Cambridge A Level Maths (9709)
Which 9709 Papers Do You Need? AS and A Level Routes Explained
For the full Cambridge A Level in Maths (9709) you sit four papers: Paper 1, Paper 3, Paper 5 and either Paper 4 (Mechanics) or Paper 6 (Probability & Statistics 2). AS Level alone is Paper 1 plus one of Paper 2, 4 or 5. Paper 2 and Paper 3 can never be sat in the same series.
Part of the guide Cambridge A Level Maths 9709: Papers, Routes, Grading and How to Prepare
Key takeaways
- Full A Level: Papers 1, 3, 4 and 5, or Papers 1, 3, 5 and 6. Paper 5 is in both.
- AS Level only: Paper 1 with Paper 2, 4 or 5. Paper 1 + Paper 2 cannot count towards the A Level.
- The old names map across: P1 = Paper 1, P3 = Paper 3, M1 = Paper 4, S1 = Paper 5, S2 = Paper 6.
- You can stage it: AS in one series, then Paper 3 and the matching applied paper later.
Cambridge 9709 has six papers, but nobody sits all six. Which four (or two) you take decides whether you get an AS or a full A Level. A lot of advice online still uses the old names (P1, P3, M1, S1), and some of it is wrong, so here is the current rule straight from the 2026 to 2027 syllabus.
Which 9709 papers make AS and A Level?
| Qualification | Papers you sit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A Level (Mechanics route) | 1, 3, 4, 5 | Pure 1, Pure 3, Mechanics, Probability & Statistics 1 |
| A Level (Statistics route) | 1, 3, 5, 6 | Pure 1, Pure 3, Probability & Statistics 1 and 2 |
| AS Level | 1 + 2 | AS only: cannot be carried forward to the A Level |
| AS Level | 1 + 4 | Can be carried forward |
| AS Level | 1 + 5 | Can be carried forward |
Paper 5 (Probability & Statistics 1) appears in both A Level routes, so every full A Level student studies it.
What are P1, P3, M1 and S1 called now?
Many textbooks, teachers and forums still use the pre-2020 labels. They map like this:
| Old name | Current paper | Time and marks |
|---|---|---|
| P1 | Paper 1: Pure Mathematics 1 | 1 h 50 min, 75 marks |
| P2 | Paper 2: Pure Mathematics 2 | 1 h 15 min, 50 marks |
| P3 | Paper 3: Pure Mathematics 3 | 1 h 50 min, 75 marks |
| M1 | Paper 4: Mechanics | 1 h 15 min, 50 marks |
| S1 | Paper 5: Probability & Statistics 1 | 1 h 15 min, 50 marks |
| S2 | Paper 6: Probability & Statistics 2 | 1 h 15 min, 50 marks |
There is no longer an M2 in 9709. “P1, P3, M1, S1” is the same as Papers 1, 3, 4 and 5 today.
Can you take AS first and finish the A Level later?
Cambridge lets you split the A Level across two series. You sit an AS that can be carried forward, then the remaining two papers:
- AS with Papers 1 and 4, then Papers 3 and 5.
- AS with Papers 1 and 5, then Papers 3 and 4.
- AS with Papers 1 and 5, then Papers 3 and 6.
Cambridge’s help centre says the two AS papers may have been taken at an earlier session within 13 months, and the carry-forward rules are in the Cambridge Handbook. Check the current rules with your exams officer before you plan a staged route.
Which 9709 papers can you not combine?
- Paper 2 with Paper 3 in the same series. Paper 2 belongs to the AS-only route, and its content is largely inside Paper 3 anyway.
- Paper 1 + Paper 2 towards an A Level. That AS stands on its own.
- Mechanics and Statistics 2 without Statistics 1. There is no A Level route of Papers 1, 3, 4 and 6.
Mechanics (Paper 4) or Statistics 2 (Paper 6)?
Both routes lead to the same A Level and are graded on the same 250-mark scale. Choose on content, not on which is “easier”:
| Paper 4: Mechanics | Paper 6: Probability & Statistics 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | Forces and equilibrium, kinematics, momentum, Newton’s laws, energy, work and power | Poisson distribution, linear combinations of random variables, continuous random variables, sampling and estimation, hypothesis tests |
| Suits you if | You like physics-style problems, diagrams and vectors | You like probability and are comfortable with the normal distribution from Paper 5 |
| Useful for | Engineering, physics, computer science | Economics, business, psychology, data-heavy degrees |
If you are taking A Level Physics, Mechanics reuses a lot of what you already know. If you found Paper 5 the most comfortable applied paper, Paper 6 keeps you in the same ideas.
If you are thinking about Further Mathematics (9231) later, Cambridge recommends checking which 9709 combination supports it before you choose.
Where to go next
- 9709 grade boundaries: what each combination needed for each grade.
- Paper 1 guide: the paper every route shares.
- Back to the Cambridge A Level Maths 9709 guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I do P1, P3, M1 and S1 for 9709?
- Yes. In today's numbering that is Papers 1, 3, 4 and 5, one of the two allowed full A Level combinations. The other is Papers 1, 3, 5 and 6.
- Can I take Mechanics and Statistics 2 without Statistics 1?
- No. Paper 5 (Probability & Statistics 1) is part of every A Level route, and Paper 6 builds on it. The A Level options are 1, 3, 4, 5 or 1, 3, 5, 6.
- Can I take Paper 2 and Paper 3 together?
- No. Cambridge does not allow Paper 2 and Paper 3 in the same series. Paper 2 is for AS Level only; Paper 3 is for the full A Level.
- Does AS with Paper 2 count towards the full A Level?
- No. The Paper 1 + Paper 2 AS cannot be carried forward to the A Level. If you plan to finish the A Level later, take Paper 1 with Paper 4 or Paper 5 at AS.
Sources
Checked against these official documents on 26 Oct 2026. Boards update them, so check the latest version before your exam.
