How to Achieve an A* in A-Level PE

A-Level Physical Education (PE) combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Achieving an A* requires a strong grasp of both the scientific principles behind human performance and the ability to analyse and apply this knowledge in real-world contexts. Whether you’re focusing on anatomy, physiology, psychology, or socio-cultural influences, mastering the content and refining your exam technique are key to excelling in the subject.

This guide will help you navigate the key topics in A-Level PE, provide tips on improving practical performance, and offer advice on how to approach exams to secure that A* grade.

Understand the Specification and Assessment Objectives

Before diving into your revision, make sure you understand the exam board’s specification (e.g., AQA, OCR, Edexcel). Knowing exactly what is expected of you will help you focus your revision efforts effectively.

Key Assessment Objectives (e.g., AQA):

• AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and principles in physical education (e.g., anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, psychology).
• AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding to real-life sporting situations, analyse performance, and evaluate physical activities.
• AO3: Critically analyse and evaluate the factors affecting performance in physical activity and sport.

The exams are divided into both theoretical and practical assessments. Your performance in theory tests will account for a significant part of your grade, but practical and coursework elements are also important.

Master the Core Content: Anatomy and Physiology

One of the largest sections of A-Level PE is anatomy and physiology, and a thorough understanding of how the body works during physical activity is essential.

Key Topics to Focus On:

• The skeletal system: Understand bone structure, types of bones, and the role of the skeleton in movement.
• The muscular system: Focus on the different types of muscles (skeletal, cardiac, smooth), muscle fibre types (Type I, Type IIa, Type IIb), and how they contribute to movement.
• The cardiovascular system: Learn how the heart, blood vessels, and blood transport oxygen and nutrients around the body, and the changes that occur during exercise.
• The respiratory system: Understand how the lungs and airways work, and how the body adapts during exercise to meet the oxygen demand.
• Energy systems: ATP-PC system, anaerobic glycolysis, and aerobic respiration. Understand how the body generates energy during different types of exercise (e.g., short bursts vs prolonged endurance).
• Nervous and endocrine systems: How the nervous system controls movement and how hormones regulate bodily functions, especially during physical activity.

Revision Tips:

• Create diagrams: Draw and label the key body systems, like the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
• Use flashcards: Write down key terms and their functions (e.g., types of muscle fibres, energy systems).
• Relate theory to practical examples: For example, understand how the cardiovascular system adapts to long-distance running or how anaerobic energy systems work during sprinting.

Develop Your Knowledge of Biomechanics

Biomechanics is about understanding how the body moves during physical activity, and it plays an important role in improving performance and preventing injury.

Key Topics to Focus On:

• Levers and mechanical advantage: Understand the different classes of levers (first, second, and third class), their role in movement, and how they relate to sporting actions.
• The laws of motion: Newton’s three laws of motion and how they apply to physical activity (e.g., force, acceleration, and action-reaction).
• Projectile motion: How objects move through the air, and the factors that affect this (e.g., angle, velocity, and gravity).
• Linear and angular motion: Understanding how movements are measured in terms of distance and displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration.

Revision Tips:

• Practice calculations: Be comfortable with applying formulas related to motion and forces. For example, calculating velocity, momentum, and force.
• Watch videos of sporting actions: Analyse movements such as a javelin throw, a tennis serve, or a football free kick to understand biomechanics in real-world situations.
• Apply theory to practical situations: Understand how athletes use biomechanics to optimise performance, such as using correct body positioning during a sprint.

Master Sport Psychology

Psychological factors play a huge role in performance, and a good understanding of how athletes think, feel, and perform under pressure will help you achieve an A*.

Key Topics to Focus On:

• Motivation: Different types of motivation (intrinsic vs. extrinsic), and strategies to enhance motivation in athletes.
• Arousal and anxiety: The relationship between arousal levels and performance, and how to manage anxiety in athletes (e.g., using relaxation techniques, the inverted-U hypothesis).
• Personality and attitudes: Understanding how personality traits influence performance, including the role of the athlete's mindset and approach to training.
• Group dynamics: How teams function and the role of leadership, communication, and cohesion in team sports.
• Mental preparation: Techniques like imagery, goal setting, and self-talk to enhance performance.

Revision Tips:

• Use case studies: Apply psychological theories to real-life sporting examples. For instance, how a tennis player might use relaxation techniques to manage stress before a match.
• Know the key psychologists: For example, understand the work of Bandura (self-efficacy), Martens (sport competition anxiety), and Vealey (mental skills training).
• Create revision notes: Summarise each psychological concept in a simple bullet-point format to make it easier to memorise.

Study Socio-Cultural Influences

This area examines how social, cultural, and ethical factors affect participation in physical activity and sport.

Key Topics to Focus On:

• Social factors: Gender, age, ethnicity, disability, and social class. How these impact access to and participation in physical activity.
• Cultural factors: The role of culture in shaping attitudes towards sport (e.g., gender roles, religion, and tradition).
• Commercialisation of sport: The influence of media, sponsorship, and the role of commercial organisations in shaping modern sport.
• Ethical issues in sport: Doping, cheating, and the role of fair play. The importance of sportsmanship and ethics in maintaining the integrity of sport.
• Physical activity and health: The benefits of regular physical activity for health, and the challenges of increasing participation across various demographics.

Revision Tips:

• Use real-world examples: Relate theories to current issues in sport, such as gender inequality in sport, racism, and commercialisation (e.g., the impact of social media on athletes).
• Read around the topic: Keep up to date with news in sport and social issues, as these can be linked to exam questions.
• Use statistics: For example, be familiar with data on participation rates in sport and how these can be influenced by social and cultural factors.

Practical Performance and Evaluation (AO2 & AO3)

While the theory components are crucial, your practical performance and ability to evaluate and improve performance are also key parts of A-Level PE.

Key Tips:

• Be an active participant: Regularly practice your chosen sports and demonstrate your practical skills during lessons and assessments.
• Understand the factors affecting performance: These include technique, tactics, psychological factors, and the physical demands of the activity.
• Be prepared to analyse and evaluate: During practical assessments, you’ll need to analyse your own or others' performance and suggest ways to improve. Be clear, specific, and evidence-based in your analysis.

Exam Technique

To achieve an A*, you need to develop excellent exam technique. This means answering questions fully, clearly, and with critical analysis.

Key Exam Tips:

• Answer the question directly: Avoid waffle or irrelevant information. Focus on what the question is asking.
• Structure your essays clearly: Start with an introduction, followed by the main body of your argument (making sure to link back to the question), and finish with a concise conclusion.
• Use relevant examples: Wherever possible, support your points with real-life examples from sport (e.g., using a football player’s training routine to illustrate an energy system).
• Evaluate and analyse: For higher marks, always evaluate different perspectives, theories, or methods, and show critical thinking.

Time Management and Revision Schedule

Given the wide range of topics in A-Level PE, effective time management is crucial to ensure you cover all the content.

Revision Tips:

• Practice using Past Exam Papers: All available PE past papers can be found on Revision World.  
• Create a timetable: Allocate time to each topic based on its importance and your strengths/weaknesses. 
• Prioritise weaker areas: Spend more time on topics you find challenging but ensure you regularly review areas you are confident in.
• Spaced repetition: Regularly revisit topics to improve long-term retention of knowledge.

Final Words of Advice from A* Students

• “Focus on understanding concepts in depth, not just memorising them. Link theory to practical examples to reinforce your learning.”
• “Use past papers to get used to the exam format and timing. Practice writing concise, well-structured essays.”
• “Keep your practical skills sharp by staying active in your chosen sports and applying the theory to real performance.”