Physical Education / Sports Studies

Assessment

The Sports Science A Level is examined at the end of the Upper Sixth. The theory examinations form 70% of the overall grade and the NEA (non-examined assessment) marks the additional 30%. The practical element (NEA) involves assessment in one sport/activity (15%) and a written piece of coursework (15%). Modules taught include physiology, skill acquisition, sports psychology and the role of technology in sport. Pupils are assessed on their ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations to optimise performance. This includes answering multiple-choice, shorter questions and writing extended essays to draw together the different modules. Practically, pupils are examined on their performance as well as their capabilities to analyse and evaluate their own and others’ performances. Pupils are assessed in just one sport. As it is modular-based, Sports Science interests pupils with numerous perspectives: physiological (sports technology, energy systems or Newton’s laws and their application to sporting performance), psychological (arousal and attitudes, aggression and its relationship within sport or attribution theories and their effect on performance) or sociological (factors affecting the nature and development of elite performance or sport and ethnicity and functions and policies of sport organisations).