WACE Physical Education Studies most tested topics
Across the six SCSA Physical Education Studies external papers from 2020 to 2025, Exercise physiology carries 32.3% of the marks against 10.9% for Sport psychology, so the paper rewards Exercise physiology more than any other topic. At dot-point level 4.3.4 carries 11.8% of paper marks, and eight of the 38 dot points that the board assesses externally have not appeared in one of these papers. Every percentage below covers the 99.2% of marks that map to a syllabus dot point.
Computed from 6 SCSA Physical Education Studies external papers, 2020 to 2025: 186 questions, 267 question parts and 900 marks.
Unit, topic and dot-point shares below are of the 893 marks that map to a dot point, so each of those tables adds to 100%. 27 of the 267 parts are assessed against more than one dot point, and their 134 marks are divided evenly between the dot points they cover.
What these papers are
| Year | Exam | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Exam | 31 | 172 |
| 2024 | Exam | 31 | 169 |
| 2023 | Exam | 31 | 143 |
| 2022 | Exam | 31 | 136 |
| 2021 | Exam | 31 | 142 |
| 2020 | Exam | 31 | 138 |
Marks by unit
| Unit | Share of marks |
|---|---|
| Unit 4: Enhancing and Sustaining Physical Performance | 52.1% |
| Unit 3: Developing and Maintaining Physical Performance | 47.9% |
Marks by topic
| Topic | Share of marks | Papers it appears in | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise physiology | 32.3% | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 |
| Biomechanics | 26.1% | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 |
| Functional anatomy | 15.6% | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 |
| Motor learning and coaching | 15.1% | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 |
| Sport psychology | 10.9% | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 |
Marks by dot point
Dot-point numbers and wording are SCSA's own. Where a dot point is written as a list, its items run together here separated by semicolons.
| Dot point | Content | Topic | Share of marks | Papers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3.4 | Fluid mechanics definition of laminar and turbulent flow; definition of pressure drag (form drag/profile), surface drag (skin friction) and wave drag and how they apply to sporting contexts; Bernoulli’s principle – effect of shape and pressure differential; changes in flight paths in spinning balls – the Magnus effect in relation to; top spin; back spin; side spin | Biomechanics | 11.8% | 6 of 6 |
| 3.3.3 | considerations for performing in varying environmental conditions (heat/humidity, cold, altitude) temperature regulation mechanisms (radiation, convection, conduction, evaporation); physiological changes in these environments; acclimatisation processes and the adaptations gained; strategies to manage performance in these environments | Exercise physiology | 8.5% | 6 of 6 |
| 3.3.1 | relationship between energy demands and nutritional requirements pre-, during and post-competitive sporting activity fats; proteins; carbohydrates; glycaemic index (low and high) | Exercise physiology | 6.2% | 6 of 6 |
| 3.3.6 | principles of training peaking; tapering; recovery (including strategies); maintenance | Exercise physiology | 6.0% | 6 of 6 |
| 4.2.6 | use of different leadership styles – democratic, authoritarian (autocratic) and laissez-faire (casual) to suit the athlete or situation | Motor learning and coaching | 5.4% | 6 of 6 |
| 3.3.5 | components of periodisation micro cycle; meso cycle; macro cycle; pre-season (preparation); in-season (competition); off-season (transition) | Exercise physiology | 5.2% | 6 of 6 |
| 4.3.3 | application of biomechanical principles to analyse physical skills balance; base of support; height of centre of gravity; line of centre of gravity; mass; summation of forces; simultaneous; sequential/ segmental interaction; optimal projection | Biomechanics | 5.2% | 6 of 6 |
| 4.4.1 | strategies used pre- and during performance, to manage stress, motivation, concentration, self-confidence and arousal levels self-talk; relaxation; performance routines; goal-setting; imagery | Sport psychology | 4.9% | 6 of 6 |
| 4.3.1 | impulse–momentum relationship characteristics of the interacting bodies affecting coefficient of restitution in the application to sport; temperature; equipment and surfaces; velocity | Biomechanics | 4.7% | 6 of 6 |
| 3.2.8 | characteristics of fast and slow twitch fibres and their relationship to physical performance types (sprint, endurance) Type I; Type IIa; Type IIb | Functional anatomy | 4.6% | 6 of 6 |
| 4.3.2 | definition of, application and relationship between the following concepts in sport moment of inertia; angular velocity; conservation of angular momentum; third class levers within the body and as applied to sporting contexts; resistance arm; force arm | Biomechanics | 4.5% | 6 of 6 |
| 4.2.7 | learning and skill development in relation to correction and improvement of self and others use of video analysis; checklists; peer/mentor/coach feedback; questionnaires | Motor learning and coaching | 3.9% | 6 of 6 |
These 12 dot points carry 70.9% of the paper marks between them. Another 18 assessed dot points share the rest, and 8 of the 38 externally assessable dot points have not been assessed in any of these 6 papers. Content that has not appeared is still examinable.
What has moved between papers
Comparing the 2020 to 2022 papers with the 2023 to 2025 papers, two topics have moved by more than 3.0 percentage points.
| Topic | 2020 to 2022 share | 2023 to 2025 share | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise physiology | 30.1% | 34.1% | up 4.0 points |
| Biomechanics | 29.3% | 23.5% | down 5.8 points |
How the papers are built
Short answer carries 50.4% of the marks across these 6 papers.
| Question type | Share of marks | Marks | Parts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short answer | 50.4% | 454 | 115 |
| Extended response | 36.2% | 326 | 32 |
| Multiple choice | 13.3% | 120 | 120 |
| Verb | Share of marks | Marks | Parts |
|---|---|---|---|
| explain | 25.4% | 229 | 34 |
| describe | 21.7% | 195 | 30 |
| outline | 21.3% | 192 | 34 |
| identify | 17.3% | 156 | 30 |
| name | 10.1% | 91 | 18 |
| define | 8.6% | 77 | 19 |
| analyse | 7.7% | 69 | 6 |
| draw | 5.7% | 51 | 11 |
What these percentages do not tell you
Where to practise
Every topic above links to its own page of real SCSA questions with marking criteria and average scores attached: Exercise physiology, Biomechanics, Functional anatomy, Motor learning and coaching and Sport psychology. For how students actually score on this content, read WACE Physical Education Studies hardest topics, and for the full question bank start at WACE Physical Education Studies.
Frequently asked questions
Which topic carries the most marks in the WACE Physical Education Studies external exam?
Exercise physiology carries 32.3% of the marks across the 6 SCSA papers from 2020 to 2025, ahead of Biomechanics on 26.1%.
How are marks split between question types in the WACE Physical Education Studies exam?
Short answer carries 50.4% of the marks, extended response carries 36.2% of the marks and multiple choice carries 13.3% of the marks, measured across 6 papers and 900 marks from 2020 to 2025.
Has the topic balance changed in recent WACE Physical Education Studies papers?
Yes. Exercise physiology moved up 4.0 percentage points and Biomechanics moved down 5.8 percentage points between the 2020 to 2022 and 2023 to 2025 papers.
How many past papers is this WACE Physical Education Studies analysis based on?
6 SCSA external papers from 2020 to 2025, covering 186 questions and 900 marks. 0.8% of those marks carry no dot-point mapping and sit outside the percentages.
Sources
- ATAR Physical Education Studies Course Examination, SCSA, 2025. 6 papers, 2020 to 2025, covering 186 questions and 900 marks. Listed individually in the table at the top of this guide. Dot-point numbering follows the current SCSA Physical Education Studies syllabus.
Syllabus and assessment material referenced in this guide is used under licence, © School Curriculum and Standards Authority. See our SCSA licensing notice. The School Curriculum and Standards Authority does not endorse this publication or product.
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