THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
This is the examined Leaving Certificate PE subject, not the non-examination PE framework. Theory, performance and a physical activity project need separate preparation.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
For the 2027 examination, use the syllabus linked below. A new specification introduced in September 2026 applies to the 2028 examination cohort, not this one.
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is Physical Education assessed?
- Written examination: 50%.
- Performance assessment: 30%, at a common level.
- Physical Activity Project: 20%.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
Check your selected programme
The syllabus prescribes two topics from the contemporary-issues group for each cohort. Confirm which two apply to your programme rather than treating all four as compulsory.
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
These are broad revision groups shared across Higher and Ordinary Level, not identical lists of learning outcomes. Use the level-specific outcomes in the linked syllabus and questions from your own level. The checklist records each level separately.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Skill & technique
Learning, analysing and improving movement.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What evidence identifies a technical weakness?
Describe the movement precisely and choose a targeted practice task.
Physical & psychological demands
Fitness and mental demands of performance.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Which demand matters most in a particular activity?
Link your explanation to what the performer actually has to do.
Strategies & roles
Decisions and organisation within physical activity.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Why would one strategy suit a situation better than another?
Use the activity’s constraints rather than a generic definition.
Planning performance
Evidence-based preparation and improvement.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How would you know that a training plan is working?
Use comparable baseline and follow-up measures.
Participation, ethics & fair play
Promoting activity and evaluating sporting decisions.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How could a barrier prevent participation?
Explain the barrier and an action that directly addresses it.
Prescribed contemporary issues
Your cohort’s selected issues concerning inclusion, media, gender or business.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Whose experience changes when a sporting policy changes?
Check the selected topics and consider more than one perspective.
Project & performance evidence
Recording, analysing and evaluating your development.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Does your evidence show improvement or simply participation?
Connect the evidence to a stated goal and acknowledge other possible influences.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- Apply a theory concept to one of your physical activities.
- Keep baseline and follow-up evidence comparable.
- Confirm your prescribed contemporary topics before planning written revision.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: Physical Education (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- Physical Education: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: Towards optimum performance; Contemporary issues in physical activity; assessment.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.