National 4 Physical Education

This explains the overall structure of the Course, including its purpose and aims and information on the skills, knowledge and understanding that will be developed.

• National 4 Physical Education course specification Apr 2012

These provide an outline of what each Unit will cover within the following Unit Specifications and detail the Outcomes and Assessment Standards.

• Physical Education: Factors Impacting on Performance (National 4) unit specification September 2018
• Physical Education: Performance Skills (National 4) unit specification April 2012

These define the mandatory requirements for the Added Value Unit, including the Outcomes and Assessment Standards.

They also include the further mandatory information on Course coverage for the National 4 Course and include information on the assessment method to be used and the conditions of assessment.

• Physical Education Added Value (National 4) unit specification June 2013

The Physical Education Added Value Unit assessment is a performance. While describing what candidates must do, the published assessment offers considerable flexibility in the choice of a context for the assessment.

In the assessment, candidates (with their assessor) choose a physical activity to perform in and decide where and when to perform. Candidates then prepare mentally, emotionally, socially or physically for the performance, and then perform in their chosen activity.

Centres can access the assessment through their SQA Co-ordinator.

As with all SQA Unit assessments, Added Value Unit assessments must be internally verified by centres.

These provide advice and guidance for teachers/lecturers on learning, teaching and assessment within the Course and its Units.

• National 4 Physical Education course and unit support notes May 2024

These documents contain details of Unit assessment task(s), show approaches to gathering evidence and how the evidence can be judged against the Outcomes and Assessment Standards. Teachers/lecturers can arrange access to these confidential documents through their SQA Co-ordinator.

• Physical Education Qualification Verification Summary Report July 2024
• Physical Education Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2023
• Physical Education Qualification Verification Summary Report August 2020
• Physical Education Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
• Physical Education: Quality Assurance - external verification

• Activities for Assessment in PE research paper (113 KB)
• Activities for Assessment in PE guidance (96 KB)

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

Examples of candidate evidence and commentaries for unit assessment can be found on the SQA secure site. You can access these through your SQA Coordinator.

Changes to understanding standards materials

• Changes to published Understanding Standards materials for all subjects

Please note: Understanding Standards materials are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain up to date.