What Is IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science?

IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science, often shortened to SEHS, is the Diploma's most hands-on science subject. It takes the biology of the human body and applies it to sport, exercise and health, and it's just been through a big update.

Here's what SEHS now covers, the difference between Standard Level and Higher Level, how it's assessed, and whether it's the right Group 4 choice for you.

Key Takeaways

• IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS) is a Group 4 science in the Diploma Programme

• It studies the human body in sport and exercise, blending physiology, biomechanics and psychology

• A new syllabus is first taught from 2024, with first exams in 2026

• You can take it at Standard Level or Higher Level

• Like every IB subject, it's graded on a 1 to 7 scale

What Is IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science?

IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science is a Diploma science subject that studies how the body works during exercise and how to keep it healthy. It pulls together human physiology, nutrition, biomechanics and psychology, all through the lens of sport.

It sits in Group 4, so it counts as a full science. That makes it a strong option if you want to meet the science requirement with something practical and applied rather than purely theoretical.

The course was recently updated. Students starting from 2024 follow the new syllabus, with the first exams in 2026, so older resources may not match what you study. There are no prerequisites, though an interest in biology or PE helps.

What You'll Study: The Three Themes

The new syllabus is organised into three themes that build a complete picture of the body in motion.

• Exercise physiology and nutrition of the human body: how your systems respond to exercise, and how diet supports performance.

• Biomechanics: how forces and movement work, and how technique affects results.

• Sports psychology and motor learning: how the mind shapes performance, and how we learn skills.

The old optional topics were removed, and their most useful content was incorporated into these themes. That means everyone now studies the same core, which makes the course more focused. Because the physiology content overlaps with biology, our guide on how to revise IB Biology has techniques that transfer well.

SL vs HL: What's the Difference?

You can take SEHS at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL). The split is mostly about depth and time: SL runs to 150 teaching hours, while HL is 240.

HL covers the same three themes in more detail and adds extra content, so it's a bigger commitment. SL gives you a solid, complete grounding if you want a science without the heavier workload.

Our guide to the difference between Standard and Higher Level explains how the levels compare across IB, which helps when you're balancing your six subjects.

How IB SEHS Is Assessed

The new course is assessed through two written papers and an internal assessment, with the old third paper removed.

• Paper 1 (36%): split into Paper 1A, which is multiple choice, and Paper 1B, which tests data analysis and experimental skills. SL students get 1 hour 30 minutes, HL students 1 hour 45

• Paper 2 (40%): short-answer and extended-response questions that put the science into real sport and health situations. SL students get 1 hour 30 minutes, HL students 2 hours 30

• Internal assessment (24%): a 10-hour scientific investigation you design and carry out, written up in a 3,200-word report

Every component feeds into a final grade from 1 to 7. Dropping the third paper makes the new course a little more manageable than before.

Is IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science Hard?

SEHS is a rigorous subject, so expect detailed content and data analysis rather than an easy ride. You'll study the body’s systems in depth and interpret results, which takes consistent effort.

What makes it feel manageable is how applied it is. Linking a concept to a sprint or a training plan makes it stick, and many students find that easier than abstract theory. There's some maths in the data work, but nothing extreme.

The internal assessment is the part to plan carefully, since designing and running your own study takes time. Our guide on how to improve your IB grades has tactics that work well for science subjects like this one.

How to Prepare and Succeed in IB SEHS

Doing well in SEHS comes down to connecting the science to real sport, not just memorising it. As you learn each theme, tie it to an example you understand, like a sport you play or watch.

A few habits make the biggest difference:

• Practise data-analysis questions, since Paper 1B and Paper 2 both reward them

• Use real sporting examples to explain physiology, biomechanics and psychology

• Start planning your internal assessment investigation early, so the design is solid

If you're still choosing subjects, our guides on how many IB subjects you can take and whether IB is worth it help you plan. Our advice on how to study for IB exams will keep the rest of your Diploma on track.

Save My Exams has examiner-written IB study resources that cut your revision down to what actually matters. Explore them and start improving your grades today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science hard?

It's a genuine science with real content and data analysis, but it's applied through sport, which many students find easier to grasp. The internal assessment takes planning, though there's no extreme maths involved.

Can you take IB SEHS at SL and HL?

Yes. SL is 150 teaching hours and HL is 240. Both cover the same three themes, but HL goes into more depth and includes extra content.

What changed in the new SEHS syllabus?

The course is now built around three themes, the old optional topics were removed and incorporated into the core content, and the third exam paper was dropped. That makes the new course more focused than before.

Does IB SEHS count as a science?

Yes. It's a Group 4 subject, so it counts as a full science in your Diploma. It's a popular way to meet the science requirement with a practical, sport-focused course.