A complete guide to Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education
Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education (specification 0413) is the international equivalent of GCSE PE, run by Cambridge Assessment International Education. It is sat by students at international schools worldwide and by some UK independent schools. The course is split across a written theory paper and a practical assessment in four chosen sports.
This guide walks through everything you need to know to sit the qualification with confidence: How the components are weighted, what the theory paper covers, how the practical assessment runs, and the revision techniques that work best for Cambridge IGCSE PE.
Two components
Component 1 is a written theory paper worth 100 marks. Component 2 is coursework in four chosen sports, each marked out of 25, for a total of 100 marks.
Theory and practical balanced 50/50
Theory is worth 50% of the qualification. Practical performance across the four sports makes up the other 50%.
Recognised worldwide
Accepted by universities in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and across Europe and Asia as equivalent to UK GCSE.
How Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education is assessed
Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education is fully linear. The theory paper is sat in May/June or October/November. The practical component is evidenced over an extended period during the course through recorded performance in four chosen sports, and is moderated through an assessor visit organised with Cambridge.
The qualification is not tiered – all students sit the same paper and any grade A* to G is in reach.
| Component | Content | Length | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1 (theory) | Written exam – structured questions on the theory topics | 1h 45m | 100 | 50% |
| Component 2 (coursework) | Practical performance in four chosen sports, each marked out of 25 | n/a | 100 | 50% |
Two components, one grade Unlike most IGCSEs, Cambridge IGCSE PE blends a theory exam with a practical component made up of four physical activities. The two components are weighted equally, so students need to perform on both to access the top grades. Each of the four sports in Component 2 is marked out of 25, giving 100 marks in total.
Paper 1: Theory
The theory paper is a written exam testing knowledge of the science and sociology of sport. It is split into structured questions covering the main theory areas of the specification.
Anatomy and physiology
The skeletal system, muscular system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and how each one responds to exercise both in the short term and over long-term training.
Health, fitness, and training
Components of fitness (strength, endurance, power, speed, flexibility, agility, coordination, balance, reaction time), principles of training (specificity, progression, overload, reversibility, tedium), training methods, and fitness testing.
Skill acquisition and psychology
Skill classification, information processing, feedback, motivation, arousal, and the impact of psychology on sport performance.
Social, cultural and ethical influences
Participation in sport, barriers to participation, the role of media and sponsorship in sport, ethics and drugs in sport, and the international sporting calendar.
Exam tip for the theory paper Examiners reward applied examples from named sports – every theory answer should anchor in a specific activity, not just the textbook definition.
Component 2: Coursework
Component 2 is the coursework component, worth 100 marks of practical performance split equally across four chosen sports at 25 marks each, plus a written Analysis and Evaluation of Performance (AEP) task. The four sports are drawn from at least two of the seven categories in the Cambridge specification (games, gymnastics, dance, athletics, adventurous activities, swimming, and combat activities). Racquet sports such as tennis and badminton sit within the games category.
The assessment runs over an extended period during the course rather than a single exam day. Students are filmed performing in each sport and an assessor visit is organised, with the recordings and live performance evidence moderated by Cambridge. Alongside the practical, the AEP task asks students to analyse and evaluate a performance in one of their chosen activities – check the current syllabus for the exact AEP requirements and mark allocation.
Practical assessment preparation
- Choose four sports that play to your strengths and that your school can evidence
- Train consistently in all four – not just your strongest sport
- Use the assessment criteria as a checklist – know exactly what examiners are looking for
- Build a bank of recorded clips throughout the year, not just at the end
- Compete in school fixtures and competitions to get assessed in match conditions
- Work on weaknesses identified by your teacher early in the course
- Keep a training log to evidence consistency
Where students lose marks Common pitfalls include theory answers that lack applied sporting examples, thin practical performance evidence with few recorded clips across the four sports, and over-relying on a single strong sport rather than training all four. Apply theory to named sports, and keep training across all four practical activities.
Grading
Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education is graded A* to G. There is no tiering. All students sit the same theory paper and follow the same four-sport practical requirements. Any grade is in reach.
Grade boundaries shift every series and are published by Cambridge on results day each August (for June) and January (for November). For PE, boundaries vary because half of the grade is internally assessed and externally moderated rather than set by a single exam paper.
Want to see the latest boundaries? Cambridge publishes full grade threshold tables on the CAIE website for both the June and November series. Search for "Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education 0413 grade thresholds" plus the year and series.
5 tips for Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education revision
IGCSE PE is unusual in that it rewards consistent effort over a long period rather than a final exam push. The students who get A* are the ones who treat theory and practical as equal priorities from the start of the course.
1. Link every theory point to a sport you know
For every theory concept – muscle fibre types, principles of training, feedback in skill acquisition – build a single applied example from a sport you actually play. Examiners reward applied answers and penalise textbook recitation.
2. Train all four practical sports consistently
Many students rely on their strongest sport and let the others slip. Cambridge averages across four sports, so a weakness in one drags down the practical grade. Treat the weakest of your four sports as the priority for the final months.
3. Build practical evidence early
The practical component is moderated from recorded performance and an assessor visit, so the more video evidence you have built up across all four sports, the stronger your case. Start filming match performances, gymnastics routines, or athletics times from early in the course rather than scrambling at the end.
4. Memorise the muscles and bones
Anatomy questions almost always feature in the theory paper. Memorise the names and locations of the major muscles and bones, and learn which muscle groups are agonists and antagonists for common movements. This is pure recall and free marks if drilled.
5. Use past papers as a diagnostic, not just practice
Mark your theory past papers honestly against the mark scheme. Write down which topic you are weakest on (anatomy, training, psychology, social factors). Target the weakest two before doing another paper.
