International Baccalaureate (IB) in Sports, Exercise & Health Science

Applications Open: 3rd November 2025

Applications Close: 27th February 2026

Application Details: At Hartsdown Academy we run the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme https://www.ibo.org/programmes/career-related-programme/ . Prospective students need to choose 1 Vocational Course (BTEC or OCR) and 2 IB Diploma Courses.

Entry Requirements: 5 x Grade 4-9 including Maths & English. A good attendance and behaviour record is also essential.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

As one of the sciences subjects in the IB Diploma Programme, Sports, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS) is primarily concerned with the scientific study of human physiology, biomechanics and psychology. Scientists working in these fields attempt to make sense of human physical and mental health and performance through a variety of approaches and techniques, controlled experimentation, and collaboration with other researchers. SEHS enables students to engage constructively with topical scientific issues. Students examine scientific knowledge claims in a real-world context, fostering interest and curiosity. By exploring the subject, they develop understandings, skills and techniques which can be applied across their studies and beyond.

The course is organised under three main themes: exercise physiology and nutrition of the human body; biomechanics; sports psychology and motor learning. These themes are distinct, but also share many overlapping features; studying the similarities and connections between them is a central component of the course. This is a career subject and is part of the IBCP course. Students should have a high level of interest in sport/physical activity and ideally be an active participant.

Syllabus content:

A Exercise physiology and nutrition of the human body
A.1—Communication
A.2—Hydration and nutrition
A.3—Response

B. Biomechanics
B.1—Generating movement in the body
B.2—Forces, motion and movement
B.3—Injury

C. Sports psychology and motor learning
C.1—Individual differences
C.2—Motor learning
C.3—Motivation
C.4—Stress and coping
C.5—Psychological skills

The IB is mainly assessed internally through the completion of coursework.

Assessment model

External assessment:
All students will sit two external examinations.

Paper 1A includes multiple choice questions on the syllabus and paper 1B includes data analysis questions and provides an opportunity to assess some of the experimental skills and techniques.

Paper 2 includes short-answer and extended-response questions of intertwining skills, concepts and understandings placed into a suitable sports, exercise, and health science context.

Other changes include the removal of the option topics: optimising physiological performance; psychology of sports; physical activity and health; nutrition for sports, exercise and health. Some content from each of the option topics was incorporated into the course at standard level and higher level.

Internal assessment

The ‘scientific investigation’ (internal assessment) will also see a change, with the opportunity for students to collaborate and support each other within small groups. Where appropriate, students will be able to share similar methodologies, provided that the independent or dependent variable differ, and the data collected is unique to each student.

Students will continue to submit an individual report with a maximum word count of 3,200 words.

The revised criteria will place a greater emphasis on high-order thinking skills with 50% of the marks allocated for Conclusion and Evaluation.

Grade 5+ in English and Maths, 3 other subjects at Grade 4+.

University - A BSc Honours in any of the below:

• Sports Science
• Sports Coaching
• Sport and Physical Education
• Fitness Management and Training
• Elite Sports Performance
• Assistant Performance Analyst
• Technical Scouting
• Community Coaching Roles
• Coaching Roles within Specific Sports
• Development Coordinator

There are a wide variety of potential careers pathways within this sector, below is an idea of what area of expertise your career could involve:

• Sport Performance Analyst
• Technical Sports Scout
• Community Sports Coaching
• Professional Sports Coach
• Sports Development Coordinator
• PE Teacher

IB Core scores the extended essay and theory of knowledge components from Grades A to E:

Grade A = 12 UCAS points
Grade B = 10 UCAS points
Grade C = 8 UCAS points
Grade D = 6 UCAS points
Grade E = 4 UCAS points