# 9702/12 May/June 2016

> 9702/12 May/June 2016: 40 questions, 40 marks. Difficulty 0.33, deviation 0.15, algebraic 0.21, text density 0.29. CIE IAL Physics 9702 P1.

- Canonical HTML: https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2016-may-june-9702-12/
- Markdown mirror: https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2016-may-june-9702-12/index.md

---

CIE IAL · Physics · 2016 May/June

This Physics 9702 Paper 1 (Multiple Choice) paper contains 40 questions worth 40 marks. The profile below reports five mark-weighted difficulty and complexity measures, and every question row repeats them. Full question text and mark scheme open in the Interactive Practice Hub.

- CIE IAL
- 9702 P1
- 40 questions
- 40 marks
- Free paper
- [Practise this paper](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576)
- [All 9702 P1 papers](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/)

Core finding

**9702/12 May/June 2016 is a past paper for CIE IAL Physics 9702 Paper 1 (Multiple Choice), with 40 questions worth 40 marks.** Its mark-weighted Difficulty Measure is 0.33 on a 0.20–0.75 scale, with a Difficulty Deviation of 0.15 and a mark split of 55.0% Easy, 40.0% Medium and 5.0% Hard. Algebraic complexity averages 0.21; text density and modelling average 0.29. All five measures use 40 part-level tags, not candidate results. Every question row below repeats them and opens the Interactive Practice Hub for that question.

## Difficulty & complexity profile

All five measures are mark-weighted and calculated from 40 parts carrying 40 part marks. Difficulty tags cover 40 parts, algebraic tags 40 and text-density tags 40. Tags are internal metadata, not official exam-board ratings.

- **Difficulty Measure**: 0.33 — 0.20–0.75 · nearer Medium
- **Difficulty Deviation**: 0.15 — 0 = uniform; higher = more mixed
- **Difficulty Ratio**: 55.0 / 40.0 / 5.0 — % Easy / Medium / Hard
- **Algebraic Complexity Measure**: 0.21 — 0.20–0.75 · nearer Low
- **Text Density and Modelling Measure**: 0.29 — 0.20–0.75 · nearer Low

Scale: Easy 0.20 · Medium 0.45 · Hard 0.75, and Low 0.20 · Medium 0.45 · High 0.75 for the two complexity measures. [How each band is defined and how the values are calculated →](https://www.examsci.com/guides/difficulty-and-complexity-measures/)

### Definitions and calculation

| Measure | Paper value | Formula |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Difficulty Measure** | 0.33 | Σ(d_i × w_i) / Σw_i, with d = 0.20 / 0.45 / 0.75 |
| **Difficulty Deviation** | 0.15 | √(Σw_i(d_i − μ)^2 / Σw_i) |
| **Difficulty Ratio** | 55.0% Easy / 40.0% Medium / 5.0% Hard | marks in band / all tagged marks |
| **Algebraic Complexity Measure** | 0.21 | Σ(c_i × marks_i) / Σmarks_i, with c = 0.20 / 0.45 / 0.75 |
| **Text Density and Modelling Measure** | 0.29 | Σ(t_i × marks_i) / Σmarks_i, with t = 0.20 / 0.45 / 0.75 |

w_i equals the part marks, except for a Hard part worth 4 or more marks, where w_i = marks^0.75 to offset the accessible starter steps inside long structured questions.

## Question list

Each measure is recalculated from the parts of that question and uses the same weights as the paper profile.

| Question | Topic | Marks | Difficulty Measure | Algebraic Complexity Measure | Text Density and Modelling Measure | Practice |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Q1** FRQ | [1.2 SI units](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/si-units/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=5ec4d193-2eb3-41ed-b51c-9d3009e5fc5b&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q2** FRQ | [1.2 SI units](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/si-units/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=b6285aab-8a23-41fb-91e2-2ea7ea282ab7&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q3** FRQ | [1.4 Scalars and vectors](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/scalars-and-vectors/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=5b61ea7a-edae-4770-b1ce-bd2e635d3def&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q4** FRQ | [2.1 Measurements](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=0ae98a7d-cd10-4eaf-8d8a-da3839e76bb9&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q5** FRQ | [2.2 Errors and uncertainties](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/errors-and-uncertainties/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=fcd00ee7-6f4d-4774-a032-dab4b496e1f0&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q6** FRQ | [3.1 Equations of motion](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/equations-of-motion/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=600fb445-7862-43d9-97f8-6f5e34832f1e&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q7** FRQ | [3.1 Equations of motion](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/equations-of-motion/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=09f7ca9f-e4c5-4667-979b-8df85db93eae&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q8** FRQ | [3.1 Equations of motion](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/equations-of-motion/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=6b83c392-aeb2-42a2-b08a-6d3d183fdf70&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q9** FRQ | [4.1 Momentum and Newton’s laws of motion](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/momentum-and-newton-s-laws-of-motion/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=4c14faf8-4b7f-4d16-a94e-daf8622a38b5&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q10** FRQ | [4.2 Non-uniform motion](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/non-uniform-motion/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=4e8601dd-c02b-4967-91e5-b9c0631d3e9d&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q11** FRQ | [4.3 Linear momentum and its conservation](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/linear-momentum-and-its-conservation/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=ac2eaaa5-a9b2-4831-8ceb-45d31e866b35&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q12** FRQ | [5.3 Equilibrium of forces](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/equilibrium-of-forces/) | 1 | 0.75 Hard | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=a4cbe510-591c-405a-9eb9-97fe72e10aeb&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q13** FRQ | [5.4 Density and pressure](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/density-and-pressure/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=bfed5a1f-b79e-4e28-b9fc-0e11a31b0ad0&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q14** FRQ | [5.2 Turning effects of forces](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/turning-effects-of-forces/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=8dc5c0fb-138e-43eb-a7c7-7ad3a55ee4eb&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q15** FRQ | [5.4 Density and pressure](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/density-and-pressure/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=fd058606-66e9-467f-8d53-6d2a9cea86a9&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q16** FRQ | [6.1 Energy conversion and conservation](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=39159d54-e4f2-465d-b204-9c70883b0c54&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q17** FRQ | [6.2 Work and efficiency](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=ebfbfdd2-6142-4eb0-b4b5-94087605c108&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q18** FRQ | [6.4 Power](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=97cba2d0-23e9-40de-b316-ea001c6a3366&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q19** FRQ | [6.3 Potential energy and kinetic energy](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=0296b675-ba73-46db-8a53-727475222fbc&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q20** FRQ | [9.1 Stress and strain](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/stress-and-strain/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=b8ffb129-73d1-4c6f-b99d-f92ace0c9a65&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q21** FRQ | [9.2 Elastic and plastic behaviour](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/elastic-and-plastic-behaviour/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=a018eedf-3044-489a-a202-b8d933ff97b4&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q22** FRQ | [14.1 Progressive waves](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/progressive-waves/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=5b6348cc-3dee-4fff-9eb1-cba037c68a2e&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q23** FRQ | [14.4 Doppler effect](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=042fa9b2-0967-49dc-ad2d-3023cc2befce&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q24** FRQ | [14.5 Electromagnetic spectrum](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/electromagnetic-spectrum/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=fce03089-5a4d-45e2-a1da-7a579eda7b1e&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q25** FRQ | [14.1 Progressive waves](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/progressive-waves/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=3649ec6c-07c7-473d-86cd-3139083ce0dc&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q26** FRQ | [15.2 Diffraction](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/diffraction/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=ce5d7718-5975-4c81-bc07-db4ad526bbdd&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q27** FRQ | [15.1 Stationary waves](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/stationary-waves/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=f977a64d-6da0-4889-b01d-8a2a9f72bdb4&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q28** FRQ | [15.3 Interference, two-source interference](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=bd445280-eda4-46c1-b69f-30fbfda6ad54&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q29** FRQ | [17.1 Concept of an electric field](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=a1c1e6ad-9f75-4278-af4a-f232f2b52b18&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q30** FRQ | [17.1 Concept of an electric field](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=f2a98fff-6602-4f43-916a-cc07802efc66&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q31** FRQ | [17.2 Uniform electric fields](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=8ccea879-e179-4076-a206-a6e361accb8e&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q32** FRQ | [19.3 Resistance and resistivity](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/resistance-and-resistivity/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=64d3d37e-d33f-4e4a-8ac0-aecb516dfe9f&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q33** FRQ | [19.2 Potential difference and power](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/potential-difference-and-power/) | 1 | 0.75 Hard | 0.45 Medium | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=f545c4e7-1430-4c7e-b1de-73506a46fbb5&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q34** FRQ | [19.3 Resistance and resistivity](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/resistance-and-resistivity/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=4c69bb47-8f93-4a2a-a5ee-586d4de5ab93&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q35** FRQ | [19.1 Electric current](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/electric-current/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=5cf52dbf-016e-467f-8f68-e03abd052471&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q36** FRQ | [20.3 Potential dividers](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/potential-dividers/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=e25df83b-259c-47df-bdff-1c42a8b3d2eb&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q37** FRQ | [20.2 Kirchhoff’s laws](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/kirchhoff-s-laws/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=b0c46b54-1260-4e97-97df-8a342e561c3f&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q38** FRQ | [26.1 Atoms, nuclei and radiation](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/atoms-nuclei-and-radiation/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=f4a5f694-8ff1-4651-91bd-87eb39d2ed64&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q39** FRQ | [26.2 Fundamental particles](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/fundamental-particles/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=61db2a85-bcac-4f4e-8f59-aefeb9b238d1&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |
| **Q40** FRQ | [26.1 Atoms, nuclei and radiation](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/atoms-nuclei-and-radiation/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=930ef067-2412-4aef-b8f6-dee44736f576&question_id=11a7f770-0580-449c-bcaf-54b329f7338b&source_detail=9702%2F12+May%2FJune+2016) |

## Topics in this paper

- [1.2 SI units](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/si-units/)
- [19.2 Potential difference and power](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/potential-difference-and-power/)
- [1.4 Scalars and vectors](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/scalars-and-vectors/)
- [2.1 Measurements](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/)
- [2.2 Errors and uncertainties](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/errors-and-uncertainties/)
- [3.1 Equations of motion](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/equations-of-motion/)
- [4.2 Non-uniform motion](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/non-uniform-motion/)
- [4.1 Momentum and Newton’s laws of motion](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/momentum-and-newton-s-laws-of-motion/)
- [4.3 Linear momentum and its conservation](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/linear-momentum-and-its-conservation/)
- [5.1 Types of force](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/)
- [5.3 Equilibrium of forces](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/equilibrium-of-forces/)
- [5.4 Density and pressure](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/density-and-pressure/)

## Related papers

- [9702/11](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2016-october-november-9702-11/) — October/November 2016 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free
- [9702/12](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2016-october-november-9702-12/) — October/November 2016 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free
- [9702/13](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2016-october-november-9702-13/) — October/November 2016 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free
- [9702/11](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2016-may-june-9702-11/) — May/June 2016 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free
- [9702/13](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2016-may-june-9702-13/) — May/June 2016 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free
- [9702/12](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2016-march-9702-12/) — March 2016 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free

## Paper FAQ

**How are the difficulty and complexity measures calculated?**

Each part is weighted by its official marks. Difficulty uses Easy 0.20, Medium 0.45 and Hard 0.75; algebraic complexity and text density and modelling use Low 0.20, Medium 0.45 and High 0.75. A Hard part worth 4 or more marks is down-weighted to marks^0.75, so the accessible starter steps inside a long structured question do not inflate the difficulty result. This paper's Difficulty Measure is 0.33 from 40 parts.

**What does the Difficulty Deviation show?**

It is the mark-weighted standard deviation of the part difficulty values around the paper mean. A value of 0 would mean every tagged part has the same difficulty; this paper's deviation is 0.15, so its parts are more mixed than a single-level paper.

**Is the Difficulty Ratio based on question counts or marks?**

It is based on official marks, not question counts. This paper's shares are 55.0% Easy, 40.0% Medium and 5.0% Hard; the three shares sum to 100% before rounding.

**Are these official difficulty ratings?**

No. They are derived from the platform's part-level difficulty and static-question-profile tags. They are not exam-board grade boundaries and are not calculated from candidate outcomes. Use them to compare the demand profile of papers, not to predict a grade.

**Why does each question row show its own measures?**

Each row recalculates the same mark-weighted formula from that question's parts. A single-part MCQ therefore shows the tag value directly, while a multi-part structured question blends the tags of its parts using the same Hard-part decay as the paper profile.

---

Full page with native tables, bar charts and Practice Hub links: https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2016-may-june-9702-12/