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Cambridge Pre-U Syllabus

A post-16 alternative to A-Levels offered by Cambridge Assessment, designed as preparation for university (being phased out).. The complete Cambridge Pre-U outline — 8 subjects, 31 chapters and 128 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.

8Subjects

31Chapters

128Topics

322Sub-topics

467Flashcards

~160hEst. first pass

Cambridge Pre-U subjects

Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.

Mathematics (Principal Subject)

4 chapters · 23 topics · 65 sub-topics

~30h first pass · 63 flashcards Physics (Principal Subject)

4 chapters · 17 topics · 44 sub-topics

~20h first pass · 65 flashcards Chemistry (Principal Subject)

4 chapters · 18 topics · 45 sub-topics

~25h first pass · 61 flashcards Biology (Principal Subject)

4 chapters · 17 topics · 47 sub-topics

~20h first pass · 66 flashcards English Literature (Principal Subject)

4 chapters · 14 topics · 32 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 51 flashcards History (Principal Subject)

4 chapters · 14 topics · 29 sub-topics

~15h first pass · 50 flashcards Global Perspectives and Research

3 chapters · 10 topics · 22 sub-topics

~10h first pass · 51 flashcards Economics (Principal Subject)

4 chapters · 15 topics · 38 sub-topics

~20h first pass · 60 flashcards

Cambridge Pre-U flashcard decks

467 question-and-answer cards across 8 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.

How to work through the Cambridge Pre-U syllabus

The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.

Weight your plan accordingly: Mathematics (Principal Subject) carries 23 topics while Global Perspectives and Research carries 10. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for Cambridge Pre-U.

The ~160 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.

Cambridge Pre-U syllabus FAQ

What subjects are in the Cambridge Pre-U syllabus?

Cambridge Pre-U covers 8 subjects: Mathematics (Principal Subject), Physics (Principal Subject), Chemistry (Principal Subject), Biology (Principal Subject), English Literature (Principal Subject), History (Principal Subject), Global Perspectives and Research and Economics (Principal Subject). Together they contain 31 chapters and 128 named topics.

How big is the Cambridge Pre-U syllabus?

The full Cambridge Pre-U outline breaks down into 31 chapters, 128 topics and 322 sub-topics. Mathematics (Principal Subject) is the largest single subject with 23 topics across 4 chapters.

How long does it take to cover the whole Cambridge Pre-U syllabus?

Roughly 160 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 8 weeks.

Are there Cambridge Pre-U flashcards?

Yes — 467 question-and-answer flashcards across 8 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.

Is this Cambridge Pre-U syllabus free to use?

Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the Cambridge Pre-U syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too, in United Kingdom and everywhere else. No account is needed to start.

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