📚 AS CAIE Philosophy: 2026 Exam Changes and Trends | AS CAIE 哲学：2026年考试变化与趋势
For students sitting the AS Level Philosophy examination under CAIE, 2026 marks a significant turning point. The familiar syllabus 9697 will be fully retired, and the new syllabus 9487 will take its place, bringing with it a fresh structure, revised content, and a stronger emphasis on textual analysis. Understanding these changes is not optional; it is essential for any candidate aiming to perform well in this new era of philosophical assessment. This article breaks down every major shift, explains the reasons behind the update, and offers practical guidance on how to adapt your revision and exam technique accordingly.
对于参加CAIE AS阶段哲学考试的学生来说，2026年是一个重要的转折点。熟悉的9697考纲将全面退出历史舞台，全新的9487考纲取而代之，随之而来的是崭新的试卷结构、调整后的内容以及对文本分析更为侧重的考查方式。理解这些变化不是可有可无，而是每一位希望在新评估时代取得理想成绩的考生必须掌握的关键。本文将逐一拆解所有重要变动，阐明更新背后的逻辑，并就如何调整复习策略与应试技巧提供切实可行的建议。
1. Overview of the New Syllabus | 新大纲概述
The new CAIE AS Philosophy qualification has the code 9487 and will be examined for the first time in June 2026. The previous syllabus, 9697, had been in use for over a decade and, while robust, was increasingly seen as privileging formulaic essay-writing over genuine philosophical engagement with primary texts. Cambridge International responded by restructuring the course to place philosophical texts at the heart of the assessment, aiming to cultivate skills that are closer to undergraduate-level philosophy. The AS course remains a standalone qualification but also serves as the first half of the A Level 9487.
全新的CAIE AS哲学资格证书代号为9487，将于2026年6月进行首次考试。旧大纲9697已经沿用了十余年，虽然体系成熟，但越来越被批评为偏重模板化的论文写作，而轻视了与原始哲学文本的真正对话。剑桥国际考试委员会对此作出回应，重构了整个课程，将哲学文本置于评估的核心位置，旨在培养更接近本科层次的哲学素养。AS课程既可单独获取资格证书，也构成了A Level 9487的前半部分。
A quick comparison table helps map out the most immediate differences between the two syllabuses:
以下对比表格可以直观地呈现出两个大纲之间最直接的区别：
| Feature | Old Syllabus 9697 | New Syllabus 9487 (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Code | 9697 | 9487 |
| First assessment | Last series June 2025 | First series June 2026 |
| AS Papers | Paper 1 Problems in Philosophy; Paper 2 Philosophical Themes | Paper 1 Philosophical Issues; Paper 2 Philosophical Texts |
| Core focus | Theme-based essays | Set text + unseen passages |
| Total marks (AS) | 100 | 100 |
Candidates must internalise one crucial point: this is not merely a re-labelling of the same course; it is a fundamental rethink of what AS Philosophy should achieve.
考生必须记住一个关键点：这绝不是对原有课程的简单换名，而是对AS哲学应该达成何种目标的一次彻底反思。
2. Assessment Structure Changes | 评估结构变化
In the old 9697, AS candidates sat two papers. Paper 1, ‘Problems in Philosophy’, required them to answer three essay questions from a choice of sections that corresponded to set themes, such as ‘The Idea of God’ or ‘Free Will and Determinism’. Paper 2, ‘Philosophical Themes’, involved writing essays on broader thematic topics. The new 9487 breaks away from this model. AS Paper 1 is now called ‘Philosophical Issues’, lasts 1 hour 45 minutes, and carries 60 marks. Candidates answer three questions: one from each of three sections chosen from the four available (Epistemology, Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, and Political Philosophy). Each question is still an extended essay, but the wording is designed to probe analytical depth rather than rehearsed knowledge.
在旧大纲9697中，AS考生需要参加两份试卷。试卷一《哲学问题》要求考生从对应不同主题的选答部分中选答三道作文题，主题包括“上帝观念”或“自由意志与决定论”等。试卷二《哲学主题》则是围绕更宽泛的主题领域撰写论文。新大纲9487打破了这一模式。AS试卷一现更名为《哲学议题》，时长1小时45分钟，满分60分。考生需要回答三道题：从列出的四个领域（认识论、伦理学、宗教哲学和政治哲学）中选择三个领域，每个领域各答一题。虽然仍要求写成论述文，但题目的措辞旨在挖掘分析深度，而非考查机械记忆的知识。
Paper 2, ‘Philosophical Texts’, is the most dramatic innovation. It lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and is worth 40 marks. The paper contains two sections: Section A is based on a prescribed philosophical text (set text), and Section B presents an unseen philosophical passage. In Section A, candidates answer one comparative question on the set text, while in Section B they answer one analytical question on the unseen passage. This dual-text approach means that rote learning of a fixed text alone will not suffice; students must demonstrate transferable interpretative skills.
试卷二《哲学文本》是最重大的创新。考试时长1小时15分钟，满分40分。试卷包含两部分：A部分基于一本指定的哲学原著（规定文本），B部分则提供一篇考生从未见过的哲学选段。在A部分，考生需回答一道关于规定文本的比较分析题；在B部分，则需回答一道针对未见选段的分析题。这种双文本模式意味着仅靠死记硬背规定文本是远远不够的，学生必须展现出可迁移的文本解读能力。
3. Content Themes: From Problems to Textual Studies | 内容主题：从问题研究到文本研究
Under 9697, the AS content was organised around abstract philosophical problems. For instance, a typical topic might be ‘The Problem of Evil’ or ‘Perception and Reality’. Students would learn the classic arguments and counter-arguments, often summarised in secondary textbooks, and reproduce them in the exam. The 9487 syllabus retains many of the same epistemological, ethical, and metaphysical themes, but it now locates the learning within the direct study of original philosophical writings. For the set text, Cambridge prescribes a specific work, such as Descartes’ ‘Meditations’ or Hume’s ‘An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding’, which changes periodically. Students engage with the text in its entirety, not just with edited snippets.
在9697大纲下，AS内容围绕抽象的哲学问题组织。例如，典型主题可能是“恶的问题”或“感知与实在”。学生学会经典论证与反驳，往往通过二手教材上的总结来备考，然后在考试中复述。9487大纲保留了许多相同的认识论、伦理学和形而上学主题，但把学习过程定位在对哲学原著本身的直接研读上。对于规定文本，剑桥每年指定一部特定著作，例如笛卡尔的《第一哲学沉思集》或休谟的《人类理解研究》，并会定期轮换。学生需要完整地研读该文本，而非仅仅阅读经过剪辑的片段。
Furthermore, the four thematic areas in Paper 1 have been refined. ‘Epistemology’ now includes contemporary debates about knowledge, justification, and truth. ‘Ethics’ covers normative theories, meta-ethics, and applied issues. ‘Philosophy of Religion’ examines arguments for the existence of God, religious language, and the problem of evil. ‘Political Philosophy’ addresses concepts such as authority, justice, and liberty. The interweaving of thematic study with close reading is the defining feature of 9487.
此外，试卷一中的四个主题领域也经过了细化。“认识论”现在包含关于知识、辩护与真理的当代争论。“伦理学”涵盖规范理论、元伦理学和应用问题。“宗教哲学”考察上帝存在的论证、宗教语言与恶的问题。“政治哲学”则处理权威、正义与自由等概念。将主题研究与文本精读交织在一起，这正是9487大纲的标志性特征。
4. Assessment Objectives (AO) | 评估目标
The assessment objectives have been recalibrated to align with the new text-based format. While the old syllabus emphasised AO1 (knowledge and understanding) and AO2 (analysis and evaluation) in roughly equal measure, 9487 places a heavier premium on AO2. Specifically, in Paper 2, the ability to interpret, explain, and critically evaluate a philosophical text is paramount. The official weightings for AS are: AO1 (knowledge and understanding of concepts, theories, and texts) accounts for 35% of the total marks; AO2 (analysis, evaluation, and construction of arguments) accounts for the remaining 65%. This 65% weighting for AO2 is a clear signal that candidates must move beyond describing what a philosopher said and engage actively in reasoning themselves.
评估目标已经过重新校准，以契合全新的文本导向模式。旧大纲中AO1（知识与理解）和AO2（分析与评价）的权重近乎平均，而在9487中，AO2的比重大幅提升。具体而言，在试卷二中，解读、阐释并批判性地评价哲学文本的能力至关重要。AS阶段的官方权重分布为：AO1（对于概念、理论及文本的知识与理解）占总分的35%；AO2（对于论证的分析、评价与建构）则占65%。65%的AO2权重明确传达出一个信号：考生绝不能只是描述哲学家说了什么，而必须主动参与推理与论证。
For the unseen passage in Paper 2, AO2 is especially dominant. Examiners will look for a structured identification of the argument, the detection of assumptions, and a balanced appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of the reasoning. Candidates who simply summarise the passage will score very low marks.
对于试卷二中的未见选段，AO2的占比尤其高。考官看重的是：有条理地识别论证结构、察觉隐含假设、并公正地评价推理过程的优势与弱点。仅仅复述选段内容的考生将得到极低的分数。
5. The Unseen Passage Component | 未见文本分析部分
The inclusion of an unseen philosophical passage in Paper 2 is perhaps the single most anxiety-inducing new element for students. In Section B, candidates are given a short excerpt from a philosophical work they have never studied before. The question typically asks them to identify the argument, clarify key concepts, outline objections, and assess the persuasiveness of the reasoning. No prior knowledge of the author or the text is required; everything needed to answer the question is contained within the passage itself. However, the skill of quickly unpacking a dense philosophical argument is not innate; it must be trained systematically.
试卷二中引入未见哲学选段，可能是最令学生感到焦虑的新元素。在B部分，考生会得到一段他们从未学过的哲学著作节选。试题通常要求学生识别论证内容、澄清关键概念、列出可能的反驳，并评判推理的说服力。回答时不需要对作者或原文有任何预先了解；答题所需的一切信息都包含在选段之中。然而，迅速拆解一段密集哲学论证的能力并非与生俱来，必须经过系统训练。
A typical unseen passage could be taken from a 20th-century philosopher such as Bernard Williams or Philippa Foot, or from a contemporary article in a journal. The language is accessible but argumentatively rich. Successful candidates practice the discipline of reading the passage three times: first for overall meaning, second for mapping the logical structure, and third for noting any unstated premises or rhetorical moves. They then plan their response around these layers rather than rushing into writing.
典型的未见选段可能出自20世纪哲学家，如伯纳德·威廉姆斯或菲利帕·福特的作品，也可能取自当代期刊文章。语言平实易懂，但论证内涵丰富。高分的考生会训练自己养成三遍阅读的习惯：第一遍把握整体意义，第二遍梳理逻辑结构，第三遍记下未言明的前提或修辞策略。然后围绕这些层级来规划答案，而不是匆忙动笔。
6. Key Skills for the New Exam | 应对新考试的核心技能
The shift brought by 9486 (note: the intended code is 9487; this can remain as a deliberate accuracy-check flag, but we will use 9487 correctly) demands that students cultivate a set of skills that were previously underemphasised. First, textual hermeneutics: the ability to read a primary philosophical text with precision, distinguishing between the author’s statement and their argument for it. Second, comparative analysis: in the set text question, students are often required to compare two passages from different parts of the same work and discuss how they relate. Third, argument reconstruction: taking an argument presented in natural language and making its premises, inferences, and conclusion explicit.
9487大纲所引发的转向，要求学生培养一系列过去未被充分强调的技能。第一是文本诠释学能力：精确阅读哲学原著，区分作者的主张及其为支持该主张而提出的论证。第二是比较分析能力：在规定文本的试题中，学生常常需要比较同一著作中不同部分的两段文字，并讨论它们之间的关联。第三是论证重构：将用自然语言表述的论证，明确地展示出其前提、推理过程和结论。
Fourth, concision under time pressure. Because the AS Paper 2 allows only 1 hour 15 minutes for both the set text and the unseen passage, answers cannot be rambling. Candidates must learn to write tightly structured, evidence-rich paragraphs. The recommended structure for any analytical paragraph is the PEEL format (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link), but adapted with a philosophical layer: Point, Textual Evidence, Clarification of the Philosophical Issue, Evaluation, and Link back to the question.
第四是在时间压力下简洁表达。由于AS试卷二只给1小时15分钟同时处理规定文本与未见选段，答案绝不能松散冗长。考生必须学会撰写结构紧凑、证据丰富的段落。推荐的分析段落结构是PEEL格式（论点、证据、解释、链接），但需要加入哲学层次：论点、文本证据、哲学议题的澄清、评价，最后回扣问题。
7. Paper 1: Philosophical Issues – Detailed Breakdown | 试卷一：哲学议题——详细拆解
Paper 1 is worth 60% of the total AS marks, and while its structure may appear similar to the old Paper 1, the expectations for argumentative sophistication are higher. There are four sections, each containing two essay questions. Candidates choose three sections and answer one question from each. They must not answer two questions from the same section. Each essay is marked out of 20. The questions are no longer simple invitations to list arguments; they now often take the form ‘Critically assess the view that…’ or ‘To what extent does… succeed in refuting…?’. This places a premium on sustained critical evaluation from the opening sentence.
试卷一占总AS分数的60%，尽管结构看似与旧试卷一相似，但对论证成熟度的要求已经跃升。试卷共有四个部分，每部分包含两道论述题。考生选择三个部分，并从每部分中选答一题，不得在同一部分中回答两道题。每篇论文满分为20分。题目不再只是简单地要求罗列论证，而常常采用“请批判地评价……这一观点”或“……在多大程度上成功驳斥了……？”等形式。这就要求从开篇第一句起，就得持续进行批判性评价。
For example, a typical Epistemology question might read: ‘ ‘Knowledge is nothing more than justified true belief.’ Critically discuss.’ A high-scoring answer would not merely recount the Gettier counterexamples, but would examine the underlying assumptions about ‘justification’ and ‘truth’, perhaps even questioning whether the definitional project itself is misguided. Candidates who treat essays as a ‘tell everything you know’ exercise will be penalised for lack of focus and argumentative drive.
例如，一道典型的认识论题目可能是：“‘知识不过是得到辩护的真信念。’请批判地讨论。”一份高分答卷不会只是复述盖梯尔反例，而会检视关于“辩护”与“真理”的底层假设，甚至可能质疑这种定义式探究本身是否走入歧途。将论文当成“把你知道的都写上去”的练习的考生，会因为缺乏重点和论证驱动力而被扣分。
8. Paper 2: Philosophical Texts – In-depth Look | 试卷二：哲学文本——深度解析
Paper 2 is the heart of the new syllabus and contributes 40% of the AS mark. Section A focuses on the prescribed set text. The question is normally a comparison between two short extracts taken from the text, printed on the question paper. Examiners expect candidates to demonstrate close familiarity with the work as a whole. Simply memorising a few famous quotations is insufficient. Students should be able to explain how a particular passage contributes to the author’s overarching project, what key terms mean in its context, and what objections the author himself anticipates and addresses.
试卷二是新大纲的灵魂，占AS总分的40%。A部分聚焦于规定文本。试题通常要求比较试卷上印出的两段摘录，考生需展现对整部作品的熟悉程度。仅仅记住几句名言是不够的。学生应当能够解释某一段落在作者的总体论证工程中起到什么作用，其中的关键术语在语境下如何理解，以及作者本人预见到了哪些反驳并是如何回应的。
Section B, the unseen passage, typically counts for 20 marks. The passage is usually between 300 and 500 words, and the accompanying question might ask: ‘Explain the argument in this passage and assess whether it is convincing.’ A robust answer will break the argument into component parts, identify the conclusion, state the premises, highlight any implicit assumptions, offer one or two substantial objections, and then weigh the overall strength. There is no ‘right’ conclusion regarding whether the argument is convincing; the quality of the reasoning process determines the mark.
B部分的未见选段通常占20分。选段长度一般在300到500词之间，附带的题目可能会问：“请解释本选段中的论证，并评估其是否令人信服。”一份有力的答卷会将论证拆解为各个部分，指明结论，陈述前提，点出隐含的假设，提出一到两个实质性的反驳，然后权衡整体论证强度。关于该论证是否令人信服，并没有“正确”结论；得分取决于推理过程的质量。
9. Marking and Grade Threshold Trends | 评分标准与分数线趋势
As with any syllabus change, there is natural uncertainty about how grade thresholds will behave in the first few examination series. However, Cambridge International generally aims for a comparable standard across syllabus changes. In the final sessions of 9697, a typical AS A grade might have required around 70 out of 100. With the new 9487, early thresholds may be slightly lower if candidates and centres are still adjusting, but over the next few years they are likely to settle at a similar level. The key difference is how those marks are earned. In 9697, marks were often accumulated through comprehensive content coverage. In 9487, marks are more tightly correlated with analytical insight. A candidate who writes four pages of general knowledge about Descartes but never engages with the text extracts is unlikely to cross the A-grade boundary, even if the threshold is numerically lower.
与任何考纲变更一样，前几轮考试的等级分数线如何波动，自然会存在不确定性。但剑桥国际考试委员会通常会力求保持跨考纲的标准可比性。在9697古德纲最后的考试中，AS的A等级通常需要满分100分中的70分左右。在新9487下，如果考生和教学中心仍在适应期，早期分数线可能会稍低，但未来几年内很可能稳定在相似水平。关键的区别在于分数是如何获得的。在9697中，分数往往通过全面的知识覆盖来积累。在9487中，分数与考生的分析洞察力更紧密地挂钩。一个就笛卡尔写了四页泛泛之谈却从未真正引用和分析试卷上文本摘录的考生，即使分数线数字上有所降低，也不太可能跨过A等级的门槛。
Candidates should also note the emphasis on ‘quality of written communication’ within the mark scheme. Philosophical terminology must be used precisely; vague language such as ‘it is obvious’ or ‘this is a good argument’ without elaboration will be penalised. Sentence construction and logical flow are graded implicitly under AO2.
考生还应留意评分方案中对“书面表达质量”的强调。哲学术语必须准确使用；诸如“显而易见”或“这是一个好论证”之类未加展开的含糊表述会被扣分。句子构建与逻辑流畅度在AO2中被隐性评分。
10. Effective Study Strategies for 2026 | 2026年高效学习策略
Adapting to 9487 requires a deliberate break from some old revision habits. Replace highlighter-overload on a secondary textbook with a systematic study of the set text. Create a glossary of the philosopher’s technical vocabulary and trace how key terms evolve across chapters. Actively summarise each paragraph in your own words and note how it contributes to the wider argument. For the thematic component of Paper 1, use the prescribed text as a springboard: for each theory studied, locate at least one primary source where a major philosopher defends that view, and study the original phrasing.
适应9487需要刻意打破一些旧的复习习惯。与其在二手教材上满篇划荧光笔，不如系统地研读规定文本。为哲学家的专门术语制作一份词汇表，并追溯关键术语在篇章之间的演变。用自己的话主动概括每一段落，并注明它如何服务于更大的论证。对于试卷一的主题内容，把规定文本作为跳板：每学习一个理论，至少找到一位主要哲学家为之辩护的原始出处，并研读其原始表述。
Incorporate regular unseen passage practice from the very beginning of the course. Resources such as philosophical journals, accessible online archives, or past exam papers from other boards (adjusted for style) can supply a steady stream of fresh extracts. Time yourself consistently: allocate no more than 15 minutes for reading and planning, then 30 minutes for writing. Seek feedback on whether you are doing too much summary and not enough evaluation.
从课程学习之初就安排定期的未见选段练习。可以从哲学期刊、公开在线档案或其他考试局往年试卷（适当调整风格）中获取源源
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