England · Pearson EdexcelSyllabus
Physical Education syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the England Physical Educationsyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.
Applied anatomy and physiology (Component 1)
Module overview →- How does the body release energy aerobically and anaerobically for sport?Energy release using glucose and oxygen, the aerobic and anaerobic equations, the by-product lactic acid, and the fuel sources fats and carbohydrates.7 min answer →
- What happens to the body in the moments and weeks of training?The short-term effects of exercise on lactate, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and breathing, and how the systems work together to recover.8 min answer →
- How does the heart and blood deliver oxygen for physical activity?The structure and functions of the cardiovascular system, the blood vessels, cardiac output, vascular shunting, and the components and roles of blood.9 min answer →
- How do muscles work with the skeleton to produce movement in sport?The major voluntary muscles, the three muscle types, antagonistic muscle pairs, and the characteristics of fast and slow twitch muscle fibres.8 min answer →
- How does the respiratory system supply oxygen for exercise?The structure of the respiratory system, gas exchange at the alveoli, the composition of inhaled and exhaled air, and tidal volume and vital capacity.8 min answer →
- How does the skeleton support movement and performance in sport?The functions of the skeleton, the classification of bones, the major bones, the classification of joints and the movements they allow, and the role of ligaments and tendons.8 min answer →
Health, fitness and wellbeing (Component 2)
Module overview →- What makes a balanced diet, and how does nutrition support performance?The components of a balanced diet, the role of macronutrients and micronutrients, carbohydrate loading and protein timing, and the calculation of BMI.9 min answer →
- Why do hydration and energy balance matter for health and performance?The importance of hydration and how to maintain it, the factors affecting optimum weight, and the energy balance needed to maintain a healthy weight.8 min answer →
- How do lifestyle choices affect health, fitness and wellbeing?Lifestyle choices in diet, activity level, work/rest/sleep balance and recreational drugs, and their positive and negative effects on health and performance.8 min answer →
- How does physical activity improve physical, emotional and social health?The physical, emotional and social health benefits of participation in physical activity and sport, and how each benefit is achieved.8 min answer →
- What are the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle?A sedentary lifestyle and its consequences (weight, long-term health risks, fitness), and the interpretation of data on trends in physical health issues.8 min answer →
Movement analysis (Component 1)
Module overview →- How do we collect, present and interpret data to analyse movement and fitness?Collecting qualitative and quantitative data, presenting it in tables and graphs, calculating averages and range, and interpreting results against normative data.8 min answer →
- How do lever systems allow the body to produce and control movement in sport?The three classes of lever, their components (fulcrum, effort, load), examples in the body, and mechanical advantage and disadvantage.8 min answer →
- How do planes and axes describe movement in gymnastics and sport?The three planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse) and three axes (frontal, sagittal, vertical) and the sporting actions that occur in each.7 min answer →
Physical training (Component 1)
Module overview →- What are the components of fitness and why do different sports need different ones?The definitions of health, fitness, exercise and performance, the eleven components of fitness, and their relative importance in different sports.8 min answer →
- How do we test fitness and judge the results against normative data?The value and purpose of fitness testing, the named tests for each component of fitness, and the interpretation of results against normative data.9 min answer →
- How does the body adapt to weeks and months of training?The long-term effects of aerobic and anaerobic training on the musculoskeletal and cardio-respiratory systems, and the importance of rest for adaptation.8 min answer →
- How can performers prevent injury, and how do performance-enhancing drugs affect sport?Injury prevention (PARQ, correct technique, protective equipment), common sports injuries and RICE, and the effects of performance-enhancing drugs.9 min answer →
- What principles should guide an effective and safe training programme?The principles of training (individual needs, specificity, progressive overload, FITT, overtraining, reversibility) and the calculation of aerobic and anaerobic training zones.9 min answer →
- Which training method should a performer choose, and why?The training methods (continuous, Fartlek, circuit, interval, plyometric, weight and fitness classes), the components they develop, and their advantages and disadvantages.9 min answer →
- Why do performers warm up before and cool down after activity?The purpose and importance of warm-ups and cool-downs, the phases of a warm-up, and the activities included in each.7 min answer →
Socio-cultural influences (Component 2)
Module overview →- How are commercialisation, the media and sport linked?The relationship between commercialisation, the media and sport (the golden triangle), and the advantages and disadvantages for the sponsor, sport, performer and spectator.9 min answer →
- Why do participation rates differ between social groups?The personal factors (gender, age, socio-economic group, ethnicity, disability) that affect participation rates, and the interpretation of participation data.8 min answer →
- What is sporting behaviour, and why does deviance happen at elite level?Sportsmanship and gamesmanship, and the reasons for and consequences of deviance (such as doping and violence) at elite level.8 min answer →
- How do we interpret trends in participation, commercialisation and sporting behaviour?Interpreting and analysing graphical data on trends in participation rates, commercialisation and ethical and socio-cultural issues in sport.8 min answer →
Sport psychology (Component 2)
Module overview →- How does goal setting and the SMART principle improve performance?The use of goal setting to improve and optimise performance, the SMART principles, and the value of each principle in setting and reviewing targets.8 min answer →
- How do guidance and feedback help a performer improve?The types of guidance (visual, verbal, manual, mechanical) and feedback (intrinsic, extrinsic, concurrent, terminal), their advantages and their use with performers of different levels.9 min answer →
- How do performers prepare mentally for competition?Mental preparation for performance through the warm-up and mental rehearsal, and how these techniques improve focus and performance.7 min answer →
- Which practice structure best develops a given skill?The practice structures (massed, distributed, fixed and variable), and how to select the most relevant practice for a skill using its classification.8 min answer →
- How are sports skills classified, and why does it matter?The classification of skills on the open-closed, basic-complex and low-high organisation continua, and the use of classification to plan practice.8 min answer →