How is GCSE PE graded and what is the theory to practical split?
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For AQA and Edexcel GCSE PE, the written theory papers are worth 60% of your grade, practical performance is 30%, and the personal exercise programme coursework is 10%. Many students underestimate the theory weighting and over-rely on being good at sport. Two hours of theory revision is worth more than another football training session when exams approach. Check your exam board because weightings and paper structures differ slightly between AQA, Edexcel and OCR.
How do I memorise the muscles and bones for GCSE PE?
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Use labelled diagrams and test yourself with the labels removed. Print a blank skeleton and muscular system, fill them in daily for a week, then every few days. Group muscles by the joint they move (for example, all the muscles at the shoulder together). Link each muscle to a specific sporting action — the bicep flexes the elbow during a bicep curl or a basketball shot. Applied examples are how examiners test real understanding.
What are the training methods I need to know for GCSE PE?
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Continuous, fartlek, interval, circuit, weight, plyometric and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). For each, know the definition, how it is structured, which fitness component it develops, and one sport that would use it. A marathon runner uses continuous training for cardiovascular endurance; a sprinter uses plyometrics for explosive power. Also learn the principles of training — SPORT (Specificity, Progression, Overload, Reversibility, Tedium) and FITT (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type).