WJEC A Level Physical Education (PE) specification (1550)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your WJEC A Level Physical Education (PE) exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
Examiner-written revision resources that improve your grades 2x
- Written by expert teachers and examiners
- Aligned to exam specifications
- Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t
In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official WJEC A Level Physical Education (PE) specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official WJEC A Level Physical Education (PE) (1550) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official WJEC specification PDF.
Specification overview
The WJEC A Level in Physical Education (PE) enables learners to develop theoretical knowledge and understanding of factors that underpin physical activity and sport, using this knowledge to improve performance. It promotes insight into how physiological and psychological states affect performance, as well as understanding socio-cultural factors influencing participation. The specification encourages learners to appreciate the role of technology in physical activity and to refine their ability to perform by developing techniques and selecting tactics, strategies, or compositional ideas. Learners also develop analytical and evaluative skills to enhance performance and explore the contribution of physical activity to health and fitness. The course integrates theory and practice, providing opportunities for learners to link concepts directly to performance and to consider contemporary issues in sport, particularly within Wales.
Subject content breakdown
1. Exercise physiology, performance analysis and training
- Understand performance analysis methods, coaching processes, and limitations.
- Apply biomechanics: levers, planes and axes of movement, joint types, muscle action.
- Study training methods, components of fitness, periodisation, goal setting.
- Understand energy systems, training principles, fatigue, recovery, and diet in sport.
- Analyse short-term and long-term physiological adaptations.
- Explore biomechanics: Newton's laws, linear and angular motion, projectile motion, fluid mechanics.
2. Sports psychology
- Understand personality theories and profiling.
- Examine stress, arousal, anxiety theories, and control methods.
- Explore motivation, achievement motivation, self-efficacy, and goal setting.
- Study attitudes, aggression, social facilitation, group dynamics, leadership theories, attribution, and learned helplessness.
3. Skill acquisition
- Define skill, ability, and performance characteristics.
- Study learning theories, learning stages, transfer of learning.
- Examine practice methods, guidance types, feedback, information processing models, memory, and motor programmes.
- Understand reaction time and strategies to enhance learning.
4. Sport and society
- Analyse sport’s role in society: culture, socialisation, identity.
- Study sport's emergence, amateurism, professionalism, politics in sport.
- Examine social differentiation, barriers, participation strategies.
- Investigate media's influence, stereotypes, commercialisation, globalisation, and sport as a commodity.
- Understand mass participation, excellence pathways, talent ID, UK sports structures, and policy initiatives.
Assessment structure
AS Unit 1 – Exploring Physical Education
- Written examination: 1¾ hours.
- 72 marks, 24% of A Level (60% of AS).
- Multiple choice, data response, short and extended questions.
- Assesses all AS content.
AS Unit 2 – Improving Personal Performance in Physical Education
- Non-exam assessment.
- 48 marks, 16% of A Level (40% of AS).
- Practical performance in one activity as player/performer and as a coach or official.
- Includes a Personal Performance Profile based on analysis and evaluation.
A2 Unit 3 – Evaluating Physical Education
- Written examination: 2 hours.
- 90 marks, 36% of A Level.
- Data response, short and extended questions.
- Assesses all A Level content.
A2 Unit 4 – Refining Personal Performance in Physical Education
- Non-exam assessment.
- 60 marks, 24% of A Level.
- Practical performance in one activity as player/performer, coach, or official.
Includes an Investigative Research project linked to practical performance.
- All non-exam assessments are internally assessed and externally moderated.
- Practical activities must be chosen from the approved activity list and performed under competitive/formal conditions.
- Written elements require analysis, evaluation, and evidence of quantitative skills.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your WJEC A Level Physical Education (PE) isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
Share this article