Short answer: Paper 5 of Cambridge International A Level Physics (9702) — Planning, Analysis and Evaluation — is a 1 hour 15 minute written paper worth 30 marks and 11.5% of the full A Level. It has two compulsory questions: one on planning an experiment, one on analysing and evaluating data. Examiner reports repeatedly identify it as an area where candidates underperform.
Where Paper 5 sits in 9702
| Paper | What it is | Time | Marks | Weight (A Level) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multiple choice | 1 h 15 | 40 | 15.5% |
| 2 | AS structured questions | 1 h 15 | 60 | 23% |
| 3 | Advanced practical skills | 2 h | 40 | 11.5% |
| 4 | A Level structured questions | 2 h | 100 | 38.5% |
| 5 | Planning, analysis and evaluation | 1 h 15 | 30 | 11.5% |
Source: Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics 9702 syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027.
Together, Papers 3 and 5 make up 23% of the full A Level — nearly a quarter of the grade comes from practical and experimental skills.
Question 1: Planning
You are asked to design an experiment to investigate a relationship. Marks come from:
- Defining the variables — independent, dependent and those to be kept constant, and how each is controlled.
- A workable method — apparatus, measurements, and how the key quantity is actually measured.
- Analysis plan — what to plot to get a straight line, and how the gradient or intercept gives the answer.
- Safety — a specific, relevant precaution, not a generic one.
Question 2: Analysis and evaluation
You are given data and asked to process it. Marks come from:
- Graphs — correct axes, plotted points, line of best fit and worst acceptable line.
- Uncertainties — absolute and percentage uncertainties carried through calculations.
- Gradient and intercept — with units and uncertainty.
- Conclusions — stated in terms of the relationship being tested.
Four ways candidates lose marks
- Vague methods. "Measure the length" earns nothing; "measure the length with a metre rule, repeating and averaging" does.
- Missing controls. Naming a control variable without saying how it is kept constant.
- Uncertainty shortcuts. Dropping uncertainties halfway through the calculation.
- Generic safety. "Wear goggles" when the real hazard is something else.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paper 5 a practical exam?
No. It is a written paper about experimental design and data. The hands-on practical is Paper 3.
Do AS students sit Paper 5?
No. Paper 5 is part of the full A Level only; AS Level is Papers 1, 2 and 3.
How can students practise planning without a lab?
By writing full plans to past-paper prompts and having them marked against the mark scheme — the paper tests the plan, not the experiment.
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