OCRGCSE29 resources

OCR GCSE Physical Education Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free OCR GCSE Physical Education (J587) past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Physical Factors and Socio-cultural Issues papers. 30 resources.

📅June 2018 – June 2024📄29 resources available✅Free to download

Papers Overview Paper Structure Key Info Key Topics Command Words Grade Boundaries Revision Tips Try AI Tutor ✦

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29 of 29 resources

June 2023

7 files

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Physical Education (9-1) – Question paper – Physical factors affecting performance

Question Paper

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Physical Education (9-1) – Question paper – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Question Paper

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Physical Education (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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Physical Education (9-1) – Mark scheme – Physical factors affecting performance

Mark Scheme

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Physical Education (9-1) – Mark scheme – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Mark Scheme

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📊

Physical Education (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Physical factors affecting performance

Examiner Report

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Physical Education (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Examiner Report

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June 2022

7 files

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Physical Education (9-1) – Question paper – Physical factors affecting performance

Question Paper

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📄

Physical Education (9-1) – Question paper – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Question Paper

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📋

Physical Education (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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✅

Physical Education (9-1) – Mark scheme – Physical factors affecting performance

Mark Scheme

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✅

Physical Education (9-1) – Mark scheme – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Mark Scheme

Download

📊

Physical Education (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Physical factors affecting performance

Examiner Report

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📊

Physical Education (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Examiner Report

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November 2021

5 files

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Physical Education (9-1) – Question paper – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Question Paper

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📋

Physical Education (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

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📄

Physical Education (9-1) – Question paper – Physical factors affecting performance

Question Paper

Download

✅

Physical Education (9-1) – Mark scheme – Physical factors affecting performance

Mark Scheme

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✅

Physical Education (9-1) – Mark scheme – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Mark Scheme

Download

November 2020

7 files

📄

Physical Education (9-1) – Question paper – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Question Paper

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📄

Physical Education (9-1) – Question paper – Physical factors affecting performance

Question Paper

Download

✅

Physical Education (9-1) – Mark scheme – Physical factors affecting performance

Mark Scheme

Download

✅

Physical Education (9-1) – Mark scheme – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Mark Scheme

Download

📋

Physical Education (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

Download

📊

Physical Education (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Physical factors affecting performance

Examiner Report

Download

📊

Physical Education (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Examiner Report

Download

No date

3 files

📝

Physical Education (9-1) – Socio-cultural issues and sports psychology

Sample Assessment Materials

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📝

Physical Education (9-1) – Taster booklet

Sample Assessment Materials

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📝

Physical Education (9-1) – Physical factors affecting performance

Sample Assessment Materials

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OCR GCSE Physical Education: Assessment Components Explained

OCR GCSE Physical Education (specification code J587) combines theoretical study of sport and exercise science with practical performance assessment. The qualification has three components: two written examinations worth 60% of the total, and a practical performance component worth 40%. Component 01 — Physical Factors Affecting Performance — is a written examination lasting 1 hour, worth 30% of the total qualification. It covers applied anatomy and physiology (the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems), physical training (components of fitness, training methods, and the principles of training), and the use of data in sport. Questions include multiple-choice, short-answer, and extended-response formats, and may require interpretation of data such as heart-rate graphs or fitness-test results. Component 02 — Socio-cultural Issues and Sports Psychology — is also a 1-hour written examination worth 30%. It covers socio-cultural influences on sport (participation trends, commercialisation, ethics, and the Olympic movement), sports psychology (motivation, arousal, personality, aggression, and goal setting), and health, fitness, and well-being. This paper often includes scenario-based questions where students apply theory to sporting situations. Component 03 — Performance in Physical Education (40%) — is assessed through practical performance in three different sports (one team, one individual, and one from either category) plus a coursework element analysing and evaluating personal performance.

Exam Paper Structure

Component 01Calculator ✓

Physical Factors Affecting Performance

⏱ 1 hour🎯 60 marks📊 30% of grade

Applied anatomy and physiologyPhysical trainingData analysis in sport

Component 02Calculator ✓

Socio-cultural Issues and Sports Psychology

⏱ 1 hour🎯 60 marks📊 30% of grade

Socio-cultural influences on sportSports psychologyHealth, fitness and well-being

Key Information

Exam Board	OCR
Specification Code	J587
Qualification	GCSE
Grading Scale	9–1
Assessment Type	2 written exams + practical performance
Tiers	No tiers
Number Of Papers	2 (plus practical performance)
Exam Duration	1 hour per paper
Total Marks	200 (60 Paper 1 + 60 Paper 2 + 80 Practical)
Calculator Status	Calculator allowed
Available Sessions	June 2018 – June 2024
Total Resources	30

Key Topics in Physical Education (9-1)

Topics you need to know

Applied anatomy and physiologyPhysical training methods and principlesSocio-cultural influences on sportSports psychology and motivationHealth, fitness and well-beingData analysis and interpretation in sportEthics in sport and dopingCommercialisation and media in sport

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
State	Give a brief, factual answer
Describe	Set out the main features or characteristics
Explain	Give reasons or causes, showing links between theory and sporting practice
Evaluate	Make a judgement about effectiveness, supported by evidence
Analyse	Break down a topic and examine relationships between its parts
Using the data	Refer directly to the information provided to support your answer
Discuss	Consider different perspectives or arguments, reaching a balanced conclusion

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
Grade 9	77–87%
Grade 8	68–76%
Grade 7	59–67%
Grade 6	50–58%
Grade 5	41–49%
Grade 4	32–40%
Grade 3	24–31%
Grade 2	16–23%
Grade 1	8–15%

⚠️ Typical grade boundaries across all components (200 total marks). Actual boundaries vary by series — check OCR's website.

How to Tackle OCR GCSE PE Past Papers and Score Higher Marks

The two written papers cover distinct content, so plan your revision accordingly. Component 01 is heavily science-based: you need to know the names and locations of bones and muscles, how the cardiovascular system responds to exercise, and the physiological effects of training. Diagrams are your friend — practise labelling the heart, the respiratory system, and major muscle groups until you can do it from memory. Past papers frequently ask you to apply this knowledge: 'Explain how the body responds during a 100m sprint' requires you to link the cardiovascular, muscular, and respiratory systems together. Component 02 requires a different approach. Socio-cultural questions often present a scenario — a news article about doping, a graph showing participation trends — and ask you to analyse it. Practise reading these scenarios carefully and structuring your response around the key concepts: commercialisation, ethics, participation barriers, and media influence. For sports psychology, learn the theories (inverted U theory, social learning theory, intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation) and practise applying them to specific sporting examples. Data-interpretation questions appear on both papers. They might show a graph of resting heart rate over a training programme, a table of fitness-test results, or participation statistics. Always describe what the data shows first, then explain why using your theoretical knowledge. Show all working for calculation questions — marks are awarded for each correct step in your reasoning, regardless of whether the final figure is right.

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OCR GCSE Physical Education Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download Past Papers

June 2023

June 2022

November 2021

November 2020

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OCR GCSE Physical Education: Assessment Components Explained

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in Physical Education (9-1)

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

How to Tackle OCR GCSE PE Past Papers and Score Higher Marks

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Biology

Religious Studies (9-1)

Classical Greek (9-1)

Classical Civilisation (9-1)

Latin (9-1)

English Language (9-1)

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Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds) (9-1)

Geography A (Geographical Themes) (9-1)

English Literature (9-1)

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Citizenship Studies (9-1)

Ancient History (9-1)

Economics (9-1)

Business (9-1)

Business

Psychology (9-1)

Design and Technology (9-1)

Music (9-1)

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Computer Science (9-1)

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