Marine Science 9693
Explore seawater, marine organisms and ocean ecosystems. Connect scientific processes to fisheries, conservation and human impacts.
What you'll cover
- AS and A Level
- Marine physiology: cells, transport, gas exchange and water balance
Published syllabus exam years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Marine Science
2025–2027 Version 3 and 2028–2030 Version 1
9 of 9 syllabus topic areas have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
All nine syllabus topics and 32 numbered sections map to original teaching, worked examples and Guided, Independent and Transfer practice with explained answers. AS covers Topics 1–5; A Level covers Topics 1–9 and assumes the AS content. The 2025–2027 Version 3 corrections and the 2028–2030 syllabus are both included. Paper 2 and Paper 4 test data-handling and investigative skills; AO3 is 15% of each qualification and 33% of those skills papers. These are original StudyForA explanations and practice, not Cambridge questions, mark schemes or grades. The syllabus requires core practical activities and scientific-method experience. Online explanation and simulated data questions can rehearse methods but do not count as completing practical work or demonstrate safe, competent use of equipment. Learners need suitable teacher-supervised laboratory and field opportunities.
Choose your paper route
- AS Level onlyPaper 1: AS Theory · 1 h 45 min · 75 marks · 50%; Paper 2: AS Data-handling and investigative skills · 1 h 45 min · 75 marks · 50%
Take Papers 1 and 2 in one series. AS candidates are eligible for grades a–e. Paper 2 assesses investigative skills; required practical experience remains teacher-supervised.
- A Level staged over two yearsYear 1: Papers 1 and 2; Year 2: Papers 3 and 4, carrying forward AS marks where permitted
Cambridge carry-forward rules and time limits apply. Paper 3 is A Level Theory; Paper 4 is A Level Data-handling and investigative skills. Confirm carry-forward options for the target series.
- A Level in one examination seriesPapers 1 and 2 (AS) plus Paper 3 (A Level Theory) and Paper 4 (A Level Data-handling and investigative skills); each paper · 1 h 45 min · 75 marks
All four components are externally assessed. Papers 1 and 2 each contribute 25% of A Level; Papers 3 and 4 each contribute 25%. A Level candidates are eligible for grades A*–E.
Exams are available in June and November and private candidates can enter. Confirm the exam-year syllabus, administrative-zone timetable, carry-forward rules and centre arrangements with Cambridge and the exams officer.
View syllabus coverage
AS candidates study Topics 1–5; A Level candidates study all nine and are expected to know AS content. The 2025–2027 Version 3 update corrects or clarifies selected learning outcomes; the 2028–2030 Version 1 states there are no significant changes affecting teaching. Check the exam-year syllabus for every entry. Core practical experience is required and simulated practice here is not a substitute.
AS and A Level
- Water: molecules, solubility and ocean layers1
- Earth processes: plates, coasts, tides and currents2
- Interactions, food webs and nutrient cycles3
- Classification, biodiversity and sampling4
- Marine ecosystems: open ocean, reefs and shores5
A Level
- Marine physiology: cells, transport, gas exchange and water balance6
- Energy: photosynthesis, chemosynthesis and respiration7
- Fisheries for the future: life cycles, harvest and aquaculture8
- Human impacts and marine conservation9
Practice the papers
Practice the papers
- Water: molecules, solubility and ocean layersTopic 1 · 1 lessons
Original teaching supports theory, data handling and investigation reasoning. Complete the syllabus core practical activities in a supervised setting; the site does not certify practical competence or award Cambridge marks.
- Earth processes: plates, coasts, tides and currentsTopic 2 · 1 lessons
Original teaching supports theory, data handling and investigation reasoning. Complete the syllabus core practical activities in a supervised setting; the site does not certify practical competence or award Cambridge marks.
- Interactions, food webs and nutrient cyclesTopic 3 · 1 lessons
Original teaching supports theory, data handling and investigation reasoning. Complete the syllabus core practical activities in a supervised setting; the site does not certify practical competence or award Cambridge marks.
- Classification, biodiversity and samplingTopic 4 · 1 lessons
Original teaching supports theory, data handling and investigation reasoning. Complete the syllabus core practical activities in a supervised setting; the site does not certify practical competence or award Cambridge marks.
- Marine ecosystems: open ocean, reefs and shoresTopic 5 · 1 lessons
Original teaching supports theory, data handling and investigation reasoning. Complete the syllabus core practical activities in a supervised setting; the site does not certify practical competence or award Cambridge marks.
- Marine physiology: cells, transport, gas exchange and water balanceTopic 6 · 1 lessons
Original teaching supports theory, data handling and investigation reasoning. Complete the syllabus core practical activities in a supervised setting; the site does not certify practical competence or award Cambridge marks.
- Energy: photosynthesis, chemosynthesis and respirationTopic 7 · 1 lessons
Original teaching supports theory, data handling and investigation reasoning. Complete the syllabus core practical activities in a supervised setting; the site does not certify practical competence or award Cambridge marks.
- Fisheries for the future: life cycles, harvest and aquacultureTopic 8 · 1 lessons
Original teaching supports theory, data handling and investigation reasoning. Complete the syllabus core practical activities in a supervised setting; the site does not certify practical competence or award Cambridge marks.
- Human impacts and marine conservationTopic 9 · 1 lessons
Original teaching supports theory, data handling and investigation reasoning. Complete the syllabus core practical activities in a supervised setting; the site does not certify practical competence or award Cambridge marks.
Lessons and worked examples
Choose where to begin
Choose a lesson, try the practice and explain the idea without your notes. Your study checks help you decide what to review.
- 01
Water: molecules, solubility and ocean layers
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 02
Earth processes: plates, coasts, tides and currents
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 03
Interactions, food webs and nutrient cycles
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 04
Classification, biodiversity and sampling
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 05
Marine ecosystems: open ocean, reefs and shores
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 06
Marine physiology: cells, transport, gas exchange and water balance
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 07
Energy: photosynthesis, chemosynthesis and respiration
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 08
Fisheries for the future: life cycles, harvest and aquaculture
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 09
Human impacts and marine conservation
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started
These checks record your study activity and self-assessment, not a mastery score. Check the course coverage map for available lessons and remaining topics.
Practise this subject
Topic tests: Easy, Normal and Difficult
Choose a topic, save your answers and compare your reasoning with worked models. See available tests and any coverage gaps.
Browse 9 topics →No StudyForA practice set is published for this exact qualification yet. Use the official papers below or in the resource guide.