DHS BTEC Hub

External exam · 40% · taught in Year 11

Component 3

Developing Fitness to Improve Other Participants' Performance in Sport and Physical Activity.

Content areas.

AExplore the importance of fitness for sports performanceWeeks 19–21
  • A1The importance of fitness for successful participation in sport
  • A2Fitness training principles
  • A3Exercise intensity and how it can be determined
BInvestigate fitness testing to determine fitness levelsWeeks 22–24
  • B1Importance of fitness testing and requirements for administration of each fitness test
  • B2Fitness test methods for components of physical fitness
  • B3Fitness test methods for components of skill-related fitness
  • B4Interpretation of fitness test results
CInvestigate different fitness training methodsWeeks 26–28
  • C1Requirements for each of the fitness training methods
  • C2Fitness training methods for physical components of fitness
  • C3Fitness training methods for skill-related components of fitness
  • C4Additional requirements for each of the fitness training methods
  • C5Provision for taking part in fitness training methods
  • C6The effects of long-term fitness training on the body systems
DInvestigate fitness programming to improve fitness and sports performanceWeeks 29–30
  • D1Personal information to aid fitness training programme design
  • D2Fitness programme design
  • D3Motivational techniques for fitness programming

January to the exam.

Year 11 · 4 Jan – 6 May
WeeksContent areaDetail
Weeks 19–214 – 22 Jan Content area AExplore the importance of fitness for sports performance
  • A1 to A3.
  • A fitness-test practical each week.
  • End-of-topic test.
Weeks 22–2425 Jan – 12 Feb Content area BInvestigate fitness testing to determine fitness levels
  • B1 to B4.
  • End-of-topic test.
  • Internal check that exam entries are with the exams office: Fri 5 Feb.
Week 25 · half term · 15 – 19 Feb · Pearson entry deadline Sun 21 Feb, May/June series
Weeks 26–2822 Feb – 12 Mar Content area CInvestigate different fitness training methods
  • C1 to C6.
  • Practical lessons stop from Mon 8 Mar. All theory from there.
  • End-of-topic test.
Weeks 29–3015 – 26 Mar Content area DInvestigate fitness programming to improve fitness and sports performance
  • D1 to D3.
  • End-of-topic test.
  • Good Friday 26 Mar.
Week 3129 Mar – 2 Apr Revision and mock exam
  • Term ends Fri 2 Apr.
  • Holiday revision sessions optional.
Weeks 34–3519 – 30 Apr Mock feedback, then revision
  • Back Mon 19 Apr.
  • A full past paper every week.
Week 363 – 7 May The examThu 6 May
  • Thu 6 May 2027, morning, 1 hour 30.
  • Results Thu 19 Aug 2027.

Resit and certification rules for the external live in the spec, section 7 (p.59): open the spec.

Revision site.

The department's Component 3 revision site covers the four content areas with revision content, fill-in-the-blank checks and exam-style questions with mark schemes. Set it as the homework channel from January.

student-facing · live

btecrevision.netlify.app

Topics A–D, exam technique, self-marking practice. Countdown needs updating to the 2027 date before September.

Works on phonesShare with the class

Past papers and mark schemes.

Question papers, mark schemes and examiner reports for six sittings, plus the sample assessment materials.

January 2026Question paper + mark scheme · latest sitting
May 2025Question paper + mark scheme · May/June series, our series
January 2025Question paper only
June 2024Question paper, mark scheme, examiner report
January 2024Question paper, mark scheme, examiner report
Sample assessmentQuestion paper + mark scheme · first teaching 2022

Teaching materials.

A teacher deck and a student booklet for each content area, plus a revision pack. Booklets print in colour on A4 landscape.

Content area AExplore the importance of fitness for sports performance · weeks 19–21 · 51 slides
Content area BInvestigate fitness testing to determine fitness levels · weeks 22–24 · 45 slides
Content area CInvestigate different fitness training methods · weeks 26–28 · 47 slides
Content area DInvestigate fitness programming to improve fitness and sports performance · weeks 29–30 · 34 slides
RevisionRevision and exam technique · week 31 to Thu 6 May 2027 · 16 slides

Fitness testing demonstration videos sit with the Area B pack in Teaching Materials.