Physical Education Board: Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education comprises two sections: 1 Practical: Perform in four practical activities - 50% Analyse & improve a practical performance (written coursework) – 10% 2
Theory: Written Paper – 1 hour 45 minutes - 40%
Practical
Performance activities cover a wide range of sports. Sports that you learn in PE lessons and that you take part in outside school can be used as part of your assessment e.g. skiing, horse riding, hockey, dance, sailing, Karate etc. Candidates must select FOUR sports from a selection of seven activity groups. These activity groups are: • • • • • • •
Games activities; Gymnastics activities; Dance activities; Athletic activities; Outdoor & adventurous activities; Swimming activities; Combat activities.
Pupils will need a good knowledge of the rules, techniques and tactics used in a particular sporting area of their choice so they can analyse and improve their own performance by identifying personal strengths and areas for development that can be incorporated into a Personal Exercise Programme. The purpose of the GCSE course is to improve pupils’ knowledge of a variety of sports and develop analytical, evaluative and planning skills so that they can improve practical performances.
Theory
The theory content is a brilliant introduction to the academic aspect of PE and the wider world of sport. All elite sportswomen have access to Sports Nutritionists, Sports Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Exercise Physiologists, Dieticians, Life-style managers, Event Managers and Sports Agents – this course covers many of these areas. GCSE PE will also give you a sound grounding in the physiology of the body; muscles, tendons, bones, joints, the circulatory & respiratory systems are topics that will be studied. Finally, GCSE PE will give you a platform to discuss drugs in sport, diet for sport, injuries and what motivates us to opt in or out of physical activity. These are interesting topics for ‘Extended Projects’ in the Sixth Form. The theory also links very closely with biology and girls will find that the two subjects support each other well.
What can GCSE PE help lead you into?
A level PE leading onto, Physiotherapy, Sports Marketing and Journalism, Sports Psychologist, Sports Engineering and product design, lecturing, working for large organisations such as the English Institute of Sport or the International Olympic Committee. Or, you could just enjoy the course! If you enjoy PE then this is a GCSE course for you with coursework that combines theoretical and practical activities.
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