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100+ Free Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health Practice Questions

Prepare for the WJEC Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health (Qualifications Wales regulated) exam with instant access — no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health Exam

3590QS

English qual code (3590CS Cymraeg)

WJEC GCSE PE and Health specification

A*–G

Subject grade scale (U unclassified)

WJEC specification grading

40% / 60%

Unit 1 digital exam / Unit 2 NEA

WJEC Summary of Assessment

£46.80

Typical centre full GCSE entry fee

WJEC entry fees schedules

Sept 2026

First teaching (award from 2028)

WJEC / Qualifications Wales

100

Free practice MCQs here (study aid only)

OpenExamPrep

WJEC Made-for-Wales GCSE PE and Health (3590QS): linear A*–G; Unit 1 digital exam 1 h 30 min (40%, 80 marks) plus Unit 2 NEA performance/coaching and 8–10 week personal training (60%, 120 marks). First teaching Sept 2026; first award Summer 2028; centre full entry about £46.80. This free bank is 100 English MCQs for study only—not a practical NEA substitute.

Sample Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which is a primary function of the cardiovascular system during exercise?
A.Transport oxygen and nutrients to working muscles and remove waste products
B.Store glycogen exclusively in bone marrow for anaerobic sprints
C.Produce insulin to raise blood glucose during rest only
D.Filter air and exchange gases only in the nasal cavity
Explanation: The cardiovascular system transports oxygen and nutrients to tissues and removes carbon dioxide and metabolic waste. During exercise this delivery and removal support sustained muscular work and recovery processes.
2Which short-term response correctly describes the heart during moderate continuous exercise?
A.Heart rate falls while stroke volume and cardiac output both fall to zero
B.Heart rate and stroke volume increase, raising cardiac output
C.Only resting heart rate decreases immediately at the first pedal stroke
D.Cardiac output stays fixed because blood volume cannot leave the liver
Explanation: In the short term, exercise raises heart rate and stroke volume so cardiac output (HR × SV) increases, delivering more blood to working muscles. Resting heart rate reductions are a long-term training adaptation, not an immediate onset response.
3Vasodilation in active muscles during exercise mainly helps by:
A.Permanently hardening arteries to stop any future blood flow
B.Blocking venous return so lactic acid cannot leave the muscle
C.Increasing local blood flow so more oxygen reaches working tissue
D.Cooling only the brain while starving the limbs of blood
Explanation: Vasodilation widens blood vessels in active muscles, increasing local blood flow and oxygen delivery. Constriction in less active areas helps redistribute blood. This is a classic short-term cardiovascular response.
4Which set lists short-term cardiorespiratory responses to exercise?
A.Permanent loss of all alveoli and zero oxygen diffusion
B.Only a decrease in breathing rate with no change in tidal volume
C.Complete shutdown of the diaphragm for the whole session
D.Increased breathing rate, tidal volume and minute ventilation
Explanation: Short-term responses include higher breathing rate, larger tidal volume and therefore greater minute ventilation (breathing rate × tidal volume), matching oxygen demand and carbon dioxide removal.
5A long-term effect of endurance training on the heart is cardiac hypertrophy. What does this mainly enable?
A.Greater stroke volume and cardiac output at a given intensity, with a lower resting heart rate
B.A permanently higher resting heart rate with zero stroke volume
C.Complete replacement of cardiac muscle by lung tissue
D.Loss of all red blood cells so oxygen transport stops
Explanation: Cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart muscle, especially the left ventricle in endurance athletes) supports greater stroke volume and efficient cardiac output, often with bradycardia (lower resting heart rate) at rest.
6Which long-term muscular-skeletal adaptation is correctly matched?
A.Permanent disappearance of all ligaments after one warm-up
B.Muscular hypertrophy and increased bone density from progressive resistance loading
C.Decreased capillarisation of muscle with no change in strength
D.Zero elasticity so muscles can never lengthen again
Explanation: Long-term training can increase muscle size (hypertrophy), bone density, elasticity of muscle, and strength of ligaments and tendons, plus greater capillarisation of muscle—supporting health and performance.
7Which statement best describes a short-term effect of exercise on skeletal muscle?
A.Immediate permanent doubling of resting bone length
B.Instant conversion of all type I fibres into bone
C.Increased muscular contractions, temperature and possible fatigue as metabolites accumulate
D.Complete absence of any heat production in active fibres
Explanation: During exercise, muscles contract more frequently/forcefully, temperature rises, elasticity can change with warm-up, and fatigue may develop as waste products build up—classic short-term muscular-skeletal responses.
8Increased capillarisation around muscle fibres after months of training mainly improves:
A.Only the colour of the skin with no functional benefit
B.The number of bones in the axial skeleton
C.The legal offside rule in team games
D.Oxygen delivery and waste product removal at the tissue level
Explanation: More capillaries mean a greater surface area for diffusion of oxygen into muscle and removal of carbon dioxide and metabolites, supporting endurance performance and recovery.
9Lower resting heart rate after aerobic training is mainly explained by:
A.Greater stroke volume so the same cardiac output is achieved with fewer beats at rest
B.Total loss of the sinoatrial node so the heart never beats
C.Permanent vasoconstriction of all coronary arteries only
D.An increase in resting heart rate driven by pure anaerobic training only
Explanation: Aerobic training often increases stroke volume; at rest, adequate cardiac output can therefore be maintained with a lower heart rate. This is a long-term cardiovascular adaptation linked to efficiency and health.
10Minute ventilation is best defined as:
A.The volume of blood ejected per heartbeat only
B.The volume of air breathed per minute (breathing rate × tidal volume)
C.The percentage of body fat measured by skinfolds
D.The angle of knee flexion in degrees only
Explanation: Minute ventilation equals breathing rate multiplied by tidal volume—the amount of air moved in or out of the lungs each minute. It rises during exercise as both rate and depth of breathing increase.

About the Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health Exam

Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health (WJEC qual code 3590QS / 3590CS; Qualification Approval Number C00/5167/1) is the Curriculum for Wales–aligned Key Stage 4 PE and health qualification first taught from September 2026 and first awarded from Summer 2028. It is linear and untiered. Unit 1 (40%) is a WJEC-marked digital examination on health and wellbeing, socio-cultural influences, diet and nutrition, exercise physiology, movement, energy systems, and sports psychology. Unit 2 (60%) is practical NEA: perform in one approved activity; perform in a second activity or coach; and plan, implement and evaluate an 8–10 week personal training programme of self. Assessment languages are English and Welsh; the qualification is not available to centres in England. Distinct from England 9–1 GCSE Physical Education (e.g. AQA/Edexcel/OCR) and from legacy WJEC PE specifications.

Assessment

Linear, untiered two-unit GCSE. Unit 1 Principles of Physical Education and Health: digital examination 1 h 30 min, 80 marks, 40%, marked by WJEC. Unit 2 Performance and Personal Training: NEA 120 marks, 60% (Performance 1 20%; Performance 2 or Coaching 20%; Personal Training of self 8–10 weeks 20%), centre-marked and externally moderated by a visiting WJEC moderator. Qual codes 3590QS (English) / 3590CS (Cymraeg). Overall AO weightings: AO1 10%, AO2 20%, AO3 20%, AO4 50%.

Time Limit

Unit 1 digital exam: 1 hour 30 minutes. Unit 2 NEA: practical performance/coaching plus an 8–10 week personal training programme of self, submitted in the final-year assessment window set by WJEC.

Passing Score

A*–G subject grades (U unclassified). Linear award; grade boundaries set by WJEC at awarding. Overall AO balance emphasises practical demonstration (AO4 50%) plus analysis (AO3 20%) and knowledge/application (AO1/AO2).

Exam Fee

£46.80 centre full-qualification entry fee for Made-for-Wales GCSE single-award subjects on published WJEC fee schedules (confirm current series PDF; unit fees may apply for staged entry where available). (WJEC (CBAC), regulated by Qualifications Wales)

Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health Exam Content Outline

40%

Unit 1 — Principles of Physical Education and Health

Factors affecting health, wellbeing and activity (personal, experiences, opportunities); socio-cultural influences (diversity and inclusion, identity and culture, media, role models, major events, sustainability, innovation); diet and nutrition; short- and long-term effects of exercise on cardiovascular, cardiorespiratory and muscular-skeletal systems; joint movements; muscle fibre types; antagonistic and contraction types; energy systems (creatine phosphate, lactic acid, aerobic) and training zones; self-confidence, intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, SMART goals; arousal, stress, anxiety and stress management; information processing and types of feedback.

60%

Unit 2 — Performance and Personal Training (NEA)

Performance (and optional coaching): preparation/recovery, skills and techniques, decision-making, rules and health and safety, analysis (environmental, personal, situational). Personal training: components of fitness, fitness testing and health screening, principles of training (specificity, progression, overload, variance), methods of training (continuous, interval including circuit/weight/plyometrics/fartlek, flexibility including static/passive/dynamic/PNF), monitoring and evaluation of an 8–10 week programme of self.

How to Pass the Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: A*–G subject grades (U unclassified). Linear award; grade boundaries set by WJEC at awarding. Overall AO balance emphasises practical demonstration (AO4 50%) plus analysis (AO3 20%) and knowledge/application (AO1/AO2).
  • Assessment: Linear, untiered two-unit GCSE. Unit 1 Principles of Physical Education and Health: digital examination 1 h 30 min, 80 marks, 40%, marked by WJEC. Unit 2 Performance and Personal Training: NEA 120 marks, 60% (Performance 1 20%; Performance 2 or Coaching 20%; Personal Training of self 8–10 weeks 20%), centre-marked and externally moderated by a visiting WJEC moderator. Qual codes 3590QS (English) / 3590CS (Cymraeg). Overall AO weightings: AO1 10%, AO2 20%, AO3 20%, AO4 50%.
  • Time limit: Unit 1 digital exam: 1 hour 30 minutes. Unit 2 NEA: practical performance/coaching plus an 8–10 week personal training programme of self, submitted in the final-year assessment window set by WJEC.
  • Exam fee: £46.80 centre full-qualification entry fee for Made-for-Wales GCSE single-award subjects on published WJEC fee schedules (confirm current series PDF; unit fees may apply for staged entry where available).

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health Study Tips from Top Performers

1Learn Unit 1 physiology first (cardiovascular, cardiorespiratory, muscular-skeletal short- and long-term effects) so personal-training choices in Unit 2 make sense.
2Practise applying energy systems and training zones to intensity and duration examples (sprint, mid-distance, endurance).
3Memorise principles of training as Specificity, Progression, Overload and Variance (SPOV) and link each to a method of training.
4For psychology, distinguish intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, cognitive vs somatic anxiety, and types of feedback with sport examples.
5Use analysis frames environmental / personal / situational when judging performance or coaching decisions—this maps to Unit 2 AO3.
6Remember MCQ practice supports knowledge only: log fitness tests, film performances if required, and complete your 8–10 week personal training programme with genuine monitoring and evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health?

It is the WJEC GCSE Physical Education and Health qualification approved by Qualifications Wales for first teaching from September 2026 (qual code 3590QS English / 3590CS Cymraeg; Approval Number C00/5167/1). It supports the Curriculum for Wales Health and Well-being Area of Learning and Experience and is graded A*–G. It is not the same as England 9–1 GCSE Physical Education.

How is the qualification assessed?

Linear, untiered assessment: Unit 1 is a 1 hour 30 minute digital examination (80 marks, 40%) marked by WJEC. Unit 2 is practical NEA (120 marks, 60%) with three parts—Performance 1 (20%), Performance 2 or Coaching (20%), and an 8–10 week personal training activity of self (20%)—marked by the centre and moderated by a WJEC visiting moderator. First award is Summer 2028.

What are the assessment objectives?

AO1 knowledge and understanding (10% overall), AO2 application (20%), AO3 analysis and evaluation (20%), and AO4 demonstration of skills and techniques in sports and physical activities (50%). Unit 1 contributes AO1 10%, AO2 20% and AO3 10%; Unit 2 contributes AO3 10% and AO4 50%.

Can multiple-choice practice replace the practical NEA?

No. Unit 2 is performance-based and worth 60% of the grade. MCQs can help you revise knowledge, training principles, safety and analysis judgment, but they cannot certify practical performance, coaching, or your personal training programme. Always follow your centre’s NEA brief, approved activity list and WJEC Assessment Pack.

Is this the same as GCSE PE in England?

No. Made-for-Wales GCSE Physical Education and Health is regulated by Qualifications Wales, awarded by WJEC for centres in Wales, uses A*–G grades, includes a digital Unit 1 paper and substantial practical NEA with personal training, and is not available to centres in England. England GCSEs typically use the 9–1 scale and different board specifications (AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, etc.).

Are these practice questions official WJEC papers?

No. OpenExamPrep questions are original English multiple-choice items for revision. Official Unit 1 mixes objective, short and extended responses in a digital exam; Unit 2 is practical NEA. Use WJEC sample assessment materials, the specification PDF and your teacher’s guidance for exam technique and practical criteria.