than 3 s.f. and gave the form asked for; weaker ones rounded early, misread demands or skipped steps in given results.

Where marks were lost

• Papers 11-13: a translation with no direction, or applied before the stretch; quadratics solved by calculator.
• Papers 22, 23, 31 and 32: log laws misapplied to sums, differences or exponentials; the wrong partial-fraction form for an improper fraction (Paper 32).
• Papers 31-33: complex arguments in the wrong quadrant (Papers 31 and 32); a half-line locus drawn as a full line (Paper 33).
• Papers 41-43: work-energy terms missing or wrongly signed; constant-acceleration formulae for a time-varying velocity (Paper 41).
• Papers 51-53: repeats not divided out in arrangements; 3 d.p. given for 3 s.f. and success criteria misread (Paper 52).
• Papers 61 and 63: a single term used instead of a tail; definite conclusions (Paper 61).

Grade thresholds – June 2024

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11, 31, 41, 51	250	199	174	149	116	83	51
11, 31, 51, 61	250	201	175	149	117	85	53
12, 32, 42, 52	250	212	180	148	115	82	49
12, 32, 52, 62	250	215	183	151	118	85	53
13, 33, 43, 53	250	222	195	164	129	94	60
13, 33, 53, 63	250	224	198	168	134	101	68

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
11, 21	125	91	78	61	44	27
11, 41	125	89	78	60	42	25
11, 51	125	87	76	58	41	24
12, 22	125	100	82	63	44	25
12, 42	125	96	79	60	42	24
12, 52	125	96	79	60	41	23
13, 23	125	98	81	62	43	25
13, 43	125	97	80	60	41	22
13, 53	125	102	87	68	49	30

Not shown: 17 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

March 2024

Routine technique was secure: calculus, binomial expansion, progressions, histograms, single-distribution probabilities and standard connected particles were generally well done. The less familiar separated strong from weak: transformed trig graphs in radians, complex arguments, conditions on implicit curves, energy for linked bodies, collisions with a time delay, multi-case probability and hypothesis tests. Equation solvers and calculator integration again could not replace written working, accuracy had to be carried beyond the final figure needed, and conclusions needed explicit comparisons in context. Quick sketches and Argand diagrams drawn with instruments featured in the best answers.

Where marks were lost

• Paper 12: the period or minimum of a transformed trig graph in radians misread; zero-factor or negative-root solutions missed.
• Paper 32: an argument in the wrong quadrant; Argand sketches without scales or a labelled centre and radius.
• Paper 32: a rectangle claimed from parallel or equal sides alone, with no right angle shown.
• Paper 42: displacement found instead of total distance when velocity changes sign; work-energy equations missing a term.
• Paper 52: a standardised value equated to a probability; selections added instead of multiplied.
• Paper 62: a single-value probability used in a significance test; an approximation justified without values from the context.

Grade thresholds – March 2024

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12, 32, 42, 52	250	226	203	180	150	121	92
12, 32, 52, 62	250	228	207	184	154	124	95

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
12, 22	125	103	93	77	62	47
12, 42	125	101	89	74	60	46
12, 52	125	107	96	80	64	49

Not shown: 9 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

November 2023

Routine calculus went well on the pure papers, but lost marks kept tracing back to weak algebra and trig manipulation, answers copied from a calculator, and ignored instructions on exact form, “Hence” or accuracy. Pure Mathematics 1 needed visible methods for quadratics and visible substitution of limits. Pure Mathematics 3 exposed gaps in complex numbers, vectors, differential equations and integrating awkward fractions. In Mechanics, strong scripts drew force diagrams and wrote a separate equation for each particle; weak ones reused values from another stage of the motion. In statistics, misread success criteria, early rounding and missing standardisation or continuity corrections cost marks.

Where marks were lost

• Paper 11: the discriminant set equal to zero when it had to be positive; rates of change without the chain rule.
• Papers 22 and 32: a compound angle split into separate functions (Paper 22) or its formula misquoted; roots lost by dividing through (Paper 32).
• Paper 32: an improper fraction not split before integrating; partial fractions not used after separating variables.
• Papers 42 and 43: a tension or acceleration from an earlier stage reused, not recalculated once one particle stops.
• Papers 51 and 52: success wording misread; a binomial model used where a geometric one fitted (Paper 51).
• Paper 62: a point probability compared instead of a tail; a confidence interval centred on a total, not a mean.

Grade thresholds – November 2023

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11, 31, 41, 51	250	213	185	157	126	95	64
11, 31, 51, 61	250	217	188	159	129	99	69
12, 32, 42, 52	250	214	188	162	129	96	63
12, 32, 52, 62	250	211	184	157	125	93	61
13, 33, 43, 53	250	234	219	197	165	133	101
13, 33, 53, 63	250	232	215	193	161	129	97

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
11, 21	125	94	79	61	44	27
11, 41	125	93	78	60	43	26
11, 51	125	93	78	61	44	28
12, 22	125	94	81	62	44	26
12, 42	125	94	81	62	43	25
12, 52	125	95	82	63	45	27
13, 23	125	101	91	72	54	36
13, 43	125	107	96	78	61	44
13, 53	125	108	98	81	64	48

Not shown: 21 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

June 2023

The report returns again and again to unsupported calculator answers: quadratics, definite integrals, given-answer equations and binomial or Poisson probabilities scored little without method. Pure papers centred on functions and transformations, circles, trig identities, every differentiation rule and integration, with Paper 3 adding complex numbers, vectors, differential equations and iteration. Strong scripts reused earlier parts, kept exact values, worked to four significant figures and showed every step of a “show that”. Weaker scripts left later parts blank, answered a different demand (range for domain, angle for length), slipped on signs and brackets, used degrees for radians and gave test conclusions without context.

Where marks were lost

• Paper 12: a common trig factor cancelled, losing solutions; a completed-square result not used in the next part.
• Paper 21: brackets missing when taking logs; a negative-angle solution missed with the R-alpha form.
• Papers 31 and 33: false critical values kept after squaring a modulus inequality (Paper 31); two lines assumed to meet (Paper 33).
• Papers 41 and 42: kinetic energy conserved instead of momentum (Paper 41); forces given where work done was needed (Paper 42).
• Papers 51 and 53: combinations added, not multiplied (Paper 51); a geometric distribution not recognised (Paper 53).
• Papers 61-63: conclusions not in context or too definite; textbook conditions quoted instead of checked (Paper 61).

Grade thresholds – June 2023

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
11, 31, 41, 51	250	197	173	149	119	89	60
11, 31, 51, 61	250	198	175	152	121	90	60
12, 32, 42, 52	250	208	177	146	114	83	52
12, 32, 52, 62	250	206	178	150	119	88	58
13, 33, 43, 53	250	223	197	169	134	100	66
13, 33, 53, 63	250	223	197	169	135	102	69

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
11, 21	125	83	71	56	42	28
11, 41	125	86	74	59	44	30
11, 51	125	85	73	57	42	27
12, 22	125	89	70	53	36	19
12, 42	125	87	70	54	38	23
12, 52	125	87	71	54	38	22
13, 23	125	102	83	63	44	25
13, 43	125	100	84	65	46	28
13, 53	125	102	87	67	48	29

Not shown: 24 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

March 2023

Routine calculus, standard integration and textbook distributions were handled with confidence. What lifted the strongest scripts was Argand-diagram loci, polynomial division with unknown constants, multi-stage mechanics and unfamiliar probability settings. The report keeps coming back to presentation: calculator answers earn little, quadratics need visible working, and values rounded too early spoil final accuracy in every strand. Stronger candidates drew diagrams, set out one clear method, read success criteria exactly and kept exact values exact. Weaker ones left several half-finished attempts and lost marks to sign and arithmetic slips.

Where marks were lost

• Paper 12: a volume about the y-axis with functions unsquared or x-limits used; both square-root signs kept for an inverse.
• Paper 32: half-lines with no scales or the wrong starting point; division with unknown constants where equating coefficients was cleaner.
• Paper 42: driving force put in both component equations, or tension in the whole-system equation; a thrust treated as a tension.
• Paper 52: cumulative frequency drawn with line segments or started at the origin; no division for identical letters.
• Paper 62: a variance coefficient not squared, or variances subtracted; tests with no explicit comparison or context.

Grade thresholds – March 2023

Full A Level, all four papers in this series

Components	Max	A*	A	B	C	D	E
12, 32, 42, 52	250	220	191	162	131	100	70
12, 32, 52, 62	250	220	193	166	136	106	76

AS Level only

Components	Max	a	b	c	d	e
12, 22	125	98	86	70	55	40
12, 42	125	97	82	66	50	34
12, 52	125	96	81	66	51	36

Not shown: 18 further route(s) in the official table (staged entries that carry marks from an earlier series, or other special routes). See the official document.

Official documents: past papers, mark schemes and examiner report

How to use this page

1. Find your gaps first. Take the free A Level diagnostic or AS diagnostic (all our diagnostics are on the diagnostics page), and tick off the 9709 topic checklist.
2. Sit a full paper under timed conditions. Get it from Cambridge’s past-papers page (older series are available to schools through the School Support Hub) and check exam dates on the exam calendar.
3. Mark it strictly with the mark scheme. Check each command word against our command words guide, because “show that”, “hence” and “find” expect different answers.
4. Read the notes for that series on this page. Compare your lost marks with the “Where marks were lost” bullets and the recurring errors above.
5. Fix one topic at a time. Use the 9709 Mathematics hub, for example Pure Mathematics 1 trigonometry notes, Mechanics notes or Probability & Statistics 1 notes, then practise in the 9709 self-check question bank.
6. Re-test after a week. Sit a paper from a different series and check that the same errors have gone. For the June 2026 thresholds of our main syllabuses, see the grade thresholds page.
7. Get help if a topic will not stick. Book a free trial lesson with one of our maths teachers.

About these notes

The grade thresholds on this page are copied from Cambridge’s grade-threshold tables, and the examiner notes are written in our own words from Cambridge’s Principal Examiner Reports for Teachers for March 2023 to June 2026, the eleven series listed above. Thresholds change every series and must never be used to predict future ones. If you spot an error, please report a correction.