Cambridge AS Level Maths Tutors Online

Cambridge AS Level Mathematics is syllabus 9709. This page works from the syllabus for exams in 2026 and 2027, version 4. Exams are available in the June and November series, and also in the March series in India.

Unlike most AS subjects, Maths does not have a fixed set of papers. There are six components available and a candidate takes two of them for the AS Level. That choice is the single most consequential decision in the whole qualification, and it is worth making deliberately rather than by timetable convenience.

The three Pure Mathematics components are Paper 1 Pure Mathematics 1, Paper 2 Pure Mathematics 2 and Paper 3 Pure Mathematics 3. Paper 4 is Mechanics. Paper 5 is Probability & Statistics 1 and Paper 6 is Probability & Statistics 2.

An AS Level candidate takes two components in the same series, and there are three permitted combinations. Paper 1 and Paper 2 together is the Pure Mathematics only route. Paper 1 and Paper 4 is Pure Mathematics with Mechanics. Paper 1 and Paper 5 is Pure Mathematics with Probability & Statistics 1.

Paper 1 appears in all three, so it is compulsory at AS Level. Candidates following an AS Level route are eligible for grades a to e, in lower case, and candidates following an A Level route are eligible for grades A* to E.

The most important warning in the syllabus concerns the Pure Mathematics only route. The syllabus states that this route cannot count towards A Level, and repeats it plainly: the Pure Mathematics only route is available at AS Level only, and candidates who take it cannot then use their AS result and carry forward to complete the A Level. A student who chooses Paper 2 without knowing this has closed the door on the full A Level.

That matters because Paper 2 is genuinely attractive. It lasts 1 hour 15 minutes against Paper 1's 1 hour 50 minutes, and it looks like the gentler option. It is a dead end for progression.

The alternative is to take Paper 4 Mechanics or Paper 5 Probability & Statistics 1 alongside Paper 1, which keeps the A Level open.

Paper 1 is Pure Mathematics 1. It lasts 1 hour 50 minutes, carries 75 marks, contains 10 to 12 structured questions, and is worth 60% of the AS Level and 30% of the A Level. It is compulsory for both.

Paper 2 is Pure Mathematics 2. It lasts 1 hour 15 minutes, carries 50 marks, contains 6 to 8 structured questions, and is worth 40% of the AS Level. It is offered only as part of the AS Level.

Paper 4 Mechanics lasts 1 hour 15 minutes, carries 50 marks and contains 6 to 8 structured questions. It is worth 40% of the AS Level and 20% of the A Level.

Paper 5 Probability & Statistics 1 lasts 1 hour 15 minutes, carries 50 marks and contains 6 to 8 structured questions. It is also worth 40% of the AS Level and 20% of the A Level. So Paper 4 and Paper 5 are the same size and the same weight, and a candidate is choosing a subject area rather than a difficulty.

Paper 3 Pure Mathematics 3 lasts 1 hour 50 minutes, carries 75 marks, contains 9 to 11 structured questions and is worth 30% of the A Level only. Paper 6 Probability & Statistics 2 lasts 1 hour 15 minutes, carries 50 marks, contains 6 to 8 structured questions and is worth 20% of the A Level only.

At A Level, all candidates take Paper 1 and Paper 3, and then take either Paper 4 with Paper 5, or Paper 5 with Paper 6. The syllabus gives the reason for one restriction explicitly: it is not possible to combine Paper 4 and Paper 6, because Paper 6 depends on prior knowledge of the subject content for Paper 5.

Because Paper 5 appears in both A Level combinations, it is the only third paper that every A Level candidate takes besides Papers 1 and 3. A student who stops at AS after Paper 1 and Paper 5 has already covered the statistics needed for the A Level route, which is why that AS choice keeps both A Level options open.

The content of each paper is published in detail, which makes the choice of combination a choice between real syllabuses rather than labels. Paper 1 covers quadratics, functions, coordinate geometry, circular measure, trigonometry, series, differentiation and integration. Paper 2 covers algebra, logarithmic and exponential functions, trigonometry, differentiation, integration and numerical solution of equations.

Paper 3 repeats several of those headings at greater depth and adds vectors, differential equations and complex numbers. Paper 4 covers forces and equilibrium, kinematics of motion in a straight line, momentum, Newton's laws of motion, and energy, work and power.

Paper 5 covers representation of data, permutations and combinations, probability, discrete random variables and the normal distribution. Paper 6 covers the Poisson distribution, linear combinations of random variables, continuous random variables, sampling and estimation, and hypothesis tests.

So the two statistics papers divide cleanly: Paper 5 is the descriptive and introductory inference work, and Paper 6 goes on to the Poisson distribution and formal hypothesis testing.

The assessment objectives are only two, which is fewer than in the sciences. AO1 is knowledge and understanding. AO2 is application and communication. At AS Level, AO1 is worth 55 per cent and AO2 is worth 45 per cent. At A Level the balance shifts slightly, to AO1 at 52 per cent and AO2 at 48 per cent.

Per component the pattern is almost uniform. Papers 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 are each 55 per cent AO1 and 45 per cent AO2. Paper 3 is the exception, at 45 per cent AO1 and 55 per cent AO2, so Paper 3 is the only paper in the whole qualification where application and communication outweigh knowledge and understanding.

The syllabus sets conventions that affect marks across every paper. Non-exact numerical answers should be given correct to three significant figures, or one decimal place for angles in degrees, unless the question specifies otherwise, and candidates should avoid rounding figures until they have the final answer so that accuracy marks are not lost.

Candidates answer on the question paper and should show all working neatly in the spaces provided, using the lined page at the end if more space is needed, clearly labelled with the question number.

The equipment expected is a ruler and a scientific calculator. The syllabus notes that a protractor and a pair of compasses are not required.

Calculator rules are strict. A calculator with standard scientific functions is expected, but computers, graphical calculators and calculators capable of symbolic algebraic manipulation or symbolic differentiation or integration are not permitted. Candidates must show all necessary working, and no marks are given for unsupported answers from a calculator.

A list of formulae and statistical tables, known as MF19, is supplied in the examinations. It is worth knowing that MF19 is a combined list for this syllabus and for Further Mathematics 9231, so some formulae in it are not needed for AS or A Level Mathematics and appear in sections labelled for Further Mathematics only.

The syllabus also flags progression. There are recommended combinations of components to support progression to Cambridge International AS & A Level Further Mathematics 9231, and teachers planning for that should consult the Further Mathematics syllabus and the guide to prior learning for the Further Probability and Statistics paper.

The qualification is graded a, b, c, d or e for an AS Level candidate.