OCR GCSE Physical Education exam papers and weighting (J587)
Guide overview All 6 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
What each OCR GCSE Physical Education paper assesses
OCR GCSE Physical Education (J587) has two written papers of one hour, each worth 30% of the GCSE, and two non-exam assessments worth the other 40%. J587/01, Physical factors affecting performance, covers applied anatomy and physiology, movement analysis and physical training. J587/02, Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology, covers socio-cultural influences, sports psychology, and health, fitness and well-being. This guide covers all six topics of the written papers; the practical performances and the analysis and evaluation of performance are assessed in school and are not here.
| Paper | Covers |
|---|---|
|
J587/01 Physical factors affecting performance |
APPLIED ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY MOVEMENT ANALYSIS PHYSICAL TRAINING |
|
J587/02 Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology |
SOCIO-CULTURAL INFLUENCES SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY HEALTH, FITNESS AND WELL-BEING |
Every topic, and where it is examined
| Topic | Examined on | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Anatomy and Physiology | J587/01 | 126 |
| Movement Analysis | J587/01 | 32 |
| Physical Training | J587/01 | 130 |
| Socio-Cultural Influences | J587/02 | 70 |
| Sports Psychology | J587/02 | 73 |
| Health, Fitness and Well-Being | J587/02 | 65 |
Assessment details from the OCR GCSE (9–1) Physical Education, specification J587, version 2.0, April 2026. OCR specification.
OCR GCSE Physical Education Active Recall Guide
496 questions across every paper on the specification.