Physical Education

GCSE Physical Education

This course builds upon students’ broad range of practical experiences from Key Stage 3. It also aims to extend their understanding of a broad range of theory including the study of anatomy, physiology, fitness, health, and skill acquisition. The examination is in two units:

Unit 1: (50%)

Theory Students study factors affecting exercise, performance, health, well-being, lifestyle choices and psychology.

Written Paper: 2 hours

Learners will be assessed through a range of short and extended questions. The questions will be based on audio visual stimuli and other sources.

Compulsory questions to test knowledge and understanding of physical fitness, its assessment and factors affecting participation, provision and performance in sporting, health and well-being activities.

This examination involves a series of short answer and extended writing questions.

Compulsory questions to test knowledge and understanding of physical, psychological and tactical/ technical factors that have an influence on performance, health and well-being.

This will be assessed through a combination of short answer and extended writing questions. This examination will be available either as an electronic assessment or as a traditional written paper.

Unit 2: (50%) Practical Controlled Assessment

Students follow a core of practical activities in school but may offer any of the following activities for final assessment, including any ‘off site’ activities taken in their own time:-

  • Learners will be assessed in three different activities in the role of performer in at least one individual sport, one team sport and one other.

  • One activity will be a major activity which will have a personal fitness programme linked to the activity.


GCSE Physical Education Activity List

Candidates will be assessed in three activities from the following list, one of which will be a major activity carrying a higher weighting plus two minor activities each having a lower weighting. The major activity would require a written fitness programme to be linked to it in order to access the additional available marks. Each candidate must undertake at least one activity as a team activity. (Excluded combinations are stated in the footnotes on WJEC website www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/physical-education/ ).