Guidance

Physical education: grade descriptors for GCSEs graded 9 to 1

Updated 6 September 2017

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2017

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grade-descriptors-for-gcses-graded-9-to-1/grade-descriptors-for-gcses-graded-9-to-1-physical-education

1. Grade 8

1.1 To achieve grade 8 candidates will be able to:

  • demonstrate and apply relevant and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of factors affecting performance and involvement in physical activity and sport using accurate specialist terminology
  • critically analyse and evaluate a wide range of information about performance to draw well-evidenced conclusions
  • safely and effectively apply a wide range of appropriate techniques, strategies and/or compositional ideas demonstrating a consistently skilled and controlled performance

2. Grade 5

2.1 To achieve grade 5 candidates will be able to:

  • demonstrate mostly accurate and appropriate knowledge and understanding of a range of factors affecting performance and involvement in physical activity and sport using mostly accurate specialist terminology
  • analyse and evaluate a range of information about performance to draw reasoned conclusions supported by evidence
  • safely apply a range of appropriate techniques, strategies and/or compositional ideas demonstrating a capable and controlled performance

3. Grade 2

3.1 To achieve grade 2 candidates will be able to:

  • demonstrate some relevant knowledge and understanding of some factors affecting performance and involvement in physical activity and sport using everyday language
  • interpret a range of information about performance to draw simple conclusions
  • safely apply basic techniques, strategies and/or compositional ideas demonstrating some control in their performance
Back to top