WAEC Syllabus for Physical Education
Are you preparing to write the WAEC examination anytime soon and Physical Education is one of your subjects? If yes, having the correct syllabus can help you plan your study and focus on the areas you are expected to cover.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the syllabus for Physical Education and other subjects to guide candidates preparing for the examination. The syllabus contains the topics and areas candidates are expected to study and also gives an idea of what the examination will cover.
Using the WAEC Physical Education syllabus can help you avoid spending too much time studying topics that are not included in the syllabus. It can also serve as a useful guide for teachers and tutors when preparing candidates for the examination.
In this article, we have provided the WAEC syllabus for Physical Education to help candidates know the topics they are expected to study. Teachers and tutors can also use it when planning lessons and preparing students for the examination.
WAEC Syllabus for Physical Education
| Section | Topic | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| A. Principles and Philosophy of Physical Education | 1. Philosophy of Physical Education | Principles and philosophies of founding fathers; changes in the concept of Physical Education; education of the physical and education through the physical |
| 2. Physical Education Ideologies | Nationalism and patriotism in Physical Education and sport; national ideologies | |
| 3. Recreation | Definition and importance; types of recreational activities; indoor recreation; outdoor recreation; recreational activities such as walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, playing musical instruments, table tennis and camping; differences between recreational activities and lifetime sports | |
| 4. Intramural and Extramural Activities and Tournament | Definitions of intramural activities and extramural activities; benefits of intramural and extramural activities; definition of tournament; types of tournament | |
| 5. Traditional Sports in West Africa | Origin of traditional sports in West African countries; types of traditional sports in different West African countries; values of traditional sports | |
| 6. Greek Festivals and the Olympic Games | Greek Festivals: Usthman, Pythian, Nemean and Olympian; Ancient Olympic Games; Modern Olympic Games | |
| B. National and International Sports Competitions | 1. Sports Championship at National Level | Organisation and administration |
| 2. Types of Championship | National championships organised by different sports associations/federations; national championships organised by corporate organisations; National Sports Festival | |
| 3. Institutional Sports | University games; Polytechnic games; Colleges of Education games; National School Sports Federation | |
| 4. The All African Games | History of All Africa Games; reasons for disparity in the timing of the games; history and activities of Supreme Council of Sports in Africa (SCSA) | |
| 5. International Competitions | FIFA World Cup; Olympic/Paralympic Games; Commonwealth Games; All Africa Games; World Athletics Championship; World Swimming Championship | |
| C. Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology in Relation to Physical Activities | 1. Skeletal System | Main parts and functions of the human skeleton; bones and joints involved in movement |
| 2. Nervous System | Brain; spinal cord; nerves | |
| 3. Circulatory System | Heart muscle; effects of exercise on the heart; blood circulation; functions of blood; types of blood circulation | |
| 4. Respiratory System | Trachea, lungs and nose; functions; types of respiration; aerobic and anaerobic sports | |
| 5. Skeletal Muscles | Major muscles of the body; types of muscle contraction; muscle cramp, causes, prevention and first aid | |
| 6. Somatotype | Description of the various body types; relationship between body type and physical activities and sports | |
| 7. Posture | Correct posture; postural defects | |
| D. Practice of Athletics, Games and Dance | 1. Athletics – Track Events | Short-distance races: 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, hurdles and relay races; sprint start: bullet/bunch, medium and elongated; relay races; hurdle events; middle-distance races: 800m and 1,500m; 3,000m steeplechase; long-distance races: 3,000m, 5,000m and 10,000m; marathon; phases of running; rules and regulations; officiating |
| 1. Athletics – Field Events | Throwing events: discus, javelin and shot put; jumps: high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault; equipment and specifications; techniques; rules and regulations; officiating | |
| 2. Ball Games | Football; basketball; volleyball; hockey; handball; rules and regulations of each game; officiating | |
| 3. Racket Games | Tennis; table tennis; badminton; specifications of courts/tables; types of equipment used; skills involved in each game; rules and regulations; officiating | |
| 4. Traditional Dances | Dances from the regions of each country; costumes for various dances; types of traditional dance and dance steps | |
| E. Physical Fitness and Conditioning | 1. Physical Fitness | Definition of physical fitness; components of physical fitness; health-related components; performance/skill-related components of physical fitness; benefits of physical activity, exercise and physical fitness |
| 2. Health and Personal Hygiene | Importance of health in Physical Education; care of the body; sportswear | |
| F. Nutrition, Drug and Sports | 1. Nutrition | Classes of food nutrients; balanced diet; dietary considerations in sports |
| 2. Drug in Sports | Meaning of drug; types of drug; drug use and misuse; effect of drug on sports performance | |
| 3. Sports Injuries | Common sports injuries: dislocation, sprain, strain, fracture, bruise and cramp; first aid and first aid box; special conditions and solutions that require first aid | |
| 4. Corrective and Adapted Physical Education Programme | Definitions; categories of people with special needs; corrective exercise; activities for people with special needs; social and emotional problems of people with special needs | |
| G. Sports Administration | 1. Sports Administration | Administrative structure and functions of sports at national, regional/state and local government levels |
| 2. Institutional Sports Administration | Administrative structure and functions of sports at institution level |
Tips for Preparing for WAEC Physical Education
- Use the syllabus as a guide and make sure you cover all the topics listed.
- Create a reading timetable and give enough time to each section of the syllabus.
- Pay attention to both the theory and practical aspects of Physical Education, especially athletics, games and other practical areas.
- Revise regularly instead of waiting until a few days before the examination.
- Practise past questions to become familiar with the way questions are asked in the examination.
- Make short notes while studying to make revision easier.
- Go over difficult topics more than once and ask your teacher or tutor for help where necessary.
Make sure you use the WAEC Physical Education syllabus as a guide and support while preparing for your examination. It will help you stay focused on the topics you are expected to study and organise your revision properly.
If you know other WAEC candidates who may be interested in the Physical Education syllabus, share this article with them. You can also check our page for the syllabi of other WAEC subjects and use them to prepare for your examination.
