OCR GCSE Physical Education guide FAQ (J587)
Guide overview All 6 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
OCR GCSE Physical Education: questions and answers
Specification J587. Two sets, because students and parents ask different things.
For students
Is my practical assessment covered?
No. Your practical performance in three activities and the analysis and evaluation of performance are marked in school and moderated. They are 40 per cent of the GCSE and they are not examined content.
The guide covers the two written papers in full.
Which topics are on which paper?
J587/01 is Applied Anatomy and Physiology, Movement Analysis and Physical Training. J587/02 is Socio-cultural Influences, Sports Psychology, and Health, Fitness and Well-being. The breakdown is here.
Do I have to name the bones and muscles?
Yes. Applied anatomy is examined on specific names: the bones of the skeleton, the major muscle groups, the types of joint and the movements they allow, and the antagonistic pairs. It is the largest topic in the guide for that reason.
Are the fitness tests examined?
Yes, by name and by protocol. Which test measures which component of fitness, how it is carried out and what the result means.
How long does one session take?
About twenty minutes for one subtopic, all three steps. Topics run from 32 to 130 questions.
Can I do it in my head instead of writing?
Write. PE marks turn on precise anatomical and physiological terms. The method page sets out the evidence.
Do I still need past papers?
Yes. This guide handles recall. Past papers train the applied and extended answers within the hour. OCR publishes them free.
For parents
What is this, in plain terms?
A PDF of 496 exam-style questions covering the written content of OCR GCSE Physical Education, with the answers printed after each topic.
My child assumed PE would be mostly practical.
The practical performance and the analysis task are 40 per cent and are assessed in school. The two written papers are 60 per cent and they examine anatomy, physiology, training, psychology and sociology in detail.
How do I check it is the right course?
The specification code is on the exam timetable. OCR GCSE Physical Education is J587.
How do I know if it is being used properly?
There should be handwritten answers on paper and three passes over the same questions, and two scores per session to compare.
How much is it compared with a textbook?
£7.00 for the whole specification. A GCSE PE revision guide is usually £6 to £10.
How much time does it take?
32 subtopics at roughly twenty minutes each is about 11 hours for a full first pass of the written content.
What else does my child need?
Past papers, free from OCR, and their own notes for anything not yet taught.
OCR GCSE Physical Education Active Recall Guide
496 questions with their answers, 32 subtopics, one file.