GCSE Physical Education and Health
The Unit 1 examination asks for short and extended written answers using precise physiological vocabulary, and the coaching and analysis parts of Unit 2 depend on clear spoken explanation. Numeracy runs through the course: heart rates and training zones, energy balance, fitness test measurements, comparison with normative data and tracking progress over 8 to 10 weeks. The biggest thing Key Stage 3 can build is the habit of measuring, recording and graphing fitness data, then writing or saying what the numbers show.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Level 1 and Level 2
- First taught
- September 2026
- Amount of literacy work
- Medium
- Amount of numeracy work
- High
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this qualification is assessed
- Unit 1: Principles of Physical Education and Health: Digital examination 1 hour 30 minutes, 40%
- Unit 2: Performance and Personal Training: Practical non-examination assessment (Performance 1, Performance 2 or Coaching, and an 8 to 10 week Personal Training activity), 60%
Skills that use Representing data
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Recording and graphing progress over a training programme
Over 8 to 10 weeks, learners must monitor progress, implement change if required and evaluate the impact of their strategies, which needs regular records and clear graphs of results.
Numeracy: Representing data, Interpreting data
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils record their number of successful netball shots out of ten each week for a half term and draw a bar chart of the results.
- Year 8
- Pupils plot their weekly plank hold times on a line graph with a suitable scale and describe the trend in one sentence.
- Year 9
- Pupils set a SMART target, log one fitness measure weekly for six weeks, graph it and explain any dips or outliers.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 2, Section 2.2.3, page 21
“monitor progress and implement change if required”
Progression step 3
I can select and construct appropriate charts, diagrams and graphs with suitable scales.
I can represent data using:
- lists, tally charts, tables, diagrams and frequency tables
- bar charts, grouped data charts, line graphs and conversion graphs
- pictograms where one symbol represents more than one unit using a key
- Venn and Carroll diagrams.
Progression step 4
I can construct and interpret graphs and diagrams (including pie charts) to represent discrete or continuous data, choosing an appropriate scale.
I can explore trends and extreme values (outliers) for data sets.
Progression step 5
I can select and construct appropriate charts, diagrams and graphs with suitable scales.
I can interpret graphs that describe real-life situations, including those used in the media, recognising that some graphs may be misleading.
Good to know
- Unit 1 is taken on screen, so extended answers are typed, not handwritten: "Digital examination: 1 hour 30 minutes" (page 10).
- The specification states no marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar and does not say whether a calculator may be used in the Unit 1 examination; these details are left to the Assessment Pack: "The Assessment Pack will include all detailed information relating to assessment." (page 23).
- Analysis and evaluation carry real weight: AO3, "Analyse and evaluate performance in sports and physical activities, and the factors that affect them.", is 20% of the qualification (page 23).
- The personal training task is a long data project: "Plan, implement and evaluate a personal training activity (of self) over 8-10 weeks" (page 17).
- Each Unit 2 part is marked out of 40: "Each part will be marked out of a total of 40 marks." (page 24).
Links with other qualifications
Heart rate, fitness testing and graphing work overlaps with physiological measurements in Health and Social Care, and Childcare and with statistics in Mathematics and Numeracy, so a shared recording sheet across Years 7 to 9 would help all three.
Source: WJEC GCSE Physical Education and Health specification, Version 2, December 2025, teaching from 2026, for award from 2028.