Cambridge National Sport Studies Level 1 / Level 2      

Course overview

The Cambridge National in Sport Studies is a vocational qualification designed for students who have an interest in sport and want to develop their understanding of the wider sporting industry. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical, applied learning, giving students the opportunity to explore how sport is organised, delivered, and experienced.

The course is different from both Core PE and GCSE PE. Core PE focuses on participation, physical development, and personal growth, while GCSE PE combines academic theory with practical performance. Cambridge National Sport Studies provides a more vocational and applied approach, allowing students to develop knowledge and skills that can be used in real sporting contexts.

What students learn

Students explore a range of topics linked to the world of sport, including:

The development of sports skills and how these can be taught and improved
Contemporary issues in sport and their impact on participation
The role of sport in society and the factors that influence participation
The use of technology and media in sport
Leadership and the organisation of sporting activities
Planning, delivering, and reviewing sporting activities
Employability and the range of careers available within the sports industry

The course allows students to develop a combination of knowledge, practical skills, communication, organisation, problem-solving, and leadership.

How are students assessed

Cambridge National Sport Studies includes a combination of external assessment and internally assessed coursework/NEA, depending on the units studied.

Students are expected to demonstrate that they can apply their knowledge to realistic sporting situations, rather than simply recall information. Coursework tasks may involve planning, delivering, reviewing, and evaluating sporting activities and demonstrating an understanding of wider issues within sport.

Who is the course suitable for?

Cambridge National Sport Studies is particularly suitable for students who:

Have an interest in sport and the wider sporting industry
Enjoy learning through practical and applied activities
Are interested in coaching, leadership, or organising sport
Want to develop communication, teamwork, and leadership skills
Are interested in careers within sport, leisure, fitness, or recreation
Prefer a vocational course that combines knowledge with practical application

The course can provide a useful foundation for further study in sport, physical activity, coaching, fitness, leisure, and related vocational pathways.

GCSE PE and Cambridge National - what is the difference?

Both courses are designed for students with an interest in sport, but they have different approaches to learning and assessment.

AQA GCSE PE	OCR Cambridge National Sport Studies
GCSE qualification	Vocational qualification
Combines academic theory, practical performance, and analysis	Combines sport-related knowledge with applied and vocational learning
Strong emphasis on sports science and theoretical knowledge	Greater emphasis on applying knowledge to real sporting situations
Students study topics including anatomy and physiology, movement analysis, physical training, sports psychology, and socio-cultural influences	Students explore areas such as contemporary issues in sport, sports leadership, participation, and the wider sports industry, depending on the units studied
Two written examination papers	Combination of external assessment and internally assessed units, depending on the specification
Three practical sports are assessed	Practical/application tasks are linked to the units studied rather than being assessed in the same way as GCSE PE
Students complete an Analysis and Evaluation of Performance task	Students complete coursework/NEA tasks that apply knowledge and skills to sporting contexts
Practical performance contributes 30% of the final grade	Assessment weighting depends on the specific Cambridge National specification and units
Suited to students who enjoy academic study alongside practical sport	Suited to students who enjoy applied, vocational and coursework-based learning
Regular participation in sport is important, particularly for the practical assessment	An interest in sport is important, but success is not dependent on being a high-level performer in three assessed sports
Provides a solid foundation for further study in A Level PE, sport science, and related subjects	Provides a foundation for further study in sport, coaching, fitness, leisure, and related vocational pathways