PHYSICAL EDUCATION PE GCSE

Exam Board: OCR

Course Overview / Introduction

In GCSE PE you will develop a theoretical knowledge and understanding of the factors that underpin physical activity and sport and use this knowledge to improve performance. You will work to understand how the physiological and psychological state affects performance in physical activity and sport. You will perform practically in different physical activities by developing skills and techniques and selecting and using tactics, strategies and/or compositional ideas. You will develop your ability to analyse and evaluate to improve performance in physical activity and sport. You will get to understand the contribution which physical activity and sport make to health, fitness and well-being as well as developing an understanding of key socio-cultural influences which can affect people’s involvement in physical activity and sport.

What will you study?

Physical factors affecting performance - this component will assess: 

• 1.1 Applied anatomy and physiology 

• 1.2 Physical training

Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology - this component will assess: 

• 2.1 Socio-cultural influences 

• 2.2 Sports psychology

• 2.3 Health, fitness and well-being

Practical Performances - this component will assess:

• Core and advanced skills in three activities taken from the approved lists 

Analysis and Evaluation of Performance:

• This component draws upon the knowledge, understanding and skills a student has learnt and enables them to analyse and evaluate their own or a peer’s performance in one activity.

How many exams are there?

Physical factors affecting performance: Written paper: 1 hour 30% of total GCSE (9–1) 60 marks.
This paper consists of a mixture of objective response and multiple-choice questions.

Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology: Written paper: 1 hour 30% of total GCSE (9–1) 60 marks.
This paper consists of a mixture of objective response and multiple-choice questions, short answers and extended response items.

Non-exam assessment (NEA) Practical: 30% of total GCSE (9–1) 60 marks.
This NEA will consist of three activities, including at least one ‘team’ and at least one ‘individual’ sport from the approved activity lists, all performed in competitive situations.

Non-exam assessment (NEA) Written Coursework: 10% of total GCSE (9–1) 20 marks.
This NEA will consist of a written task that must be produced under controlled conditions.

What will you gain from this course?

A deeper understanding of how physical activity and sport impacts people’s lives on a daily basis. This leads to you developing understanding that can help drive your own personal fitness, leadership experience, independent work skills, social collaboration with others, the ability to make good decisions and choices and develop your own personal physical skills.

What does this lead to?

Physical Education also lends itself to a range of careers in sports and fitness as well as other industries that you may not have considered before. These could be from physically playing sport, to analysing performance, writing about sport as a journalist or even following in your PE Teacher/s footsteps and becoming a PE Teacher yourself!

Staff Contact:

Mrs Lazarczuk,
Head of PE and Health & Social Care