Physical Education is much more than training and technique — it’s the science of movement, performance, and health. GCSE PE gives you a strong foundation in anatomy, fitness, and skill development. But IB Sports, Exercise & Health Science (SEHS) takes those ideas deeper, combining biology, psychology, and data analysis to understand how the human body performs at its peak.
If you’re moving from GCSE PE to IB SEHS, you’re already ahead. The next step is learning to think like a sports scientist — to analyse, evaluate, and apply theory to real athletic situations.
Here’s how to revise GCSE PE to build the knowledge and mindset that will make your IB transition seamless.
Quick Start Revision Checklist
- Review anatomy, physiology, and the musculoskeletal system.
- Understand principles of training and exercise adaptation.
- Learn key fitness testing methods and data interpretation.
- Revise sport psychology and motivation theories.
- Practise applying theory to real-world performance.
- Reflect on health, ethics, and human performance holistically.
Step 1: Strengthen Your Knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology
IB SEHS begins with the science of movement, which directly builds on your GCSE understanding.
When revising, focus on these key systems:
- Skeletal system: bone types, joints, and movement (flexion, extension, rotation).
- Muscular system: agonist/antagonist pairs, types of muscle contraction (isometric, isotonic).
- Cardiovascular system: heart structure, stroke volume, cardiac output, oxygen transport.
- Respiratory system: gas exchange, VO₂ max, and breathing control.
To revise effectively, draw diagrams, label parts, and explain how systems interact.
For example:
“During aerobic exercise, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems work together to increase oxygen delivery and remove CO₂ — allowing sustained muscular contraction.”
IB expects this kind of integrated physiological understanding.
Step 2: Revise the Principles of Training
Both GCSE PE and IB SEHS explore how athletes improve performance through structured training. Review the FITT principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type) and SPORT (Specificity, Progression, Overload, Reversibility, Tedium).
Then, deepen your understanding:
- How do these principles cause physiological adaptations?
- How do different energy systems respond to varying training intensities?
- How do training programs differ across sports (aerobic vs. anaerobic)?
IB builds on these concepts with data collection — analysing heart rate, recovery time, and oxygen uptake during training. Start getting comfortable reading and interpreting physiological data now.
Step 3: Understand the Energy Systems
The body’s energy systems are the foundation of IB sports science.
Revise the three major ones:
- ATP-PC system (phosphagen): high-intensity, short duration (sprinting).
- Lactic acid system (anaerobic glycolysis): mid-duration, produces lactate.
- Aerobic system: long-duration, oxygen-dependent (endurance sports).
Practise explaining when each system dominates and how training can improve efficiency.
Example:
“In a 400m race, the anaerobic glycolytic system dominates, but aerobic metabolism supports recovery between efforts.”
IB will expect you to connect these biochemical processes to performance outcomes.
Step 4: Analyse Movement — Biomechanics Basics
IB SEHS introduces biomechanics, expanding your GCSE movement knowledge into scientific measurement.
Start revising:
- Levers and planes of movement.
- Forces, motion, and centre of gravity.
- Newton’s Laws of Motion in sport contexts.
Example:
“In a basketball jump shot, Newton’s Third Law explains how force applied to the ground propels the body upward.”
For IB, you’ll later apply this understanding using video analysis or force measurement — so practice explaining motion scientifically now.
Step 5: Explore Sport Psychology and Motivation
Understanding the mind in performance bridges GCSE PE and IB SEHS perfectly.
Revisit core GCSE psychology topics:
- Motivation: intrinsic vs. extrinsic.
- Arousal: optimal performance (Inverted-U theory).
- Goal setting: SMART targets.
- Personality and team dynamics.
IB adds deeper analysis of cognitive and sociocultural influences. Start asking:
- How do mental strategies improve performance consistency?
- How does anxiety affect focus and motor control?
- How do group cohesion and leadership styles influence results?
The more you can connect psychology to physiology, the more IB-ready you’ll be.
Step 6: Apply Learning to Real Performance Scenarios
In IB SEHS, you’ll constantly apply theory to case studies or real athletes.
Start now by practising applied analysis:
- How does fatigue impact performance in endurance events?
- Why do sprinters taper training before competition?
- How does altitude training influence oxygen capacity?
Use GCSE examples and expand them with reasoning — this trains the analytical habits IB expects in both coursework and exams.
Step 7: Practise Fitness Testing and Data Interpretation
Both GCSE and IB include fitness testing, but IB requires evaluation and reliability analysis.
Revise tests for key components:
- Strength: handgrip dynamometer.
- Endurance: multi-stage fitness (bleep) test.
- Speed: 30m sprint.
- Flexibility: sit-and-reach.
- Power: vertical jump test.
Then go further:
- How valid and reliable are these tests?
- What factors affect accuracy (equipment, motivation, environment)?
- How can results inform training programmes?
Being able to interpret and critique data prepares you for the IB Internal Assessment, where you’ll collect and analyse your own physiological data.
Step 8: Understand Health, Fitness, and Wellbeing in Context
GCSE PE covers physical, mental, and social health; IB explores these connections scientifically and ethically.
When revising:
- Revisit definitions of fitness, health, and wellbeing.
- Understand the risks of overtraining and poor recovery.
- Explore nutrition, hydration, and energy balance.
- Reflect on exercise as a tool for mental health and community development.
IB’s global perspective also looks at how culture, accessibility, and policy influence participation — linking health to social systems.
Step 9: Learn to Evaluate and Reflect Like a Researcher
GCSE PE includes performance evaluation; IB takes it further through experimental design.
Start developing a research mindset:
- How would you test a hypothesis (e.g., “dynamic warm-ups improve sprint performance”)?
- What variables would you control?
- How would you measure results?
This kind of structured thinking mirrors the IB Internal Assessment (IA), where you’ll design, conduct, and evaluate your own investigation into a sports science question.
Step 10: Reflect Like an IB Learner
IB SEHS emphasises reflection — both as an athlete and as a scientist.
After each revision session, ask:
- What concept did I understand better today?
- How does it apply to real-world performance?
- How could I measure or test this idea scientifically?
Reflection turns memorisation into mastery. It also helps you connect knowledge across biology, psychology, and ethics — a hallmark of the IB Diploma mindset.
Expert Tips for PE Students
- Use diagrams. Visualise anatomy and physiological processes clearly.
- Link systems. Always connect body systems to performance outcomes.
- Practise past data questions. IB values accuracy and interpretation.
- Reflect regularly. Think like a coach and a scientist.
- Stay active. Applying theory through your own performance deepens understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I revise PE effectively?
Use active recall — test yourself on body systems and training principles, and apply them to real sporting examples.
2. How does GCSE PE prepare for IB SEHS?
It builds the foundation of anatomy, physiology, and psychology that IB develops into scientific inquiry and evaluation.
3. What’s the hardest part about IB SEHS?
Learning to apply biological and statistical analysis to performance — but starting now with structured reasoning makes it manageable.
4. How can I prepare for the IB Internal Assessment?
Practise designing mini experiments — measuring heart rate, reaction time, or recovery — and reflect on methods and limitations.
5. What careers can this lead to?
Sports science, physiotherapy, nutrition, biomechanics, coaching, and sports medicine all start from these same core principles.
Conclusion: Train Your Mind Like an Athlete
GCSE PE teaches you how the body performs; IB SEHS teaches you why. When you analyse movement scientifically, question performance factors, and reflect critically on data, you’re already working like a sports scientist.
Success in IB Sports Science isn’t about knowing every muscle — it’s about curiosity, precision, and understanding how science and sport connect. That’s the mindset of a true IB learner.
Call to Action
If you’re finishing GCSE PE and preparing for IB Sports, Exercise & Health Science, RevisionDojo can help you build your physiology, data analysis, and reflection skills. Learn to think like a sports scientist — analytical, curious, and ready to perform at your best.
