England · OCRSyllabus
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 01)
Module overview →- How does the heart and blood deliver oxygen to working muscles during exercise?The structure and function of the cardiovascular system, the pathway of blood through the heart, heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output, the role of blood vessels and vascular shunting, and the cardiovascular response to exercise.11 min answer →
- What happens to the body during a single workout, and how does it change after months of training?The short-term effects of exercise on the muscular, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the long-term training adaptations, and how these effects benefit a performer in physical activity and sport.10 min answer →
- How do levers in the body let muscles move heavy loads, and which lever is which?The three classes of lever (first, second and third class), the components of a lever (fulcrum, effort and load), mechanical advantage, and examples of each lever in the body during physical activity.9 min answer →
- Which muscles produce movement in sport, and how do they work in pairs?The location and role of the major muscle groups, antagonistic muscle pairs, types of muscle contraction, the role of tendons, and how muscles work to produce movement in physical activity and sport.10 min answer →
- How do we describe the direction of a movement in three dimensions, and which plane and axis does a somersault use?The three planes of movement (sagittal, frontal and transverse) and the three axes (transverse, sagittal and longitudinal), and the analysis of sporting movements such as somersaults, cartwheels and full twists using planes and axes.9 min answer →
- How does the body get oxygen in and carbon dioxide out, and how does breathing change during exercise?The structure and function of the respiratory system, the mechanics of breathing, gaseous exchange at the alveoli, lung volumes (tidal volume, vital capacity), and the respiratory response to exercise.10 min answer →
- What does the skeleton do for a performer, and how do bones and joints allow movement?The functions of the skeleton, the classification of bones, the structure of a synovial joint, the types of joint and the movement they allow, and the role of the skeleton in physical activity and sport.10 min answer →
Health, fitness and well-being (Component 02)
Module overview →- What makes a balanced diet, and how should a performer's diet match their sport?The components of a balanced diet (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water), the role of each nutrient, hydration, and how a performer's diet can be adapted to their sport.9 min answer →
- How does the energy we eat balance against the energy we use, and what decides a healthy weight?Energy use, the concept of energy balance (energy in versus energy out), how energy requirements vary, and the effect of energy balance on body weight, including the calculation of energy values.9 min answer →
- How does taking part in physical activity benefit our physical, emotional and social health?The definitions of health, fitness and well-being, the physical, emotional and social benefits of physical activity and sport, and how these benefits link to a healthy, active lifestyle.9 min answer →
- What happens to the body and mind when someone is inactive for too long?The consequences of a sedentary lifestyle (weight gain, obesity and the health risks it brings), the classification of body weight (underweight, overweight, obese), and the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on physical, emotional and social health.9 min answer →
Physical training (Component 01)
Module overview →- What are the different components of fitness, and why does each sport need a different mix?The components of physical fitness (cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, speed, power, flexibility, agility, balance, coordination and reaction time), their definitions, and their importance to performance in different sports.10 min answer →
- How do we measure each component of fitness, and what do the results tell a coach?The reasons for fitness testing, the recognised tests for each component of fitness, how to carry them out, and how to interpret the data against normative tables, including the limitations of testing.10 min answer →
- What are the different methods of training, and which one develops each component of fitness?The methods of training (continuous, fartlek, interval, circuit, weight, plyometric and high-intensity interval training), how each is carried out, the components of fitness they develop, and their advantages and disadvantages for different performers.11 min answer →
- How can a performer reduce the risk of injury, and what should they do if one happens?How to minimise the risk of injury (correct technique, appropriate clothing and equipment, warming up, appropriate intensity and adherence to rules), common sporting injuries, and the use of personal protective equipment in physical activity and sport.9 min answer →
- What principles make a training programme effective, and how do you set the right intensity?The principles of training (specificity, progressive overload, reversibility, tedium), the FITT principle, overload and training thresholds, and the calculation of training intensity using maximum heart rate and the one-rep maximum.11 min answer →
- Why do performers warm up before and cool down after exercise, and what does each phase do?The purpose and phases of a warm-up, the physical and psychological benefits of warming up, the purpose and benefits of a cool-down, and how each prepares the body for and recovers it from exercise.9 min answer →
Practical performance and the AEP (Components 03 and 04)
Module overview →- How do you analyse a performance, identify a weakness and justify a plan to improve it?The Analysis and Evaluation of Performance (AEP): analysing a performance to identify strengths and weaknesses, prioritising one weakness, and producing a justified action plan to improve it that draws on the theory content.9 min answer →
- How is your practical performance assessed, and how do you choose and prepare your three activities?The structure of the non-exam assessment (three activities including at least one team and one individual), how practical performance is assessed under competitive or formal conditions, the approved activity lists, and how skills, techniques and decision making are marked.9 min answer →
Socio-cultural influences (Component 02)
Module overview →- How are sport, sponsorship and the media linked, and who gains from commercialisation?The commercialisation of physical activity and sport, the golden triangle of sport, sponsorship and the media, and the positive and negative effects on sport, performers, officials, sponsors and spectators.10 min answer →
- Why do some athletes take performance-enhancing drugs, and what are the effects and consequences?The types of performance-enhancing drugs and their effects on the performer and on sport, the reasons performers take them, the risks and consequences, and the arguments for and against drug taking in sport.10 min answer →
- Who takes part in sport, who does not, and what factors shape participation?Engagement patterns of different social groups in physical activity and sport, the factors affecting participation (age, gender, ethnicity, disability, socio-economic group), and strategies to improve participation.10 min answer →
- What does it mean to play fairly, and why do some performers cheat or behave violently?The concepts of sportsmanship, gamesmanship and deviance, etiquette and the spirit of sport, the reasons for and consequences of deviant behaviour, and violence in sport by performers and spectators.10 min answer →
Sports psychology (Component 02)
Module overview →- How can setting the right goals improve a performer's training and confidence?The use of goal setting to improve and optimise performance, the SMART principle of goal setting, the difference between outcome and performance goals, and the benefits of setting goals.9 min answer →
- How do coaches guide learners, and what kinds of feedback help a performer improve?The types of guidance (visual, verbal, manual and mechanical), the types of feedback (intrinsic and extrinsic, knowledge of results and knowledge of performance, positive and negative), and how each suits beginners and elite performers.9 min answer →
- How does a performer take in information and turn it into the right action?The basic model of information processing (input, decision making, output and feedback), and how a performer uses information processing to respond to a stimulus during physical activity and sport.9 min answer →
- How do performers control their nerves and prepare their minds to perform their best?The techniques used to prepare mentally for performance (mental rehearsal, visualisation/imagery, selective attention and positive self-talk), arousal and its effect on performance, and how to control arousal.9 min answer →
- How do we classify sporting skills, and why does it matter for how we practise them?The classification of skills on continua (simple to complex, open to closed, and others), the characteristics of each type, and the use of classification to plan practice and analyse performance.9 min answer →