Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (1PE0) Past Papers, Mark Schemes & Examiner Tips
Prepare confidently for Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (1PE0) with past papers, official mark schemes and practical examiner tips. Find exam materials for Component 1: Fitness and Body Systems and Component 2: Health and Performance, organised by exam series for quick and easy revision.
Practise multiple-choice, short-answer, extended-response and calculation questions, then use the mark schemes to understand exactly what examiners reward. Jump to the examiner tips or read the frequently asked questions for further Edexcel GCSE Physical Education revision guidance.
2025 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (1PE0) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2025 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education | Question Paper | Mark Scheme |
Paper 1 (1PE0/01) – Fitness and Body Systems | ||
Paper 2 (1PE0/02) – Health and Performance |
2024 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (1PE0) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2024 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education | Question Paper | Mark Scheme |
Paper 1 (1PE0/01) – Fitness and Body Systems | ||
Paper 2 (1PE0/02) – Health and Performance |
2023 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (1PE0) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2023 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education | Question Paper | Mark Scheme |
Paper 1 (1PE0/01) – Fitness and Body Systems | ||
Paper 2 (1PE0/02) – Health and Performance |
2022 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (1PE0) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2022 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education | Question Paper | Mark Scheme |
Paper 1 (1PE0/01) – Fitness and Body Systems | ||
Paper 2 (1PE0/02) – Health and Performance |
2021 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (1PE0) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2021 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education | Question Paper | Mark Scheme |
Paper 1 (1PE0/01) – Fitness and Body Systems | ||
Paper 2 (1PE0/02) – Health and Performance |
2020 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (1PE0) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2020 Edexcel GCSE Physical Education | Question Paper | Mark Scheme |
Paper 1 (1PE0/01) – Fitness and Body Systems | ||
Paper 2 (1PE0/02) – Health and Performance |
Six Examiner Tips for Edexcel GCSE Physical Education Students
1. Develop every explanation fully
Do not write two separate facts when a question asks you to explain something. Build one connected chain of reasoning that shows the cause, the physiological or psychological effect, and the impact on performance.
For example: “Smoking can reduce lung capacity, which decreases the amount of oxygen reaching the working muscles. As a result, the performer will fatigue sooner and may be unable to maintain their pace during a long-distance event.”
Use linking phrases such as “because”, “this means that”, “therefore” and “as a result”.
2. Give precise sporting examples
When a question asks for a sporting example, name the exact movement or moment in which the concept is demonstrated. Writing only “high jump” or “football” is usually too general.
A stronger answer would be “extension at the knee during take-off in the high jump” or “agility when dribbling around a defender in football”.
If the question asks for a warm-up activity, provide a specific activity, such as a light jog, rather than explaining the general benefits of warming up.
3. Use accurate PE terminology
Learn and use the exact terminology from the Edexcel GCSE PE specification. Informal or incorrect language can make an otherwise correct answer unclear.
Remember that muscles contract and relax; they do not flex and extend. Do not confuse guidance with feedback, or mechanical advantage with mechanical disadvantage. Use terms such as “socio-economic factors” instead of vague alternatives such as “money”.
Check the concept named in the question before answering so that you do not discuss feedback when the question asks about guidance.
4. Do not repeat information from the question
Read the entire question carefully and underline words such as “other”, “another” and “different”. If the question already gives an example, repeating it will not earn an additional mark.
For example, if disability and ethnicity are provided in the question, you must identify different personal factors. If obesity is given as a health risk, select another relevant health risk instead.
Before writing, check that every point in your answer is new, distinct and directly relevant.
5. Base your PEP aim on performance evidence
Do not decide the aim of your Personal Exercise Programme before collecting and analysing your baseline data. Begin with relevant fitness tests and a detailed analysis of your sporting performance, using evidence such as match statistics, video analysis or observation records.
Your final aim should connect a component of fitness to an improvement in sporting performance. For example: “Improve acceleration over 35 metres so that I can recover defensively and track opposing attackers more effectively as a football fullback.”
Only complete fitness tests that are relevant to your activity and intended area of improvement.
6. Evaluate your PEP using specific data
A strong PEP evaluation must do more than describe what happened. Use results from fitness tests, training records and performance data to judge how effective the programme was.
Compare your results before and after the programme, explain whether you achieved your SMART target, and evaluate the effectiveness of your training method and intensity. Any recommendation must explain exactly what you would change and why.
For example: “I would gradually increase the training load from 70% to 75% of my one-repetition maximum to apply progressive overload and continue improving muscular strength.”
Edexcel GCSE Physical Education 2027 FAQs
1. What is the Edexcel GCSE Physical Education exam structure for 2027?
Edexcel GCSE Physical Education (1PE0) has four components:
Component 1: Fitness and Body Systems – 36%
Component 2: Health and Performance – 24%
Component 3: Practical Performance – 30%
Component 4: Personal Exercise Programme (PEP) – 10%
The two written examinations make up 60% of the final qualification, while the two non-examined assessment components make up the remaining 40%.
2. What is assessed in Edexcel GCSE PE Component 1?
Component 1 is called Fitness and Body Systems. The 2027 examination lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes, is worth 80 marks and contributes 36% of the final GCSE PE grade.
Students must revise:
Applied anatomy and physiology
Movement analysis
Physical training
Use of data
The paper contains multiple-choice, short-answer, long-answer and extended-writing questions. Students must answer every question.
3. What is assessed in Edexcel GCSE PE Component 2?
Component 2 is called Health and Performance. The examination lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes, is worth 60 marks and contributes 24% of the final grade.
The main topics are:
Health, fitness and wellbeing
Sport psychology
Socio-cultural influences
Use of data
The paper includes multiple-choice, short-answer, long-answer and extended-response questions. All questions are compulsory.
4. How many sports are assessed in Edexcel GCSE PE practical performance?
Students are assessed in three separate physical activities for Component 3. One must be a team activity, one must be an individual activity, and the third can be either a team or an individual activity from the approved activity list.
Each activity is worth 35 marks, giving a total of 105 marks. Students are assessed on their skills, techniques, decision-making, tactics and overall performance in competitive or formal situations.
5. What is the Personal Exercise Programme in Edexcel GCSE PE?
The Personal Exercise Programme, usually called the PEP, is Component 4 and contributes 10% of the qualification. Students plan, complete, monitor and evaluate a training programme connected to a chosen physical activity.
The programme normally covers six to eight weeks. Students should use fitness data, SMART targets, suitable training methods and principles of training. The final evaluation must analyse the programme’s effectiveness and recommend improvements.
Importantly, students are assessed on the quality of their analysis and evaluation, not simply on whether their fitness or sporting performance improved.
6. Can students use a calculator in the Edexcel GCSE PE exams?
Yes. Calculators may be used in both Edexcel GCSE PE written examinations. Students should be prepared to interpret graphs, calculate percentages, use quantitative data and compare performance results.
Always show important working because it can help the examiner understand the method used, even if the final calculation is incorrect.
7. Are Edexcel GCSE PE past papers useful for the 2027 exams?
Yes. Edexcel GCSE PE past papers are one of the most useful revision resources because they show how topics are turned into multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions.
8. What grade is needed to pass Edexcel GCSE PE in 2027?
A grade 4 is generally recognised as a standard GCSE pass, while a grade 5 is described as a strong pass. However, there is no fixed raw mark that guarantees a particular Edexcel GCSE PE grade.
Pearson sets grade boundaries after the examinations have been marked, and these boundaries can change each year depending on the difficulty of the papers and overall student performance. Students should therefore aim for the highest possible marks across both written papers, practical performance and the PEP rather than relying on a predicted grade boundary.
