How is the practical, non-exam part of WJEC A-Level PE assessed, and how do you score well in it?
An overview of the non-exam assessment (practical performance and the analysis and evaluation of personal performance), what is assessed, how it is marked and moderated, and how to prepare for it.
An overview WJEC A-Level PE answer on the non-exam assessment: practical performance in one activity as a player, performer or coach, plus the analysis and evaluation of personal performance, how it is marked and moderated, its weighting, and how to prepare.
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What this dot point is asking
WJEC assesses A-Level Physical Education through both written examinations and a non-exam assessment (NEA), the practical component. This overview explains what the NEA assesses (practical performance plus the analysis and evaluation of personal performance), how it is marked and moderated, its weighting, and how to prepare. The detailed theory you apply in it lives in the exercise physiology, biomechanics and skill acquisition dot points.
The two strands of the NEA
Together these reward both your ability to perform and your ability to apply the course theory to real performance.
Practical performance
You are assessed in a single chosen activity from WJEC's approved list. Key features:
- assessment is in competitive or formal conditions (a real game or full routine), so consistency and effectiveness under pressure matter, not just technique in isolation,
- the assessor judges the skills, techniques and tactics shown and the quality of the performance against WJEC's bands,
- you may be assessed as a player or performer or, where the specification allows, as a coach.
Analysis and evaluation of personal performance
This strand connects the practical to the theory. You:
- identify specific strengths and a specific weakness (a named skill or fitness component, not a vague one),
- analyse the weakness using theory from the taught units (biomechanics for technique, skill acquisition for learning, exercise physiology for fitness),
- justify a corrective programme: suitable practice and guidance, appropriate training methods and the principles of training, with SMART goals and a realistic timescale,
- explain how progress is measured (fitness tests, video analysis, performance data).
How it is marked and moderated
How to prepare
- Choose your strongest approved activity, since you are assessed in just one.
- Perform in competitive or formal conditions regularly, so your assessed performance shows consistency under pressure.
- Keep video evidence, which supports both your mark and moderation.
- For the analysis, pick one specific weakness and build a theory-based, measurable plan, using the vocabulary and models from the taught units.
Examples in context
Example 1. A justified training programme. A performer who identifies weak muscular endurance, explains it through the relevant energy system, and designs a circuit-training block with SMART goals and a re-test shows the analysis-and-evaluation strand done well, theory applied to a specific, measurable weakness.
Example 2. Assessment in a full game. A player marked during competitive matches rather than in drills illustrates the requirement to perform in formal, competitive conditions, where consistency and decision-making under pressure are judged.
Try this
Q1. In how many activities are you assessed for the practical component? [1 mark]
- Cue. One activity from the WJEC approved list, as a player or performer (or coach where allowed).
Q2. Name the two strands of the non-exam assessment. [2 marks]
- Cue. Practical performance, and the analysis and evaluation of personal performance.
Q3. Give two things that make an improvement plan strong in the analysis task. [2 marks]
- Cue. Any two of: a specific named weakness, theory used to explain it, appropriate practice or training methods, SMART goals and a timescale, and a way to measure progress.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC NEA12 marksAnalyse a named weakness in your own performance and justify a plan to improve it. (Analysis and evaluation of performance task)Show worked answer →
This is the written analysis-and-evaluation strand of the non-exam assessment, not the practical exam, so it is marked against the assessment criteria rather than a single answer.
A strong response identifies a specific weakness (a named skill or fitness component, for example a weak backhand or poor muscular endurance), not a vague one. It then analyses the weakness using theory from the taught units (biomechanics, skill acquisition, exercise physiology), explaining why it limits performance.
It justifies a corrective programme: appropriate practice types and guidance (skill acquisition), suitable training methods and the principles of training (exercise physiology), set over a realistic timescale with SMART goals, and explains how progress would be measured (fitness tests, video analysis).
Markers reward a specific weakness, correct theory used to explain it, and a justified, measurable improvement plan, with technical PE vocabulary throughout.
WJEC NEA8 marksExplain how a performer is assessed as a player or performer in the practical component, and how the marks are reached.Show worked answer →
In the practical component the candidate is assessed performing one activity from the approved list, as a player or performer (or as a coach where allowed), in fully competitive or formal conditions, not just isolated drills.
Assessment looks at the skills, techniques and tactics shown, and the quality, consistency and effectiveness of the performance under pressure. The performance is marked against WJEC's assessment criteria or bands.
The marks are set by the centre and then standardised internally and externally moderated by WJEC (often using video evidence) to make sure standards are the same across centres.
Markers reward the points that one activity is assessed in competitive conditions, against set criteria, with internal standardisation and external moderation.
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