# 9702/12 October/November 2020

> 9702/12 October/November 2020: 40 questions, 40 marks. Difficulty 0.32, deviation 0.12, algebraic 0.22, text density 0.26. CIE IAL Physics 9702 P1.

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CIE IAL · Physics · 2020 October/November

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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937)
- [All 9702 P1 papers](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/)

Core finding

**9702/12 October/November 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 0.32 on a 0.20–0.75 scale, with a Difficulty Deviation of 0.12 and a mark split of 52.5% Easy, 47.5% Medium and 0.0% Hard. Algebraic complexity averages 0.22; text density and modelling average 0.26. 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**: 0.32 — 0.20–0.75 · nearer Easy
- **Difficulty Deviation**: 0.12 — 0 = uniform; higher = more mixed
- **Difficulty Ratio**: 52.5 / 47.5 / 0.0 — % Easy / Medium / Hard
- **Algebraic Complexity Measure**: 0.22 — 0.20–0.75 · nearer Low
- **Text Density and Modelling Measure**: 0.26 — 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** | 0.32 | Σ(d_i × w_i) / Σw_i, with d = 0.20 / 0.45 / 0.75 |
| **Difficulty Deviation** | 0.12 | √(Σw_i(d_i − μ)^2 / Σw_i) |
| **Difficulty Ratio** | 52.5% Easy / 47.5% Medium / 0.0% Hard | marks in band / all tagged marks |
| **Algebraic Complexity Measure** | 0.22 | Σ(c_i × marks_i) / Σmarks_i, with c = 0.20 / 0.45 / 0.75 |
| **Text Density and Modelling Measure** | 0.26 | 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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=843e1197-c8b2-4f18-9647-3a5c1bd372ff&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q2** FRQ | [1.2 SI units](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/si-units/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=0adff958-fd2a-4a44-8c13-a86f37760e62&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=348ef905-06af-4605-89bb-2f829ad9bbfe&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q4** FRQ | [2.1 Measurements](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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=83793647-d80f-4da2-80c8-0048c3813766&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **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 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=db4d55e7-f95d-469d-8e96-fac5396c46b1&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=92a707ef-e332-4e21-98ce-50b90ea104b0&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q7** 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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=e61a907a-c8a0-4f01-a786-f8a1f660ef35&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+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 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=4de8e0af-5bf2-4856-9c1f-7e769c74e5b5&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q9** 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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=fc81a1c6-925d-4570-a90e-a7d37c8daa35&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+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 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=b14db40d-a695-4541-97dd-1882931c16ed&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **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 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=3b6dfd3f-4254-43d8-be83-968294c7672e&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+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 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=ae7ea2f9-9d49-4eb4-b685-7f8189db369a&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q13** FRQ | [5.1 Types of force](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/) | 1 | 0.20 Easy | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=0c445c86-3657-410f-b4fb-ce7702e64f50&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q14** 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 | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=4e84c964-264e-4567-afcb-20702c9aba03&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q15** FRQ | [5.1 Types of force](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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=721a2cd3-fca3-43d5-9102-17755311b6a4&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **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 | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=29084ae4-cc50-4f88-b34a-0030813d6551&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q17** 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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=785f20bd-12e3-4d16-a6f8-10a6850bf1c7&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q18** 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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=2f8f9ea4-a8ff-48c4-879e-fd0ab9e84c2b&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q19** FRQ | [6.4 Power](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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=4489c539-4ddb-4a0d-adc7-5edffd25c49a&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q20** FRQ | [9.1 Stress and strain](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/stress-and-strain/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=441d87a4-9299-4c9b-a456-646db651fd54&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **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 | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=72441b65-65cf-4acc-b68f-9b5057c9d4c7&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q22** FRQ | [14.1 Progressive waves](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/progressive-waves/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=40e07ea3-3ce8-4f63-9b47-5c2dfd86c1f9&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q23** FRQ | [14.2 Transverse and longitudinal waves](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/transverse-and-longitudinal-waves/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=d6b5c5a6-a4ed-41df-a812-2d5367c38279&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q24** FRQ | [14.3 Determination of frequency and wavelength of sound waves](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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=1792f106-f5ba-4145-86af-4240c9e1ae57&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q25** FRQ | [14.4 Doppler effect](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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=d3e5bc2f-6f12-4712-865e-23ece148afa1&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q26** 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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=beabb5da-243e-4970-a59f-4954f4a5931f&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q27** 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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=61d9a577-713a-414a-bc6f-44e2fd22b393&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q28** 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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=100167e8-5b79-4d5a-9920-fdd11ca6b339&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q29** 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 | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=b1cb3979-30e4-4143-bd57-fe5b43654eb5&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q30** FRQ | [15.4 Diffraction gratings](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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=33f1f361-f333-4dbe-ac21-565df8291ed6&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=9e88d1ef-ffcf-4b02-82ac-db8f064982b7&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q32** 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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=bd17d5ea-0c21-4a2e-9590-49ac69cba272&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q33** 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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=dd4eafa7-2a52-46f4-9164-d3b9dae49a75&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q34** 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 | 0.20 Low | 0.45 Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=50ce009e-6daf-4785-87f3-3d245f29ef43&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q35** FRQ | [19.3 Resistance and resistivity](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/resistance-and-resistivity/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=622fa142-0876-4c4c-8a01-07d119370e5b&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=976b4b8e-eab1-4a6a-9fa3-a96e047c0645&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **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 | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=aad8f626-81ce-4a5a-8a5f-2faed3407cea&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+2020) |
| **Q38** FRQ | [20.3 Potential dividers](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/potential-dividers/) | 1 | 0.45 Medium | 0.20 Low | 0.20 Low | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=9e1849a4-1f57-4c09-b5d7-d178992ca4bb&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=e168eda3-7b2d-48d3-8b58-96ead72b40ff&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+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=b5511ee8-9bd3-4450-80f9-e058f5900937&question_id=ddd1cefe-8a8b-4b74-abd8-84340c458a8c&source_detail=9702%2F12+October%2FNovember+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/)
- [3.1 Equations of motion](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/equations-of-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/)
- [4.2 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/)
- [5.2 Turning effects of forces](https://www.examsci.com/topics/cie-ial/physics/9702-paper-1/turning-effects-of-forces/)
- [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/)

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## 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 0.32 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 0.12, 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 52.5% Easy, 47.5% Medium and 0.0% 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.

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