Cambridge A-Level Probability & Statistics 1 (9709 Paper 5) Past Papers
Every year of Probability & Statistics 1 in one place. This page collects the 9709 Paper 5 question papers and mark schemes for all variants, from 2020 to 2025 — so you can work through one component start to finish instead of hunting session by session.
Probability & Statistics 1 is the most popular applied option, taken on most AS-Level and A Level routes.
What's on 9709 Paper 5: Probability & Statistics 1?
Probability & Statistics 1 is a 1h 15min paper worth 50 marks, made up of the 5 syllabus areas below. Probability & Statistics 1 is the most popular applied option, taken on most AS-Level and A Level routes.
Representation of data
Histograms, cumulative frequency, box-and-whisker plots, mean and standard deviation.
Permutations and combinations
Counting the number of ways to arrange and to select objects.
Probability
Combined, conditional and independent events, with tree and Venn diagrams.
Discrete random variables
Probability distributions, expectation and variance, and the binomial and geometric distributions.
The normal distribution
Standardising values, finding probabilities, and the normal approximation to the binomial.
AS Level or A Level? AS & A Level
Probability & Statistics 1 is the most popular applied option. With Pure Mathematics 1 it contributes to an AS Level, and it is part of the full A Level with the pure papers and one further applied paper.
Centres choose the component combination - if you are unsure which papers your route needs, check with your school's exams officer.
When is this paper next sat?
Cambridge examines A-Level Mathematics in the June and October/November series each year (with a February/March series in some countries). The next sitting is the October/November 2026 series.
Probability & Statistics 1 (9709/5) past papers by year
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
How to revise with Probability & Statistics 1 past papers
Work through one component at a time
Doing five years of Probability & Statistics 1 back-to-back trains the specific question styles and topic weighting of this one paper far better than jumping between components. Patterns repeat - you will start to recognise them.
Time yourself at 1h 15min
Sit each paper at the real duration. Pacing is a skill in itself, and Probability & Statistics 1 rewards finishing every question with time to check.
Mark with the matching scheme
Self-mark with the mark scheme for the same session and variant. Note where you lost method marks versus accuracy marks - they need different fixes.
Practise across variants
Variants 1, 2 and 3 test the same syllabus at equivalent difficulty. Working all three for a year gives you three fresh sittings of the same paper.
Tip: open a question paper and its mark scheme side-by-side in our free Exam Hub.
Other Mathematics 9709 papers
9709 Paper 5 — Frequently asked questions
What topics are on 9709 Paper 5 (Probability & Statistics 1)?
What is the difference between the 9709/51, /52 and /53 variants?
Where can I get the mark schemes for Probability & Statistics 1?
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