Paper variants

[Umar Zain]

Why are there many variants for a paper? e.g. Physic 21/22/23
To who/where does each variant belongs to?
Which is more difficult among the variants (1/2/3/...)?
Is October/November session always harder than May/June session?
Is it allowed to repeat only one particular subject?

 

[syed1995]

Why are there many variants for a paper? e.g. Physic 21/22/23

To who/where does each variant belongs to?
Which is more difficult among the variants (1/2/3/...)?
Is October/November session always harder than May/June session?
Is it allowed to repeat only one particular subject?

Why are there many variants for a paper?
-That is to avoid Cheating.. the papers in one region start at like 8:00GMT .. then the next region starts at 12:00GMT.. and so on.. which led to cheating previously.. as a person from Australia can tell a person from UK what was coming easily.. as they are easily 7 or 8 hours away and each paper is just 1 or 2 hour long..

To who/where does each variant belongs to?
-That info can be checked on CIE website.. there are 6 different zones..
From the CIE Website:

Which is more difficult among the variants (1/2/3/...)?
-It's different each year.. and the Grade threshold for each variant is different as well according to difficulty.
Is October/November session always harder than May/June session?
-For Sciences and Maths yes. That's from looking at the past papers.. but it's not ALWAYS harder..

Is it allowed to repeat only one particular subject?

-No .. As far as I know you can repeat more than one subject in one sitting.. But I am not sure..

 

[Umar Zain]

Why are there many variants for a paper?
-That is to avoid Cheating.. the papers in one region start at like 8:00GMT .. then the next region starts at 12:00GMT.. and so on.. which led to cheating previously.. as a person from Australia can tell a person from UK what was coming easily.. as they are easily 7 or 8 hours away and each paper is just 1 or 2 hour long..

To who/where does each variant belongs to?
-That info can be checked on CIE website.. there are 6 different zones..
From the CIE Website:

Which is more difficult among the variants (1/2/3/...)?
-It's different each year.. and the Grade threshold for each variant is different as well according to difficulty.
Is October/November session always harder than May/June session?
-For Sciences and Maths yes. That's from looking at the past papers.. but it's not ALWAYS harder..

Is it allowed to repeat only one particular subject?

-No .. As far as I know you can repeat more than one subject in one sitting.. But I am not sure..

I am taking the May/June 2013 session. In case I have to repeat, should I repeat on October/November 2013 (which is harder) or May/June 2014 (which I need to take the repeat papers together with A2 papers). I'm taking 4 subjects.

 

[syed1995]

I am taking the May/June 2013 session. In case I have to repeat, should I repeat on October/November 2013 (which is harder) or May/June 2014 (which I need to take the repeat papers together with A2 papers). I'm taking 4 subjects.

Take in October/November, because the load will be too much if you repeat in M/J along with A2 papers... And If you prepare well you won't find the november papers hard... But If you have both A2 and AS at the same time.. you will definitely find them hard.. since the schedule will be very congested .. you will have days when you will have to give 4 or 5 papers in a row!

Btw what subjects do you have?

 

[Umar Zain]

Take in October/November, because the load will be too much if you repeat in M/J along with A2 papers... And If you prepare well you won't find the november papers hard... But If you have both A2 and AS at the same time.. you will definitely find them hard.. since the schedule will be very congested .. you will have days when you will have to give 4 or 5 papers in a row!

Btw what subjects do you have?

Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths

 

[syed1995]

Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths

Hmm.. which subjects do you think you will have to repeat? And why? There are still MCQs and Practicals left...

 

[haha101]

Hmm.. which subjects do you think you will have to repeat? And why? There are still MCQs and Practicals left...

Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths

Yeah man . So what if you didnt do well in theory . its only about half your grade . besides just hope the threshold falls and gain marks in the practical n MCQ . you have almost a month left to prepare . Always be positive and Allah will guide you

 

[Umar Zain]

Hmm.. which subjects do you think you will have to repeat? And why? There are still MCQs and Practicals left...

Physics only. I'm aiming for an A*. Hoping to get into Imperial College. In theory, I can still get that if I get very high marks for MCQ and practical but the chances are thin.

 

[syed1995]

Physics only. I'm aiming for an A*. Hoping to get into Imperial College. In theory, I can still get that if I get very high marks for MCQ and practical but the chances are thin.

Hmm good luck there But there is no A* in AS level.. If you get an A in AS.. it can be transformed into an A* easily.. you just have to prepare hard in A Levels for P4 for that and get good marks in P4.

 

[Umar Zain]

Hmm good luck there But there is no A* in AS level.. If you get an A in AS.. it can be transformed into an A* easily.. you just have to prepare hard in A Levels for P4 for that and get good marks in P4.

Easily? If I get 80% for AS and 98%(which is impossible) for A2, on average I will get 89%.

 

[syed1995]

Easily? If I get 80% for AS and 98%(which is impossible) for A2, on average I will get 89%.

Well.. you are not taking the grade thresholds into account...

May/June 2012 : You needed 182/260 at most to get A* in this M/J 12...

Source: http://papers.xtremepapers.com/CIE/Cambridge International A and AS Level/Physics (9702)/9702_s12_gt.pdf

October/November 2012 : You needed 175/260 at most to get A* in this O/N 12 session ...

Source: http://papers.xtremepapers.com/CIE/Cambridge International A and AS Level/Physics (9702)/9702_w12_gt.pdf

The GT has always been like that for physics...

186/260 in Oct/Nov 11 and 176/260 in May/June 11.. so yeah it should be pretty easy for you to get an A* if you score 80% in AS (104/130 Marks) since you'd practically need 96/130 Marks (75% at A2) at most.. which would make your total 200 which is way more than your usual threshold for A*.

 

[Umar Zain]

Well.. you are not taking the grade thresholds into account...

May/June 2012 : You needed 182/260 at most to get A* in this M/J 12...

Source: http://papers.xtremepapers.com/CIE/Cambridge International A and AS Level/Physics (9702)/9702_s12_gt.pdf

October/November 2012 : You needed 175/260 at most to get A* in this O/N 12 session ...

Source: http://papers.xtremepapers.com/CIE/Cambridge International A and AS Level/Physics (9702)/9702_w12_gt.pdf

The GT has always been like that for physics...

186/260 in Oct/Nov 11 and 176/260 in May/June 11.. so yeah it should be pretty easy for you to get an A* if you score 80% in AS (104/130 Marks) since you'd practically need 96/130 Marks (75% at A2) at most.. which would make your total 200 which is way more than your usual threshold for A*.

So easy...wow! But the GT spoil the challenge, thrill and fun.

 

[syed1995]

So easy...wow! But the GT spoil the challenge, thrill and fun.

haha.. i know right.

 

[Hasibul]

can anyone plz tell me the varient number for olvls zone 4?