Eduqas GCSE PE: Movement analysis (Component 1) overview
An overview of the movement analysis content in Eduqas GCSE PE (C550) Component 1, mapping the lever systems, the planes and axes of movement, and the types of movement at joints, with the calculations and how each part is examined.
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Movement analysis is the third of the five theory areas in Eduqas GCSE PE (specification C550). It sits in Component 1: Introduction to physical education, examined on the written paper, and it is the area that asks you to analyse exactly how the body moves. This page maps the topic and links to a focused answer page for each part.
The movement analysis content
- Lever systems
- The fulcrum, effort and load, the three classes of lever with body examples, mechanical advantage, and the trade-off between force, speed and range. See Lever systems.
- Planes and axes of movement
- The three planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse) and axes (transverse, sagittal, longitudinal), how each plane pairs with an axis, and analysing somersaults, cartwheels and twists. See Planes and axes of movement.
- Movement at joints
- Flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, rotation, circumduction, plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, the joints that allow each, and the antagonistic pairs that produce them. See Movement at joints.
How this topic is examined
Movement analysis is assessed on Component 1, a 2 hour written paper worth 120 marks and 60 percent of the GCSE, shared with the other four theory areas. Questions range from labelling levers and joints, through the mechanical advantage calculation, to analysing a rotational skill by plane and axis. A calculator is allowed.
How to study movement analysis
- Drill the lever classes. Use the 1-2-3 F-L-E mnemonic and a body example for each.
- Calculate mechanical advantage. Effort arm divided by load arm; show the formula and units.
- Pair plane with axis. Learn the three pairings together so you never mismatch them.
- Name joint movements precisely. Flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, and the rest, with the joint type that allows each.
- Apply to a named sport. Analyse a real action (a kick, a serve, a somersault) using levers, planes and axes, and joint movements together.
For the official specification
Eduqas publishes the full specification (C550QS), past papers and mark schemes at eduqas.co.uk. Always revise from the current specification and Eduqas's own past papers, because question style is board-specific.
Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas GCSE (9-1) Physical Education C550QS specification — Eduqas (2016)