Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (1PE0): complete guide to the two written papers, theory content and exam skills
A complete guide to Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (specification 1PE0). Explains the two written papers (Fitness and Body Systems, Health and Performance), the practical and PEP non-examined assessment, the six theory topics, the use-of-data and 9-mark extended-response questions, and the way to revise each component.
Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (specification 1PE0) is assessed by two written papers and two non-examined assessments. This page is the index for the theory that the two written papers test: below is a map of the components, the six theory topics, the use-of-data and 9-mark questions, and how to revise each part.
The four components
Pearson Edexcel splits the course into four components. The two written papers carry 60 percent of the qualification and are the focus of this site.
- Component 1: Fitness and Body Systems (1PE0/01). 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks, 36 percent. Multiple-choice, short-answer and long-answer questions, ending with one 9-mark extended-response question on physical training.
- Component 2: Health and Performance (1PE0/02). 1 hour 15 minutes, 60 marks, 24 percent. Multiple-choice, short-answer and long-answer questions, ending with one 9-mark extended-response question on sport psychology.
- Component 3: Practical Performance (1PE0/03). 30 percent, 105 marks. Three activities (one team, one individual, one free choice), internally marked and externally moderated. Not assessed on this site.
- Component 4: Personal Exercise Programme, PEP (1PE0/04). 10 percent, 20 marks. A planned, carried out and evaluated programme, internally marked and externally moderated. Not assessed on this site.
Calculators are allowed in both written papers, because the use-of-data topic is embedded throughout each.
The six theory topics
Schools teach the theory as six topics across the two papers, covered in depth on this site.
- Component 1, Topic 1: Applied anatomy and physiology
- The musculoskeletal system, the cardio-respiratory system, aerobic and anaerobic exercise, and the short and long term effects of exercise.
- Component 1, Topic 2: Movement analysis
- Lever systems and mechanical advantage, and the planes and axes of movement.
- Component 1, Topic 3: Physical training
- The components of fitness, fitness testing against normative data, the principles of training, training methods, injury prevention and performance-enhancing drugs, and warm-ups and cool-downs.
- Component 2, Topic 1: Health, fitness and wellbeing
- Physical, emotional and social health, the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle, and diet, nutrition and hydration.
- Component 2, Topic 2: Sport psychology
- Skill classification and practice structures, goal setting and SMART targets, guidance and feedback, and mental preparation.
- Component 2, Topic 3: Socio-cultural influences
- Engagement patterns of different social groups, commercialisation and the media, and ethics and deviance in sport.
A fourth topic in each paper, use of data, is not taught separately. It is woven through every other topic, asking you to read tables and graphs and calculate and interpret values.
The skills that run across the course
Content knowledge earns the recall marks, but the grades come from applying it through Edexcel's question types.
- Use of data. Read tables and graphs, calculate values such as cardiac output, BMI and training zones, and interpret results against normative data tables.
- Application to sport. Tie every mechanism to a named activity, because Edexcel awards application (AO2) marks for the sporting context, not the textbook definition.
- The 9-mark extended response. Build a balanced, applied argument and finish with a reasoned judgement, on physical training (Component 1) or sport psychology (Component 2).
- Command words. Identify, describe, explain, analyse and evaluate are each marked differently, so match the depth of your answer to the verb.
How to study Edexcel GCSE PE
PE rewards precise knowledge and disciplined exam technique in equal measure.
- Learn the systems and definitions precisely. The structure of the heart, the muscle and bone names, and the definitions of health, fitness and the components of fitness are recall marks you cannot afford to drop.
- Practise the calculations. Cardiac output (), BMI, and the aerobic and anaerobic training zones from all appear in use-of-data questions.
- Drill each command word. A 1-mark identify and a 9-mark evaluate are marked very differently, so practise each against its mark scheme.
- Rehearse the 9-mark questions. They decide the top grades, so plan and time balanced answers on physical training and sport psychology.
- Always name a sport. Application marks come from linking theory to a real activity, so use a worked example such as a footballer, sprinter or marathon runner.
The topics, dot point by dot point
Each topic has an overview guide, dot-point answer pages and a quiz. Browse the full set at /gcse-edexcel/physical-education/syllabus.
For the official specification
Pearson Edexcel publishes the full specification (1PE0), sample assessment materials and past papers at qualifications.pearson.com. Always revise from the current specification and Edexcel's own past papers, because question style and mark allocations are board-specific.
Physical Education guides
In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.
- Edexcel GCSE PE applied anatomy and physiology: a complete overview of Component 1 Topic 1
A complete overview of Edexcel GCSE PE applied anatomy and physiology (Component 1, Topic 1). Covers the musculoskeletal system, the cardio-respiratory system, aerobic and anaerobic exercise, and the short and long term effects of exercise, with the key calculations the exam rewards.
14 min readRead → - Edexcel GCSE PE health, fitness and wellbeing: a complete overview of Component 2 Topic 1
A complete overview of Edexcel GCSE PE health, fitness and wellbeing (Component 2, Topic 1). Covers physical, emotional and social wellbeing, the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle, diet, nutrition and BMI, hydration and energy balance, and lifestyle choices.
14 min readRead → - Edexcel GCSE PE movement analysis: a complete overview of Component 1 Topic 2
A complete overview of Edexcel GCSE PE movement analysis (Component 1, Topic 2). Covers the three classes of lever and mechanical advantage, the three planes and axes of movement, and the use-of-data skills used to analyse movement and fitness.
12 min readRead → - Edexcel GCSE PE physical training: a complete overview of Component 1 Topic 3
A complete overview of Edexcel GCSE PE physical training (Component 1, Topic 3). Covers the components of fitness, fitness testing against normative data, the principles of training and training zones, training methods, the long-term effects of training, injury prevention and PEDs, and warm-ups and cool-downs.
15 min readRead → - Edexcel GCSE PE socio-cultural influences: a complete overview of Component 2 Topic 3
A complete overview of Edexcel GCSE PE socio-cultural influences (Component 2, Topic 3). Covers engagement patterns and the factors affecting participation, commercialisation and the media, ethics and deviance in sport, and the use-of-data skills for reading participation and commercial trends.
12 min readRead → - Edexcel GCSE PE sport psychology: a complete overview of Component 2 Topic 2
A complete overview of Edexcel GCSE PE sport psychology (Component 2, Topic 2). Covers skill classification and practice structures, goal setting and SMART targets, guidance and feedback, and mental preparation, plus how to tackle the Component 2 nine-mark question.
13 min readRead →
Physical Education practice quizzes
Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.
- Edexcel GCSE PE applied anatomy and physiology overview quiz14 questionsStart →
- Edexcel GCSE PE health, fitness and wellbeing overview quiz14 questionsStart →
- Edexcel GCSE PE movement analysis overview quiz13 questionsStart →
- Edexcel GCSE PE physical training overview quiz15 questionsStart →
- Edexcel GCSE PE socio-cultural influences overview quiz13 questionsStart →
- Edexcel GCSE PE sport psychology overview quiz14 questionsStart →
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