WJEC Eduqas GCSE Physical Education (PE) specification (C550)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your WJEC Eduqas GCSE 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.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official WJEC Eduqas GCSE 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 Eduqas GCSE Physical Education (PE) (C550) 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 Eduqas specification PDF.
Specification overview
The WJEC Eduqas GCSE in Physical Education (PE) aims to inspire, motivate and challenge learners to make informed decisions about further education and careers. It encourages learners to understand and develop their performance in physical activities while appreciating the importance of health, fitness, and well-being. Learners will gain theoretical knowledge of the physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors that affect participation and performance in sport, and apply this to improve their own capabilities. The course integrates theory with practice through performance analysis, enabling learners to demonstrate and enhance their skills across a range of physical activities.Subject content breakdown
1. Health, training and exercise
- Relationship between health, fitness and well-being; lifestyle benefits of physical activity
- Risks of a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet; nutrient roles and hydration
- Components of fitness; testing methods linked to components
- Training methods: continuous, interval, fartlek, circuit, weight, plyometric, flexibility
- Training zones and heart rate calculations; aerobic and anaerobic exercise links
- Principles of training (specificity, progression, overload, variance)
- Importance and structure of warm-up and cool-down routines
- Data collection, analysis, and presentation related to health and training
2. Exercise physiology
- Structure and function of the muscular-skeletal and cardio-respiratory systems
- Types of muscles, joints, bones, and movements; muscle contractions
- Aerobic and anaerobic systems; thresholds and training impacts
- Short and long-term effects of exercise on body systems
- Data analysis related to physiological responses
3. Movement analysis
- Muscle contractions: concentric, eccentric, isometric; antagonistic actions
- Lever systems and their mechanical advantages
- Planes and axes of movement; application in physical activities
- Use of sports technology in performance analysis and coaching
- Data analysis linked to movement
4. Psychology of sport and physical activity
- Goal-setting and SMART targets; effects on performance
- Information processing: input, decision making, output, feedback
- Types of guidance: visual, verbal, manual, mechanical; stages of learning
- Mental preparation techniques; types of motivation
- Characteristics and classifications of skills; types of practice
- Data collection, analysis, and application to psychological factors
5. Socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport
- Influences on participation: gender, family, school, peers, media
- Target group provision and inclusive strategies
- Impact of commercialisation, media, and ethical issues (e.g. doping)
- Data analysis of socio-cultural aspects
Assessment structure
Component 1: Introduction to Physical Education
- Written exam: 2 hours
- 60% of qualification
- Assesses all theoretical content areas
- Question types: short and extended responses based on sources/stimuli
Component 2: The Active Participant in Physical Education
- Non-exam assessment (NEA): internally assessed, externally moderated
- 40% of qualification
- Practical performance in 3 activities: at least 1 team and 1 individual
- Each activity assessed out of 20 marks
- Written performance analysis and evaluation in 1 activity (20 marks)
- Learners design and evaluate a personal training programme (8-week recommendation)
- Assessment includes analysis of data and application of theory
Assessment Objectives
- AO1: Knowledge and understanding (25%)
- AO2: Application of knowledge (20%)
- AO3: Analysis and evaluation (15%)
- AO4: Practical performance and analysis (40%)
Key tips for success
Doing well in your WJEC Eduqas GCSE 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.
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