GCSE Physical Education, Soft or Hard choice?
Moderators: Section Moderators, Forum Moderators
Re: GCSE Physical Education, Soft or Hard choice?
Don't they have to do more than two for the full course GCSE, or is that an old specification?rolland wrote:Both sports (individual and group) are popular and widely played in the school, they are internally assessed and externally moderated
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx
Re: GCSE Physical Education, Soft or Hard choice?
That's correct, in total there are three, please see below extract from the specification:ToadMum wrote:Don't they have to do more than two for the full course GCSE, or is that an old specification?rolland wrote:Both sports (individual and group) are popular and widely played in the school, they are internally assessed and externally moderated
The assessment consists of students completing three physical activities from a set list.
One must be a team activity.
One must be an individual activity.
The final activity can be a free choice.
Re: GCSE Physical Education, Soft or Hard choice?
It's when students pursue a sport outside school [and are at a high level] where there can be issues. IF the sports are 'normal' school sports then it is not a problem; I just thought you [and other posters] should be aware.rolland wrote:Both sports (individual and group) are popular and widely played in the school, they are internally assessed and externally moderated
-
Professor Yaffle
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:18 pm
Re: GCSE Physical Education, Soft or Hard choice?
Hi all.
DD1 currently taking the new spec GCSE PE. It is now 60% Theory & 40% Physical.
As to whether it is a soft or hard option...DD informs me that her teacher has said that several topics they are learning are also currently on the A level syllabus and are being taught to current year 13, eg respiration and that this is in more depth than she is learning in GCSE Biology.
DD1 currently taking the new spec GCSE PE. It is now 60% Theory & 40% Physical.
As to whether it is a soft or hard option...DD informs me that her teacher has said that several topics they are learning are also currently on the A level syllabus and are being taught to current year 13, eg respiration and that this is in more depth than she is learning in GCSE Biology.
Re: GCSE Physical Education, Soft or Hard choice?
As to whether it's a soft or hard option there are many facets.
The opinion of university admissions officers may be the most critical if this is important to the student.
Having a practical emphasis doesn't necessarily make it an easy option.
Even if a subject isn't seen as academically vigorous that doesn't mean, even for academic students, that there is a problem taking it alongside a good range of academic subjects.
There can be benefits in taking a practical or 'applied' subject in that it develops a different range of skills.
Because one particular topic is covered in more depth by eg PE than biology doesn't in itself make that GCSE 'harder' than the other. But it does demonstrate that if a student is looking for an easy option ( and that's not always a bad thing!) they should check the specification first ( for PE or any other subject).
The opinion of university admissions officers may be the most critical if this is important to the student.
Having a practical emphasis doesn't necessarily make it an easy option.
Even if a subject isn't seen as academically vigorous that doesn't mean, even for academic students, that there is a problem taking it alongside a good range of academic subjects.
There can be benefits in taking a practical or 'applied' subject in that it develops a different range of skills.
Because one particular topic is covered in more depth by eg PE than biology doesn't in itself make that GCSE 'harder' than the other. But it does demonstrate that if a student is looking for an easy option ( and that's not always a bad thing!) they should check the specification first ( for PE or any other subject).
Re: GCSE Physical Education, Soft or Hard choice?
My DS is taking PE gcse and personally I think it isn't really a soft option. The grade boundaries are tight and you have to score high on the theory paper to get a good mark. You also have to think carefully about the sports you chose. Although he plays a lot of football he deliberately didn't chose it as a sport as it is hard to get high marks. He took his football refereeing exams and used this as one of his skills. Friends children became swimming instructors, he also did netball. There is a lot of science in PE especially at A level. So no not a soft option at all.
