# 9702/12 March 2020

> 9702/12 March 2020: 40 questions, 40 marks. Difficulty 0.31, deviation 0.14, algebraic 0.23, text density 0.27. CIE IAL Physics 9702 P1.

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CIE IAL · Physics · 2020 March

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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b)
- [All 9702 P1 papers](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/)

Core finding

**9702/12 March 2020 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 0.31 on a 0.20–0.75 scale, with a Difficulty Deviation of 0.14 and a mark split of 60.0% Easy, 37.5% Medium and 2.5% Hard. Algebraic complexity averages 0.23; text density and modelling average 0.27. 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**: 0.31 — 0.20–0.75 · nearer Easy
- **Difficulty Deviation**: 0.14 — 0 = uniform; higher = more mixed
- **Difficulty Ratio**: 60.0 / 37.5 / 2.5 — % Easy / Medium / Hard
- **Algebraic Complexity Measure**: 0.23 — 0.20–0.75 · nearer Low
- **Text Density and Modelling Measure**: 0.27 — 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** | 0.31 | Σ(d_i × w_i) / Σw_i, with d = 0.20 / 0.45 / 0.75 |
| **Difficulty Deviation** | 0.14 | √(Σw_i(d_i − μ)^2 / Σw_i) |
| **Difficulty Ratio** | 60.0% Easy / 37.5% Medium / 2.5% Hard | marks in band / all tagged marks |
| **Algebraic Complexity Measure** | 0.23 | Σ(c_i × marks_i) / Σmarks_i, with c = 0.20 / 0.45 / 0.75 |
| **Text Density and Modelling Measure** | 0.27 | 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 | [1.1 Physical quantities](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/physical-quantities/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=17863384-fdcf-44db-bcb9-94b77068f361&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=df688e9d-3150-4aaf-8176-3f3aefeb22fd&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q3** FRQ | [1.4 Scalars and vectors](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/scalars-and-vectors/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=7be482af-dec1-4cce-a508-9ee1c3d9d8f7&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q4** FRQ | [2.1 Measurements](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.45 Medium | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=d098846f-f70e-4dc8-976d-dca6f0b4c382&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q5** FRQ | [2.2 Errors and uncertainties](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/errors-and-uncertainties/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=97510364-f895-4d7a-800e-0c2fc8be670c&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q6** 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 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=27687a20-8e5c-4102-928c-5e13723aeec4&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **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 | 0.45 Medium | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=ad6e40c7-68af-41f5-a46c-f3032ac4f045&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q8** 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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=95fed782-c2ec-4b14-936a-0f20beddd429&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q9** 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 | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=8b18dc92-d9cf-40e0-a778-8370da43e8ea&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q10** 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 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=bb415a8e-c3b0-4981-bfa1-431a1ccb8dab&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q11** FRQ | [5.1 Types of force](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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=b1d37286-c892-480d-9e62-de6cfccddc2b&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q12** FRQ | [5.2 Turning effects of forces](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/turning-effects-of-forces/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=6218a8c3-7037-419b-be7c-b6f655a0b81c&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q13** FRQ | [5.3 Equilibrium of forces](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/equilibrium-of-forces/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=44a4cdbc-3d2a-4ab4-96cd-c55a5a4581f3&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q14** FRQ | [6.2 Work and efficiency](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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=c1d5958d-3a73-4d43-a56f-ce985e1a2df9&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q15** 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 | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=72842794-96a5-43b7-bf99-1d753d549a0d&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q16** FRQ | [6.2 Work and efficiency](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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=9d36f2d4-bd0d-4e73-96eb-afc59c02eeee&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q17** 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 | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=f4abfc52-08d5-4a33-a61f-142987bf639b&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=e1aaafd1-81d2-4dd7-b8f9-781dc5847540&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q19** FRQ | [9.1 Stress and strain](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/stress-and-strain/) | 1 | 0.75 Hard | 0.45 Medium | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=78d469d0-1b1d-42d3-99aa-fb5f6cbba00c&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q20** 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 | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=4b534cc9-ce68-4a85-9f33-46030ec816a0&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q21** 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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=86f6b62f-4d31-4893-8bb1-4ecb6b19074d&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q22** FRQ | [14.2 Transverse and longitudinal waves](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/transverse-and-longitudinal-waves/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=7268bf2c-9591-466f-80e0-eddaff3496b7&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q23** FRQ | [14.3 Determination of frequency and wavelength of sound waves](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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=dbea2128-6cdd-42f7-98fc-4cb4aa3ba7d1&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q24** 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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=be1fdc3a-ff8a-422e-b452-339aaad5c6d0&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q25** 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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=c5315408-bfd7-4ad7-a9a1-972f9a759430&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q26** FRQ | [15.1 Stationary waves](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/stationary-waves/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=44d41663-2594-42fb-ab28-b8e6dda68fd0&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q27** 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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=14fc84e7-e077-43bc-80a1-7f2ca5b145e0&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=b12985f7-05fd-4937-a6f4-38c3b58700e5&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q29** FRQ | [15.4 Diffraction gratings](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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=ca142bc9-5af6-4da2-81a2-5279fdc09137&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q30** 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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=5fc46284-77ee-42b5-8fff-2ead350af993&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q31** FRQ | [17.2 Uniform electric fields](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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=a3ed7819-ae3f-4fce-b0b8-c56397800674&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q32** 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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=935029f9-ab38-4190-82a1-475e241833c2&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q33** FRQ | [19.2 Potential difference and power](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/potential-difference-and-power/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=80df4951-e64c-46a2-a026-2e9047a42246&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=104bc481-f2ef-41d1-a466-d211c0aa752b&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q35** FRQ | [20.1 Practical circuits](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/practical-circuits/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=b3e65d99-7554-44b0-a597-081aaa0affff&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q36** FRQ | [20.1 Practical circuits](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/practical-circuits/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=20f069c3-fba3-41fc-95f0-bb5ff70ee64d&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q37** 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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=02770e46-5cb6-4e57-b8aa-70ce716bcc29&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q38** FRQ | [26.1 Atoms, nuclei and radiation](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/atoms-nuclei-and-radiation/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=9ef4a7cb-0f65-4ef7-b841-5523ee2e01f1&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q39** 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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=67e84641-1a37-4d72-bff4-43efb06ac4c7&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |
| **Q40** 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=362f97a9-64fd-4123-bec3-d96eb10bbf6b&question_id=1868ff0e-1316-4f23-ac5e-de9c0707753e&source_detail=9702%2F12+March+2020) |

## Topics in this paper

- [1.1 Physical quantities](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/physical-quantities/)
- [1.2 SI units](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/si-units/)
- [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/)
- [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/)
- [5.1 Types of force](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/)
- [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/)
- [4.3 Linear momentum and its conservation](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/linear-momentum-and-its-conservation/)
- [17.1 Concept of an electric field](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/)
- [5.2 Turning effects of forces](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/turning-effects-of-forces/)

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- [9702/11](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2020-october-november-9702-11/) — October/November 2020 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free
- [9702/12](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2020-october-november-9702-12/) — October/November 2020 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free
- [9702/13](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2020-october-november-9702-13/) — October/November 2020 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free
- [9702/11](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2020-may-june-9702-11/) — May/June 2020 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free
- [9702/12](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2020-may-june-9702-12/) — May/June 2020 — 40 questions · 40 marks — Free
- [9702/13](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2020-may-june-9702-13/) — May/June 2020 — 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 0.31 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 0.14, 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 60.0% Easy, 37.5% Medium and 2.5% 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.

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Full page with native tables, bar charts and Practice Hub links: https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/2020-march-9702-12/