OCR GCSE PE (J587/2016) Past Papers 2026

Physical Factors Affecting Performance

Duration: 1h

Socio-Cultural Issues and Sports Psychology

Duration: 1h

Performance in Physical Education (NEA — Practical)

Duration: Non-exam assessment — completed during the course

Analysis and Evaluation of Performance for Improvement (AEP — Coursework)

Duration: Non-exam assessment — completed during the course

Benefits of cooling down — distinguishing what cooling down speeds up versus what happens naturally

Examiners noted in both 2023 and 2024 that responses described changes that happen after exercise anyway. The benefit of cooling down must help or speed up a process. 'Lactic acid will be removed without a cool down, but the process will take longer.'

J587/01

Principles of training — explaining specificity and progression beyond repeating the label

Many responses repeated the words 'specific' and 'progressive' without developing an answer. The description of specificity is not accurate enough when it uses the word 'specific' without replacing it with a synonym such as 'relevant' or 'meets the demands'. Some candidates confused training principles with SMART goal-setting.

J587/01

Short-term effects of exercise — correctly attributing effects to the correct body system (cardiovascular vs respiratory vs muscular)

Less successful responses to cardiovascular effects included respiratory system responses, and vice versa. Lactic acid needed to be linked to blood (cardiovascular) rather than muscles to credit a cardiovascular effect. Responses for respiratory effects included cardiovascular responses.

J587/01

Articulating bones — fibula misconception at the knee joint

There is a common misconception that the fibula forms part of the knee joint. The specification content gives the names of the articulating bones for the elbow, knee, shoulder, and hip joints — candidates must memorise these correctly.

J587/01

Warm up — 'prevents injury' versus 'reduces the risk of injury'

Candidates stated that a warm up prevents injury. A warm up cannot prevent injury — it can only reduce the risk of injury. Candidates are reminded that warm ups can only reduce the risk of injury, not eliminate it. Additionally, warming up does not 'get blood flowing' — it increases the volume of oxygenated blood travelling to working muscles.

J587/01

Skill continuum — justifying why a skill is classified as complex

Candidates found the justification challenging and were unable to apply knowledge of what constitutes a complex skill. Many referred to a skill as 'requiring lots of practice' rather than correctly referencing many decisions, sub-routines, or lots of information processing.

J587/02

Socio-cultural definitions — health, fitness and well-being terminology

Definitions of key terms (Q10 and Q16 in J587/02 June 2023) were not answered well. Candidates were unclear on the terminology needed to gain marks. Examiners advised centres to support candidates in learning glossary definitions to underpin the basic knowledge required by the examination.

J587/02

Posture and physical activity — strengthening muscles versus strengthening bones

Many candidates related exercise to increasing bone strength to improve posture. Improvements in posture are achieved by strengthening the core or postural muscles and mobilising the spine — not by strengthening bones. Responses about bone strength for posture did not gain credit.

J587/02