SCQF Level 5 · Qualifications Scotland
National 5 Physical Education
Taken by most Scottish pupils in S4, Physical Education leads to Higher Physical Education in S5. Here is how the course works, what the assessment involves, and what to expect in the exam.
Free download
Get the free Scottish Education Cheat Sheet
Year groups, qualifications, key dates, benefit rates and university finance — the whole system on one printable page. Enter your email and we’ll send it over.
No question paper
Exam duration
100%
Coursework
120
Total marks
S4
Typical year
How Assessment Works
National 5 Physical Education is assessed across 2 components, totalling 120 marks.
Portfolio
Coursework50% of the overall marks for the course. Covers factors impacting on performance and the process of developing personal performance — gathering data, planning, monitoring and evaluating.
Performance
Performance50% of the overall marks for the course. A practical performance assessed on skill repertoire, control and fluency, decision-making, tactics, rules and etiquette, controlling emotions and working with others.
Grade boundaries, 2026 and before
The minimum mark for each grade, as published by Qualifications Scotland after each diet. The notional design points are 70% for an A, 60% for a B, 50% for a C (the pass) and 40% for a D, and the actual lines are moved after marking so a grade means the same whether the paper ran hard or easy — which is why the C sits where it does below rather than at exactly half marks.
| Year | Out of | A | B | C | D | C as % of marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 120 | 87 | 74 | 61 | 48 | 51% |
| 2025 | 120 | 87 | 74 | 61 | 48 | 51% |
| 2024 | 120 | 87 | 74 | 61 | 48 | 51% |
| 2023 | 120 | 87 | 74 | 61 | 48 | 51% |
| 2022 | 120 | 87 | 73 | 60 | 46 | 50% |
Marks, not percentages — the paper is graded out of the “out of” column, which can change when a course is revised. Source: Qualifications Scotland — Grade boundaries 2026 workbook (ref 26GB), read 2026-09-14. Boundaries are set after marking each year and the next set appears on results day.
What You Study
National 5 Physical Education is organised into 3 course areas.
Performance Skills
- A repertoire of skills including complex skills
- Control and fluency
- Effective decision-making
- Composition, tactics and roles applied safely
- Rules, regulations and etiquette
Factors Impacting on Performance
- Mental, emotional, social and physical factors
- Methods of gathering data on performance
- Reliability, validity and appropriateness of methods
- Recognised tests
Developing Performance
- Identifying strengths and weaknesses
- Planning and setting appropriate targets
- Monitoring, recording and evaluating
- Adapting and modifying approaches
Important Assessment Notes
Practical / Lab Component
National 5 Physical Education includes a practical or laboratory component as part of the coursework assessment. This may involve carrying out experiments, writing up practical reports, or completing hands-on tasks under teacher supervision.
Assignment Note
There is no written exam. Both components are internally managed and externally verified, and the grade is settled before the exam diet.
After National 5 Physical Education
Most pupils who achieve a grade C or above in National 5 Physical Education progress to Higher Physical Education in S5. Higher Physical Education.
Next step
Higher Physical Education guide →
Course structure, assessment and grade boundaries for Higher Physical Education.
Editor’s note
The only National 5 course on this site with no question paper at all — the course assessment is a 60-mark portfolio and a 60-mark performance, 50% each. That makes it unusual to plan around: there is nothing to revise for in study leave, and a poor autumn cannot be rescued in May. If you remember sitting a written PE exam yourself, two things explain it. Higher PE does have one — a 50-mark paper lasting 2 hours 30 minutes — so the written exam arrives a year later than people expect. And anyone who sat PE before about 2014 sat Standard Grade or Intermediate rather than National 5, which were different qualifications assessed differently.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions about National 5 Physical Education
How is National 5 Physical Education assessed?
National 5 Physical Education is assessed through the following components: Portfolio (60 marks, Internally managed); Performance (60 marks, Internally managed). The total is 120 marks, with 100% coming from coursework.
How long is the National 5 Physical Education exam?
The National 5 Physical Education exam is No question paper. There is also a coursework component worth 100% of the total grade.
What grade do you need to pass National 5 Physical Education?
You need a grade C or above (50% or more) to pass National 5 Physical Education. Grade C is the minimum required for progression to Higher Physical Education in S5. Grade A requires 70%+, grade B requires 60–69%, and grade C requires 50–59%.
Does National 5 Physical Education have coursework?
Yes — coursework makes up 100% of the total grade in National 5 Physical Education. There is no written exam. Both components are internally managed and externally verified, and the grade is settled before the exam diet.
What do you study in National 5 Physical Education?
National 5 Physical Education covers the following course areas: Performance Skills, Factors Impacting on Performance, Developing Performance. Together these give a broad foundation at SCQF Level 5, leading to Higher Physical Education in S5.
What comes after National 5 Physical Education?
After National 5 Physical Education, most pupils progress to Higher Physical Education in S5. See our detailed guide to Higher Physical Education for course structure and assessment information.
Course data sourced from Qualifications Scotland course specifications. Assessment details correct for the 3.1 (August 2024) specification.
Full course documentation available at qualifications.scot.