How to Revise GCSE Physical Education

Revise GCSE PE theory with practice on anatomy, physiology, sports psychology, and socio-cultural influences on sport.

Revision Strategy

Revising Physical Education means covering both the theoretical knowledge tested in written papers and the practical skills assessed through coursework or controlled assessments. For the theory, use active recall techniques — flashcards, self-quizzing, and practice questions — rather than passive re-reading of notes.

Learn the technical terminology thoroughly. Physical Education exams award marks for using precise, subject-specific language, and vague or colloquial descriptions will cost you marks even if you understand the underlying concept. Create a vocabulary list for each topic and test yourself regularly.

Practise applying your knowledge to unfamiliar scenarios and contexts. Physical Education exams often present you with situations you have not studied directly and ask you to use your understanding to analyse, evaluate, or solve problems. Working through past papers and mark schemes helps you understand how examiners expect you to approach these application questions.

Study Tips for GCSE Physical Education

✓ Learn the skeletal and muscular systems by drawing and labelling diagrams from memory. Know which muscles and bones are used in specific sporting movements — for example, the quadriceps extending the knee during a football kick.
✓ Link theory to practical examples wherever possible. When revising principles of training (FITT, progressive overload, specificity), think about how you would apply each one to a training programme for a specific sport.
✓ Create flashcards for key definitions — terms like VO2 max, anaerobic threshold, and somatotype have precise definitions that need to be memorised exactly.
✓ For the socio-cultural section, learn specific examples of how factors like commercialisation, media, gender, and ethics affect participation and performance in sport. Named examples make your answers more convincing.

Exam Tips for GCSE Physical Education

✓ When answering applied questions, always relate your answer to a specific sporting context. Writing that progressive overload means gradually increasing the intensity is good, but explaining how a swimmer would do this by adding extra lengths each week is what earns full marks.
✓ For data response questions, use specific figures from the graphs or tables provided. Do not just describe general trends — quote the numbers and calculate differences where asked.
✓ In extended answer questions, plan your response first. Cover multiple points rather than writing at length about one. Breadth of knowledge with clear sporting examples is the key to high marks.

Topics to Cover

8 topics in GCSE Physical Education

Anatomy & Physiology

Movement Analysis

Physical Training

Sports Psychology

Socio-Cultural Influences

Health & Fitness

Data Analysis

Practical Performance

Available Exam Boards

GCSE Physical Education specification guides for each exam board

AQA Edexcel OCR WJEC

Frequently Asked Questions

How is GCSE PE assessed? +

Typically 60% theory (two written exam papers) and 40% practical (assessed in three sporting activities plus a personal exercise programme or coursework analysis). The practical marks are internally assessed and externally moderated.

How many sports do I need for GCSE PE? +

You are usually assessed in three sports — at least one team and one individual activity. Your school will guide you on which sports are available, and you need to perform at a competent level in each.

Is GCSE PE just for sporty students? +

Being active and enjoying sport certainly helps with the practical component, but 60% of the grade comes from written exams. You need to be willing to study anatomy, physiology, and sport psychology seriously.

What grade do I need for A-Level PE? +

Most sixth forms require at least a grade 5 or 6 in GCSE PE, along with a good grade in GCSE Science (since A-Level PE has a heavy science component). Check your school for specific requirements.

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