Paper 1 — The Human Body & Movement in Physical Activity & Sport
1 hour 15 minutes, 78 marks, 30% of GCSE — anatomy, physiology, movement analysis, physical training, use of data AQA GCSE Physical Education 8582
⚽ AQA GCSE Physical Education Formula Sheet 2026
Everything AQA GCSE PE students need on one page — body systems, movement analysis, components of fitness, training principles, sport psychology, and the calculations you must know.
Body Systems Movement Analysis Components of Fitness Training Principles
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Aligned with the latest 2026 syllabus and board specifications. This sheet is prepared to match your exam board’s official specifications for the 2026 exam series.
All the Core AQA GCSE PE Theory & Calculations in One Formula Sheet
AQA GCSE Physical Education (8582) covers anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, and the socio-cultural and well-being side of sport. This formula sheet brings together body systems, named tests for components of fitness, training principles, and the numerical formulas (CO=HR×SV, max HR, BMI) you'll need across both written papers.
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Cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems with key formulas
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Movement analysis — planes, axes, lever systems, and muscle pairs
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10 components of fitness with named fitness tests
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Key calculations — max HR, target HR zones, BMI, cardiac output
Exam Structure
Two written papers + practical NEA. Know the weighting.
Paper 2 — Socio-Cultural Influences & Well-Being
1 hour 15 minutes, 78 marks, 30% of GCSE — sports psychology, socio-cultural influences, health/fitness/well-being, use of data NEA — Practical Performance
100 marks (40% of GCSE) — assessed in 3 different physical activities (1 team + 1 individual + 1 of either) + Analysis & Evaluation of Performance (AEP) written task Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems
Heart, blood vessels, lungs — be ready for the key calculations.
Heart Function
Heart Rate (HR)
Number of times the heart beats per minute (bpm). Resting HR ~60–80 bpm Stroke Volume (SV)
Volume of blood pumped out of the left ventricle per beat (ml) Cardiac Output (Q)
Q = HR × SV — total volume of blood pumped per minute (l/min) Max HR
Max HR = 220 − age (e.g. for a 16-year-old: 220 − 16 = 204 bpm) Target Heart Rate Zones
Aerobic (cardiovascular fitness)
60%–80% of max HR Anaerobic (strength/power)
80%–90% of max HR Calculate as a % of max HR, e.g. 60% × 204 = 122 bpm.
Blood Vessels & Redistribution
Arteries (carry blood away from heart, thick muscular walls), veins (carry blood TO heart, valves), capillaries (gaseous exchange) Vascular shunting
During exercise, blood is redirected away from non-essential organs (gut) towards working muscles via vasoconstriction/vasodilation Respiratory System
Tidal volume
Volume of air breathed in or out per breath (rest ~500ml) Vital capacity
Max volume of air that can be exhaled after a maximum inhalation Breathing rate
Number of breaths per minute (rest ~12–20) Gaseous exchange
Occurs in the alveoli — O2 diffuses into blood, CO2 diffuses out (driven by concentration gradients) Musculoskeletal System & Movement Analysis
Bones, joints, muscle pairs, planes, axes, and lever systems.
Skeleton & Joints
Functions: support, protection, movement, blood cell production, mineral storage Synovial joints
Hinge (elbow, knee), ball-and-socket (shoulder, hip), pivot (neck), condyloid (wrist) Antagonistic Muscle Pairs
Biceps / Triceps
Flexion and extension at the elbow Quadriceps / Hamstrings
Extension and flexion at the knee Gluteals / Hip flexors
Extension and flexion at the hip Gastrocnemius / Tibialis anterior
Plantarflexion and dorsiflexion at the ankle Planes & Axes of Movement
Planes
Sagittal (forward/backward), frontal (side-to-side), transverse (rotation) Axes
Vertical (rotation), transverse (forward/backward), sagittal (side-to-side) Movements always combine a plane + an axis (e.g. somersault = sagittal plane, transverse axis).
Lever Systems
1st-class
Fulcrum in the middle (e.g. neck — nodding head) 2nd-class
Load in the middle (e.g. plantarflexion — calf raise) 3rd-class
Effort in the middle — most common (e.g. biceps curl) Mnemonic: 1-2-3 = F-L-E in the middle (Fulcrum, Load, Effort).
Energy Systems & Recovery
Aerobic vs anaerobic respiration and EPOC.
Aerobic Respiration
Glucose + Oxygen → Energy + Carbon Dioxide + Water — used for long-duration, low-to-moderate intensity exercise Anaerobic Respiration
Glucose → Energy + Lactic Acid (no oxygen) — used for short, high-intensity exercise; lactic acid build-up causes muscle fatigue Recovery & EPOC
EPOC
Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption (oxygen debt) — extra O2 consumed after exercise to break down lactic acid and replenish energy stores Cool-down
Aids recovery by gradually reducing HR, removing waste products, and preventing blood pooling Components of Fitness & Tests
Know all 10 components and the named test for each.
Health-Related Components
Cardiovascular endurance
Multi-stage fitness (bleep) test, Cooper 12-minute run Muscular endurance
1-minute press-up / sit-up test Flexibility
Sit-and-reach test Strength
Hand grip dynamometer test, 1-rep max Body composition
BMI, waist:hip ratio, skinfold callipers Skill-Related Components
Agility
Illinois agility run test Balance
Stork stand test Coordination
Wall toss / alternate hand wall throw test Power
Vertical jump (Sargent) test, standing broad jump Reaction time
Ruler drop test Speed
30 m sprint test Principles of Training
Apply SPORT and FITT to design effective training programmes.
SPORT Principles
S — Specificity
Training matches the demands of the activity P — Progression
Gradually increase training load over time O — Overload
Train above your normal level to force adaptation R — Reversibility
If you stop training, fitness gains are lost T — Tedium
Vary training to avoid boredom and maintain motivation FITT Principles
F — Frequency
How often you train I — Intensity
How hard you train T — Time
How long each session lasts T — Type
What method of training Methods of Training
Continuous (steady-state aerobic), fartlek (varied pace), interval (work + recovery), circuit (stations), weight (resistance), plyometric (explosive jumps), HIIT (high-intensity interval) Sport Psychology
Skill, learning, anxiety/arousal, aggression, and feedback.
Skill Classification (Continua)
Open ↔ closed (environmental influence), simple ↔ complex (decision-making), gross ↔ fine (muscle group size), self-paced ↔ externally-paced (timing control) Goal Setting — SMART
Specific, Measurable, Achievable / Accepted, Realistic / Recorded, Time-bound Guidance & Feedback
Guidance
Visual, verbal, manual, mechanical Feedback
Intrinsic vs extrinsic, positive vs negative, knowledge of results vs knowledge of performance, concurrent vs terminal Anxiety, Arousal & Aggression
Inverted-U theory
Performance is best at moderate (optimal) arousal; too low or too high reduces performance Anxiety types
Cognitive (mental — worry) vs somatic (physical — increased HR, sweating) Aggression
Direct (intent to harm — boxing) vs indirect (channelled — tennis serve) Socio-Cultural Influences & Well-Being
Paper 2 content — engagement, commercialisation, and lifestyle.
Engagement Patterns
Influenced by gender, age, socio-economic group, ethnicity, disability — barriers and strategies to overcome them Commercialisation
Golden triangle
Sport — sponsorship — media (interdependence) Positive impacts (funding, exposure) and negative impacts (corruption, schedule changes for TV) Sporting Behaviour & Drugs
Behaviour
Etiquette, sportsmanship, gamesmanship, deviance PEDs
Anabolic steroids, EPO, beta blockers, diuretics, stimulants — performance benefits vs health/ethical risks Health, Fitness & Well-Being
Physical (lower CHD/obesity risk), social (friendships, teamwork), emotional (improved mood, reduced stress) Lifestyle
Diet (carbs/proteins/fats/water/vitamins/minerals), hydration, sleep, sedentary lifestyle effects Key Calculations & Formulas
Numerical formulas you will need across both papers.
Cardiovascular Calculations
Cardiac output
Q = HR × SV Max HR
Max HR = 220 − age Target zone
% × Max HR (e.g. 70% of 204 = 142.8 bpm) Body Composition
BMI
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height² (m²) Waist:hip ratio
Waist circumference ÷ hip circumference (>0.85 women / >1.0 men = increased health risk) Strength
1 Rep Max (1RM)
Maximum weight lifted in one repetition — used to set training intensity (e.g. strength training at 80–100% 1RM) How to Use This Formula Sheet
Boost your Cambridge exam confidence with these proven study strategies from our tutoring experts.
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Memorise the 10 Components
Learn all 10 components of fitness AND the named test for each. Mark schemes are very precise — Cooper test for cardiovascular endurance, ruler drop for reaction time, etc.
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Practise Calculations
Work through max HR, target zone %, BMI, and cardiac output calculations until they're automatic. These are easy marks — don't lose them under exam pressure.
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Use Sport-Specific Examples
Whenever you explain theory, link it to a specific sport — e.g. plyometric training for a sprinter, fartlek for a footballer, plantarflexion in a netball jump shot.
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Master Data Questions
Both papers include data interpretation. Practise reading graphs, calculating percentages, and explaining trends in fitness test or training data.
Formula Sheet FAQ
Quick answers about this free PDF and how to use it for exam revision and active recall.
Is the AQA GCSE Physical Education Formula Sheet 2026 free to download as a PDF?
Yes. This Tutopiya formula sheet is free to use and you can download it as a PDF from this page for offline revision. There is no payment or account required for the PDF download.
What Physical Education topics and equations does this formula sheet cover?
This page groups key Physical Education formulas in one place for revision. Master AQA GCSE Physical Education (8582) with this 2026 formula sheet. Covers body systems, movement analysis, components of fitness, training principles, sport psychology, and key calculations. Always cross-check with your official syllabus and past papers for your exam session.
Can I use this instead of the official exam formula booklet in the exam?
No. In the exam you must follow only what your exam board allows in the hall—usually the official formula booklet or data sheet where provided. This page is a revision and teaching aid, not a replacement for board-issued materials.
Who is this formula sheet for (Secondary)?
It is written for students preparing for assessments at Secondary in Physical Education, including classroom revision, homework support, and independent study. Teachers and tutors can also share it as a quick reference.
How should I revise with this formula sheet?
Work through past paper questions, quote the correct formula before substituting values, and check units and notation every time. Pair this sheet with timed practice and mark schemes so you see how examiners expect working to be set out.
Where can I get more help with Physical Education revision?
Explore Tutopiya’s study tools, past paper finder, and revision checklists linked from our tools hub, or book a trial lesson with a subject specialist for personalised support alongside this formula reference.
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This formula sheet aligns with AQA GCSE Physical Education (8582) syllabus content for the 2026 specification.
Always link theory to specific sporting examples and show clear calculations with units in numerical answers.