Cambridge OCR Level 3 Advanced GCE in Physical Education - H555 - Version 2.1 - Specification overview and assessment guidance

Sep 5, 2026

Accredited Cambridge OCR Level 3 Advanced GCE in Physical Education specification H555, for first assessment in 2018, version 2.1 (April 2026) outlines key features, specification overview, and the structure of content across physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors affecting performance, alongside non-exam assessment and evaluating performance for improvement. It provides guidance on forms of assessment, objectives, total qualification time, language and assessment availability, including admin requirements, retaking, malpractice and certificates. It also includes updates summary, accessibility, and overlap with other qualifications, plus instructions for AI use in NEA and feedback channels.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages51

Reading Time2 h 9 min

AccessFree to download

Why choose an OCR A Level in Physical Education?

Why choose an OCR qualification?

Why choose an OCR A Level in Physical Education?

What are the key features of this specification?

How do I find out more information?

The specification overview

OCR’s A Level in Physical Education (H555)

Content of A Level in Physical Education (H555)

Content of Physiological factors affecting performance (H555/01)

Content of Psychological factors affecting performance (H555/02)

Content of Socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport (H555/03)

Content of non-exam assessment: Performance in physical education (H555/05)

Content of Evaluating and Analysing Performance for Improvement (NEA) (H555/06)

Prior knowledge, learning and progression

Assessment of A Level in Physical Education

Forms of assessment

Assessment objectives (AO)

Total qualification time

Qualification availability outside of England

Language

Assessment availability

Retaking the qualification

Assessment of extended response

Non-exam assessment

Synoptic assessment

Calculating qualification results

Admin: what you need to know

Entries

Special consideration

External assessment arrangements

Admin of non-exam assessment

AI use in the NEA

Results and certificates

Post-results services

Malpractice

Appendices

Overlap with other qualifications

Accessibility

Summary of updates

Qualification Accredited Specification A Level Physical Education Cambridge OCR Level 3 Advanced GCEin Physical Education H555 For first assessment in 2018 Version 2.1 (April 2026) [ocr.org.uk/alevelphysicaleducation](ocr.org.uk/alevelphysicaleducation) i ~~ ~~AboutAs~~ ~~of~~ ~~Septeomurber2ne025w,~~ ~~ounamer~~ ~~name~~ ~~isCambridge~~ ~~OCR.~~ ~~ Students who sat an exam in summer 2025 will receive a Cambridge OCR branded exam certificate (our new brand), which will be the same for all future exam series. You’ll continue to see the OCR or Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations name while we work to update our material to our new name, Cambridge OCR. This will take some time, and you can still access all up-to-date qualification resources and materials via Teach Cambridge. Important: We’ll keep the OCR/Oxford Cambridge and RSA name on existing teaching resources while the content of these remains applicable to the specification being taught. New and refreshed resources will be produced using the Cambridge OCR name/logo. Are you using the latest version of this specification? The latest version of our specifications will always be on our website and may differ from printed versions. We will inform centres about changes to specifications. Tell us what you think Your feedback plays an important role in how we develop, market, support and resource qualifications now and into the future. We want you and your students to enjoy and get the best out of our qualifications and resources, but to do that we need your honest opinions to tell us whether we’re on the right track or not. You can email your thoughts [to](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[ ](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[support@ocr.org.uk](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[ or visit our](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[ ](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[feedback page](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[ to learn more about](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about) how you can help us improve our qualifications. Designing and testing in collaboration with teachers and students Helping young people develop an ethical view of the world Equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) are part of everything we do Contents | 1 | Why choose an OCR A Level in Physical Education? | 1 | | --- | --- | --- | | | 1a. Why choose an OCR qualification? | 1 | | | 1b. Why choose an OCR A Level in Physical Education? | 2 | | | 1c. What are the key features of this specification? | 3 | | | 1d. How do I find out more information? | 3 | | 2 | The specification overview | 4 | | | 2a. OCR’s A Level in Physical Education (H555) | 4 | | | 2b. Content of A Level in Physical Education (H555) | 5 | | | 2c. Content of Physiological factors affecting performance (H555/01) | 7 | | | 2c. Content of Psychological factors affecting performance (H555/02) | 22 | | | 2c. Content of Socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport (H555/03) | 28 | | | 2d. Content of non-exam assessment: Performance in physical education (H555/05) | 33 | | | 2e. Content of Evaluating and Analysing Performance for Improvement (NEA) (H555/06) | 33 | | | 2f. Prior knowledge, learning and progression | 33 | | 3 | Assessment of A Level in Physical Education | 34 | | | 3a. Forms of assessment | 34 | | | 3b. Assessment objectives (AO) | 34 | | | 3c. Total qualification time | 35 | | | 3d. Qualification availability outside of England | 35 | | | 3e. Language | 35 | | | 3f. Assessment availability | 36 | | | 3g. Retaking the qualification | 36 | | | 3h. Assessment of extended response | 36 | | | 3i. Non-exam assessment | 36 | | | 3j. Synoptic assessment | 37 | | | 3k. Calculating qualification results | 37 | | 4 | Admi

FAQs

What does the H555 Physical Education specification include?

It covers content related to physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors affecting performance, plus non-exam assessment and evaluating/analyzing performance for improvement. It also includes prior knowledge, learning, and progression guidance.

How is assessment for this A Level structured?

The specification describes forms of assessment, assessment objectives (AO), total qualification time, and topics like extended response and synoptic assessment. It also covers non-exam assessment and how qualification results are calculated.

What administration topics are covered for centres and candidates?

It includes entries, special consideration, external assessment arrangements, and admin of non-exam assessment. It also covers AI use in the NEA, results and certificates, post-results services, and malpractice.

Sep 5, 2026

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