Edexcel IAL vs Cambridge 9702

Qualification structure

Edexcel International A-Level Physics is modular. Students take separate units (WPH11 to WPH16), each with its own exam session, and can resit individual units. Cambridge 9702 is linear: students sit Paper 1 to Paper 4 at the end of the course, plus Paper 5 for the practical planning and analysis component.

The modular structure makes Edexcel IAL easier to revise in blocks, because each unit covers a smaller section of the specification. Cambridge 9702 rewards a broader, more connected understanding across the whole syllabus.

Paper formats

Edexcel IAL units mix multiple-choice, short structured and extended-response questions depending on the unit. Cambridge 9702 separates them: Paper 1 is multiple choice, Paper 2 and Paper 4 are structured, Paper 3 is practical skills, and Paper 5 is planning and analysis.

If you are practising Cambridge Paper 5, use the 9702 Paper 5 hub rather than a general physics topic page: the question style is distinct and depends on experimental design language.

Marking style

Both boards award method and accuracy marks, but Cambridge schemes often place more emphasis on precise wording and units in structured answers. Edexcel schemes tend to break a question into clearly labelled parts, so partial credit is easier to see. In both cases, the mark scheme is the best guide to what must appear on the page.

How to choose past papers

• Use the board and specification you are actually sitting. Question style is board-specific.
• If you are undecided, try one paper from each board and compare how the questions are worded.
• Do not use Cambridge 9702 papers as a substitute for Edexcel unit revision, or the reverse, unless you are deliberately practising transferable physics.

Where to start on Exam Science

Open the Edexcel IAL Physics hub or the Cambridge 9702 hub. Each paper page lists every question, its topic, marks and difficulty, so you can compare styles before choosing a subscription.