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9702_m26_ms_22 2026 March Physics 9702 Mark Scheme 2 Variant 2 · Cambridge CAIE AS & A Level

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9702_m26_ms_222026 March Physics 9702 Mark Scheme 2 Variant 2

This is the official Cambridge mark scheme for Physics (9702) Mark Scheme 2 (Variant 2) from the 2026 March session. Mark schemes show exactly how each mark is awarded, including acceptable alternative answers, required key terms, and common errors that lose marks. Cambridge mark schemes use notation like "allow," "accept," and "do not credit" to define the boundary between full marks and zero.

Also referenced as: 9702_m26_ms_22 · 9702/22/f/m/26 ms · 9702/22 Feb/March 2026 ms

Paper 2: AS Structured Questions This is Paper 2: AS Structured Questions, worth 60 marks with a duration of 1h 15m. 6–7 questions. State the equation first, then substitute. Definitions earn 'free' marks if learned precisely.

This mark scheme corresponds to 9702_m26_qp_22. For maximum revision benefit, attempt the question paper under strict exam conditions first, then use this mark scheme to self-assess. Pay attention to the marking notation: "allow" means an alternative is accepted, "do not credit" means a specific phrasing is rejected even if technically correct, and "ORA" (or reverse argument) means the mark can also be earned with the opposite reasoning.

Cambridge mark schemes reward precise language. For Physics (9702), look for keywords the examiner requires — definitions must include specific terms (e.g., "per unit mass," "resultant"), and calculations must show working even if the final answer is correct. Understanding mark scheme conventions helps you write answers that hit every marking point, not just the general idea.

Same paper, other years

Physics (9702) Mark Scheme 2 (Variant 2) from other exam sessions — practise the same paper across the years, then check each one against its mark scheme.

Examiner Insights — Paper 2: AS Structured Questions

Based on analysis of 5 official Cambridge documents (2023, 2025)

1

Unit conversion errors — powers of ten wrong when converting cm, mm, km

There was a significant number of candidates that made errors converting the mass in grams into kilograms and the length from centimetres into metres.Paper 2, March 2025

How to fix: Write every conversion explicitly: 1 cm = 10⁻² m, 1 mm = 10⁻³ m, 1 km = 10³ m. For AREA: cm² to m² = ×10⁻⁴ (not ×10⁻²). For VOLUME: cm³ to m³ = ×10⁻⁶. Always write the conversion as a separate line in your working.

2

Missing key words in definitions — 'resultant', 'per unit', 'moving'

A significant number gave 'mass times acceleration' which is a valid way to calculate force, but is not the definition of force required by the syllabus.Paper 2, March 2025

How to fix: Learn definitions EXACTLY: Force = rate of change of momentum (NOT mass × acceleration). Gravitational field = force PER UNIT MASS. Electric field = force per unit POSITIVE charge. Equilibrium = RESULTANT force is zero AND RESULTANT torque is zero. Half-life = time for ACTIVITY to halve (not 'number of nuclei').

3

Swapping sine and cosine when resolving vectors

Candidates had particular difficulty resolving vectors into perpendicular components. Candidates should be able to select the correct trigonometric function for each problem.Paper 1, March 2025

How to fix: Draw a right-angle triangle. The component ADJACENT to the angle uses cosine. The component OPPOSITE to the angle uses sine. If the angle is measured from the horizontal: horizontal = F cos θ, vertical = F sin θ. Always sketch the triangle — don't guess.

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