A-Level 9701 2026 · March

Cambridge A-Level Chemistry (9701) March 2026 Past Papers

This page hosts the full 13-file bundle for the Cambridge A-Level Chemistry (9701) March 2026 examination — question papers, mark schemes, examiner report, grade thresholds document , and Paper 3 confidential instructions. This session covers 2 time-zone variants (papers numbered X2, X3 — e.g. Paper 12 for variant 2).

The March 2026 sitting is the February-March series — for schools in India and Romania only. All files are sourced from Cambridge International and free to download.

Grade Thresholds Examiner Report
13 files • 11.9 MB

9701 March 2026 Papers

Paper 1

AS-Level

Multiple Choice (AS)

1h 15min 40 marks
Variant 2
Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 2

AS-Level

AS Level Structured Questions

1h 15min 60 marks
Variant 2
Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 3

AS-Level

Advanced Practical Skills

2h 40 marks
Variant 3
Question Paper Mark Scheme CI

Paper 4

A2

A Level Structured Questions

2h 100 marks
Variant 2
Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 5

A2

Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

1h 15min 30 marks
Variant 2
Question Paper Mark Scheme
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Paper components in this session

The Chemistry 9701 qualification is built from 5 paper components totalling 270 marks. The grid below shows each paper appearing in the March 2026 bundle on this page.

Paper 1 AS
Multiple Choice (AS)
1h 15min · 40 marks
Paper 2 AS
AS Level Structured Questions
1h 15min · 60 marks
Paper 3 AS
Advanced Practical Skills
2h · 40 marks
Paper 4 A2
A Level Structured Questions
2h · 100 marks
Paper 5 A2
Planning, Analysis and Evaluation
1h 15min · 30 marks

About the March 2026 9701 session

Chemistry 9701 has five components: Paper 1 (AS multiple choice), Paper 2 (AS structured), Paper 3 (AS advanced practical skills — the CI accompanies Paper 3), Paper 4 (A2 structured theory), and Paper 5 (A2 planning, analysis & evaluation). AS-only candidates sit Papers 1-3; full A-Level requires all five.

The March 2026 bundle below contains 13 files across 5 paper components and 2 time-zone variants. Mark schemes are included for every question paper. The examiner report is also published — use it to see which questions caused most candidates difficulty. Grade thresholds are linked at the top of this page.

How to use these A-Level Chemistry past papers

Timed practice under exam conditions

Sit each paper at the exact duration listed in the components grid. The A-Level pacing problem on Paper 4 is famously tight, so finishing on time is itself a skill worth practising.

Mark with the March 2026 MS

Cambridge mark schemes show acceptable wording and method marks for each step. After self-marking, log which questions cost you method marks vs accuracy marks — they need different fixes.

Read the examiner report

The ER for this session flags the specific questions where most candidates struggled and what the examiners wanted to see instead. It's the single highest-leverage document in the bundle for targeted revision.

Use grade thresholds to set a target

A-Level thresholds shift each session with paper difficulty, and there is no A* on a single paper: Cambridge sets A* for the overall A Level only. In March 2026, an A* needed 206 out of 260 (79%) for the whole A Level sat in one series, and AS grade a needed 93 out of 130 (72%) (Cambridge grade threshold table, March 2026). See the grade thresholds for every 9701 session.

A-Level 9701 March 2026 — Frequently asked questions

What's in the Cambridge A-Level Chemistry March 2026 paper bundle?
This page hosts 13 files for the Cambridge A-Level Chemistry (9701) March 2026 session: question papers, mark schemes, the examiner report, and the grade thresholds document, plus Paper 3 confidential instructions for the practical exam. All files come directly from Cambridge International and are free to download.
What's the difference between AS and A2 papers for 9701?
Papers 1-3 are AS-Level papers, sat at the end of year 1 of a two-year course or standalone for the AS qualification. Papers 4 and 5 are A2 papers, sat in year 2 for the full A-Level. Paper 3 is the practical exam (CI required). Paper 4 is the advanced theory paper, the most heavily weighted. Paper 5 covers planning, analysis & evaluation.
Why does this session have variants 2, 3?
Cambridge issues different variants of each paper so the exam can be sat safely across the world's time zones without leaks. The last digit of the paper number is the variant (for example, Papers 11, 12 and 13 are variants 1, 2 and 3 of Paper 1). Which variant you sit depends on your school's administrative zone, and Cambridge's timetable for each zone lists it. All variants test the same syllabus content at equivalent difficulty — Cambridge calibrates the grade thresholds afterwards to even out any small variation. Practising any variant is equally valuable.
When does Cambridge release March 2026 mark schemes and examiner reports?
Cambridge typically publishes mark schemes for the February-March series around 6-8 weeks after results day, and the examiner report follows roughly three months later. The mark schemes for this session are available above. The examiner report is also linked at the top of this page.
What is the Paper 3 CI (Confidential Instructions) document?
The Confidential Instructions document accompanies the Chemistry Paper 3 practical exam. It is given to the supervising teacher before the exam and lists the apparatus, chemicals or specimens required, plus the precise quantities and any preparatory work the centre must do. Students don't see the CI — but reading the CIs from past papers is a useful way to anticipate what kind of experimental setups Paper 3 favours each session.
How should I practise 9701 March 2026 papers most effectively?
Use our free Exam Hub to view the question paper and mark scheme side-by-side. Time yourself for one full paper (the duration is in the components grid above), self-mark with the MS, then read the examiner report for the same paper to see where most candidates lost marks. For weak topics, cross-reference the A-Level Chemistry hub.

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