IBDP Sport Exercise and Health Science SL
IB Diploma Programme Sport, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS) Standard Level is a Group 4 science course that applies the principles of natural sciences to the analysis of sport, exercise, and human health. The course integrates anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, psychology, and measurement science within a coherent framework, enabling students to understand how the human body functions, adapts, and performs across a wide range of physical activities.The SL course spans six core topics. Topic 1 (Anatomy) covers the skeletal and muscular systems, joint classification, muscle fibre types, and the sliding filament theory of contraction. Topic 2 (Exercise Physiology) examines the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, their acute and chronic responses to exercise, and the role of nutrition and ergogenic aids in performance. Topic 3 (Energy Systems) explores the three metabolic pathways — phosphocreatine, anaerobic glycolysis, and aerobic — together with fatigue mechanisms, recovery processes, and the significance of VO2 max and lactate threshold. Topic 4 (Movement Analysis) applies Newton's laws, lever mechanics, projectile motion, angular motion, and fluid dynamics to sport technique. Topic 5 (Sports Psychology) addresses arousal–performance theories, motivation, aggression, mental skills training, group cohesion, and leadership. Topic 6 (Measurement and Evaluation) develops practical skills in fitness testing, training programme design, periodisation, and body composition assessment.Assessment comprises two external papers (75%) and an internally assessed individual investigation (20%). Paper 1 tests data analysis and short-answer skills; Paper 2 requires extended evaluation and synthesis. The internal assessment is a 2,000–2,500 word experimental report in which students design, conduct, and critically evaluate their own investigation using appropriate statistical tools including the t-test.AccelaStudy's SEHS SL domain provides structured lessons, a rich question bank, contrastive concept pairs, and exam-focused tips aligned to every IB assessment objective, helping students build both the scientific understanding and the analytical writing skills needed to excel in this demanding and rewarding course.
210
Minutes
60
Questions
4/7
Passing Score
$173
Exam Cost
Who Should Take This
This course is ideal for IB Diploma students who are passionate about sport, physical activity, or human health and who want to study science in an applied, real-world context. It suits students considering future study or careers in sports science, physiotherapy, medicine, physical education, nutrition, coaching, or exercise rehabilitation. Students should be comfortable with scientific inquiry, data analysis, and extended written responses. No prior formal study of biology or physics is required, though a general interest in how the human body works will be a significant advantage. SEHS SL counts as a Group 4 science subject for IB Diploma requirements.
What's Covered
1Skeletal system, joints and movement, muscular system, muscle fibre types, sliding filament theory, muscle roles in movement
2Cardiovascular system structure and function, acute and chronic responses to exercise, respiratory system, gaseous exchange, nutrition and ergogenic aids
3ATP structure and resynthesis, phosphocreatine system, anaerobic glycolysis, aerobic system, energy system interplay, lactate threshold, VO2 max, fatigue and recovery
4Newton's laws, force, momentum, impulse, levers, projectile motion, angular motion, fluid mechanics, centre of mass and stability
5Arousal, anxiety, motivation, aggression, mental skills training, group cohesion, social loafing, leadership theories
6Fitness testing principles and protocols, VO2 max measurement, training principles and methods, periodisation, overtraining, body composition assessment
72,000–2,500 word individual investigation; student-designed experiment; data collection, statistical analysis (t-test), graphical presentation, evaluation of methodology
What's Included in AccelaStudy® AI
Adaptive Knowledge Graph
Practice Questions
Lesson Modules
Console Simulator Labs
Exam Tips & Strategy
13 Activity Formats
Course Outline
1Topic 1: Anatomy 2 topics
Skeletal System
- Identify and label the major bones of the axial and appendicular skeleton, including the cranium, vertebral column, sternum, ribs, clavicle, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges, pelvis, femur, tibia, fibula, tarsals, and metatarsals, in the context of sport and exercise.
- Describe the structure and classification of synovial joints, including the roles of cartilage, synovial fluid, ligaments, and the joint capsule, and outline the types of movement possible at hinge, ball-and-socket, pivot, condyloid, saddle, and gliding joints.
- Explain the planes and axes of movement (sagittal, frontal, transverse planes; mediolateral, anteroposterior, longitudinal axes) and apply these to describe joint actions such as flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation, circumduction, and dorsi/plantarflexion in named sport skills.
Muscular System
- Identify the location, origin, insertion, and primary action of the major muscles used in sport and exercise, including the trapezius, deltoid, pectoralis major, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, quadriceps group, hamstrings group, gastrocnemius, and soleus.
- Describe the microscopic structure of skeletal muscle, including the arrangement of myofibrils, sarcomeres, actin, and myosin filaments, and outline the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction including the roles of calcium ions, troponin, tropomyosin, and ATP.
- Distinguish between slow-twitch (Type I) and fast-twitch (Type IIa and Type IIx) muscle fibre types in terms of their structural characteristics, metabolic properties, fatigue resistance, and suitability for different sport and exercise activities.
- Explain the roles of agonist, antagonist, synergist, and fixator muscles during sport movements, and apply these concepts to analyse muscle group interactions in exercises such as a bicep curl, squat, or overhead throw.
2Topic 2: Exercise Physiology 3 topics
Cardiovascular System
- Describe the structure and function of the heart, including the four chambers, valves, coronary circulation, the cardiac conduction system (SA node, AV node, bundle of His, Purkinje fibres), and the relationship between cardiac output, stroke volume, and heart rate using the equation Q = SV × HR.
- Explain the acute cardiovascular responses to exercise, including increases in heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, blood pressure, and redistribution of blood flow via vasodilation and vasoconstriction, and relate these responses to the demands of different exercise intensities.
- Evaluate the long-term cardiovascular adaptations to aerobic training, including cardiac hypertrophy, increased stroke volume, reduced resting heart rate (athlete's heart), increased capillary density, and improved oxygen delivery, and discuss their implications for endurance sport performance.
Respiratory System
- Describe the structure of the respiratory system including the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, and the mechanics of breathing (inspiration and expiration), and define lung volumes including tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, expiratory reserve volume, residual volume, and vital capacity.
- Explain the process of gaseous exchange at the alveoli and at muscle tissue, including the role of partial pressure gradients, haemoglobin oxygen dissociation, the Bohr effect, and the transport of carbon dioxide as bicarbonate ions, carbamino compounds, and dissolved in plasma.
- Explain the acute respiratory responses to exercise, including increases in breathing rate, tidal volume, and minute ventilation, and describe the neural and chemical control mechanisms (central command, peripheral chemoreceptors, CO2 and pH sensitivity) that regulate ventilation during exercise.
Nutrition and Exercise
- Describe the roles of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins as macronutrients in sport and exercise, including their energy yields per gram, storage forms (glycogen, triglycerides, amino acids), and the conditions under which each substrate is preferentially oxidised during exercise of varying intensities and durations.
- Evaluate the evidence for and against the use of selected ergogenic aids including creatine supplementation, caffeine, carbohydrate loading, and blood doping, considering their proposed mechanisms of action, performance benefits, health risks, and ethical and legal status in sport.
3Topic 3: Energy Systems 2 topics
ATP and Metabolic Pathways
- Describe the structure of ATP and the role of ATP hydrolysis and resynthesis as the universal energy currency of the cell, and outline the three energy systems (phosphocreatine system, anaerobic glycolysis, and aerobic system) in terms of their substrates, location, ATP yield, and by-products.
- Explain the phosphocreatine (ATP-PCr) energy system, including the role of creatine kinase, the rapid resynthesis of ATP, the limited duration of energy supply (approximately 10 seconds), and its relevance to high-intensity, short-duration sport activities such as sprinting and weightlifting.
- Explain anaerobic glycolysis, including the breakdown of glucose to pyruvate, the net yield of 2 ATP, the conversion of pyruvate to lactate, the role of lactate as a fatigue-related metabolite, and the relevance of this system to high-intensity activities lasting approximately 10–120 seconds.
- Explain the aerobic energy system including glycolysis, the link reaction, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation (electron transport chain), stating the approximate ATP yield from glucose (approximately 36–38 ATP), and the role of fats and proteins as alternative substrates during prolonged exercise.
- Evaluate the interplay between the three energy systems during sport and exercise, including the concept of the lactate threshold, VO2 max as a measure of aerobic capacity, oxygen deficit, and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), and apply these concepts to explain performance in activities of varying intensity and duration.
Fatigue and Recovery
- Discuss the physiological causes of fatigue during exercise, including depletion of PCr and glycogen stores, accumulation of metabolic by-products (hydrogen ions, inorganic phosphate), neuromuscular fatigue, and dehydration, and relate these mechanisms to performance decrements in specific sport contexts.
- Describe the physiological processes involved in recovery from exercise, including PCr resynthesis, lactate removal and conversion, glycogen replenishment, and the role of EPOC, and outline practical recovery strategies such as active cool-down, nutrition timing, hydration, and sleep.
4Topic 4: Movement Analysis 2 topics
Biomechanical Principles
- State and apply Newton's three laws of motion (inertia, acceleration, and reaction) to sport and exercise contexts, providing specific examples such as a sprinter leaving the blocks, a ball being kicked, and a swimmer pushing off the wall to illustrate each law.
- Explain the biomechanical concepts of force, mass, acceleration, momentum, impulse, and the relationship between them (F = ma; impulse = change in momentum), and apply these to analyse sport techniques such as tackling in rugby, catching a cricket ball, or a gymnastics landing.
- Describe the lever system classifications (first, second, and third class levers) in the human body, identify examples of each class in musculoskeletal anatomy, and calculate the mechanical advantage of a lever given the effort arm and resistance arm lengths in a sport movement context.
- Explain the factors affecting projectile motion in sport, including the angle of release, initial velocity, height of release, and air resistance, and apply the principles of projectile motion to optimise performance in activities such as shot put, long jump, and basketball shooting.
Angular Motion and Fluid Mechanics
- Explain the concepts of angular motion including torque, angular velocity, angular momentum, and moment of inertia, and apply the principle of conservation of angular momentum to analyse rotational movements in sport such as a figure skater spinning, a diver tucking, or a gymnast performing a somersault.
- Describe the effects of fluid mechanics on sport performance, including the concepts of drag force, lift force (Bernoulli principle), the Magnus effect on spinning balls, and streamlining, and evaluate how athletes and equipment designers exploit or minimise these forces to enhance performance.
- Evaluate the concept of centre of mass and its relationship to balance and stability in sport, including the effects of base of support, height of centre of mass, and line of gravity on an athlete's stability, and apply these principles to analyse sport techniques such as defensive stances, gymnastics balances, and weightlifting.
5Topic 5: Sports Psychology 3 topics
Arousal, Anxiety, and Motivation
- Describe the concepts of arousal and anxiety in sport, distinguishing between somatic and cognitive anxiety and between state and trait anxiety, and outline the physiological and psychological indicators of each, including heart rate, muscle tension, negative self-talk, and concentration disruption.
- Evaluate the major theories of the arousal–performance relationship, including Drive Theory, the Inverted-U Hypothesis, and Catastrophe Theory, comparing their predictions, supporting evidence, and limitations in explaining sport performance outcomes across different skill levels and task complexities.
- Explain intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in sport, including self-determination theory (autonomy, competence, relatedness), achievement goal theory (task and ego orientations), and the potential undermining effect of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation, with reference to sport participation and adherence.
Aggression and Mental Skills
- Distinguish between aggression and assertion in sport, outline the theories of aggression (instinct theory, frustration–aggression hypothesis, social learning theory), and evaluate strategies for managing aggressive behaviour in athletes, including cognitive restructuring, relaxation techniques, and rule enforcement.
- Describe and evaluate mental skills training techniques used in sport, including goal setting (SMART goals, process/performance/outcome goals), imagery and mental rehearsal, self-talk, relaxation techniques (progressive muscle relaxation, breathing control), and attentional focus strategies, with reference to their evidence base.
Group Dynamics and Leadership
- Explain the concepts of group cohesion in sport teams, including task cohesion and social cohesion, the relationship between cohesion and performance, and the factors that influence cohesion such as team size, stability, shared goals, and communication, with reference to Carron's conceptual model.
- Describe the phenomena of social loafing and the Ringelmann effect in team sport contexts, explain the psychological mechanisms underlying social loafing (reduced identifiability, diffusion of responsibility), and evaluate strategies coaches can use to minimise social loafing and maximise individual effort within teams.
- Evaluate leadership theories in sport, including trait theory, behavioural theories (autocratic vs democratic styles), and Chelladurai's multidimensional model of leadership, and discuss how situational factors, athlete characteristics, and leader behaviour interact to influence team performance and athlete satisfaction.
6Topic 6: Measurement and Evaluation of Human Performance 3 topics
Fitness Testing and Evaluation
- Describe the principles of fitness testing including validity, reliability, objectivity, and normative data, and outline the protocols, equipment, and procedures for standard fitness tests including the multi-stage fitness test (beep test), Wingate anaerobic test, sit-and-reach flexibility test, grip dynamometry, and one-repetition maximum (1RM) test.
- Explain how VO2 max is measured directly (Douglas bag method, metabolic cart) and estimated indirectly (multi-stage fitness test, Astrand–Rhyming nomogram), and evaluate the advantages and limitations of direct versus indirect measurement methods in terms of accuracy, practicality, and cost.
- Construct and interpret appropriate graphical representations of fitness test data, including bar charts, line graphs, and scatter plots with error bars representing standard deviation, and calculate and apply descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, standard deviation, percentage change) to evaluate individual and group performance data.
Training Principles and Programme Design
- Describe the principles of training (specificity, progressive overload, reversibility, variation, individual differences, and the FITT principle — frequency, intensity, time, type) and explain how each principle should be applied when designing a training programme for a named sport or fitness goal.
- Explain the methods of training used to develop different components of fitness, including continuous training, interval training (HIIT), Fartlek training, circuit training, plyometrics, resistance training, and flexibility training (static, dynamic, PNF stretching), and justify the selection of appropriate methods for specific sport performance goals.
- Evaluate the concept of periodisation in sport training, including the structure of macrocycles, mesocycles, and microcycles, the phases of preparation (general and specific), competition, and transition, and discuss how periodisation principles are applied to peak performance timing and injury prevention in elite athletes.
- Discuss the physiological and psychological effects of overtraining syndrome, including symptoms such as decreased performance, chronic fatigue, mood disturbances, increased injury susceptibility, and hormonal imbalances, and evaluate monitoring strategies (training load, heart rate variability, wellness questionnaires) used to prevent overtraining.
Body Composition and Health
- Describe methods of assessing body composition including BMI, skinfold measurements (sum of skinfolds, Durnin and Womersley equation), bioelectrical impedance analysis, and DEXA scanning, and evaluate the validity, reliability, and practical limitations of each method for use with athletic and non-athletic populations.
- Discuss the relationship between body composition, health, and sport performance, including the risks associated with excessive body fat (cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes) and excessively low body fat (female athlete triad, relative energy deficiency in sport — RED-S), and evaluate ethical considerations in body composition assessment and weight management in sport.
7Internal Assessment: Individual Investigation 2 topics
Research Design and Ethics
- Construct a focused research question for an individual investigation in sport, exercise, or health science, identifying an independent variable, dependent variable, and controlled variables, and justify the selection of an appropriate experimental or quasi-experimental design to address the research question within ethical and practical constraints.
- Describe the ethical principles governing research with human participants in sport and exercise science, including informed consent, right to withdraw, confidentiality, anonymity, risk minimisation, and the role of institutional ethics review, and apply these principles to the design and conduct of the internal assessment investigation.
Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting
- Determine appropriate sample sizes and sampling strategies for a sport science investigation, collect raw data using standardised protocols, and record data accurately in appropriate tables with correct units, significant figures, and uncertainty estimates where applicable.
- Calculate descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and apply an appropriate inferential statistical test (t-test) to determine whether differences between groups or conditions are statistically significant, interpret p-values and t-statistics in the context of the investigation's research question, and present results in correctly labelled graphs with error bars.
- Evaluate the reliability and validity of data collected in the individual investigation, identify sources of systematic and random error, suggest specific improvements to the methodology, and discuss the extent to which the findings can be generalised beyond the sample studied, with reference to relevant published sport science literature.
Scope
Included Topics
- All six core syllabus topics: Anatomy (Topic 1), Exercise Physiology (Topic 2), Energy Systems (Topic 3), Movement Analysis (Topic 4), Sports Psychology (Topic 5), and Measurement and Evaluation of Human Performance (Topic 6)
- Internal Assessment: a 10-hour individual investigation using a self-selected sport/exercise context, producing a written report of 2,000–2,500 words applying one or more measurement tools and statistical analysis
- Two external assessment components: Paper 1 (data-based and short-answer questions, 35%) and Paper 2 (extended-response questions, 40%)
- All IB SEHS assessment objectives: AO1 (knowledge and understanding), AO2 (application and analysis), AO3 (synthesis and evaluation), AO4 (use and application of appropriate skills including data analysis and practical techniques)
- Measurement and statistical tools: mean, median, mode, standard deviation, t-test, percentage change, scatter plots, line graphs, bar charts, and error bars as required by the syllabus
- Practical scheme of work (PSOW): a minimum of 40 hours of practical work integrated across all topics, including prescribed investigations and student-designed experiments
- Ethical considerations in sport and exercise science research, including informed consent, confidentiality, and participant welfare
- Biomechanical principles: Newton's laws, levers, projectile motion, angular motion, and their application to sport technique
- Nutritional concepts relevant to sport performance: macronutrients, micronutrients, hydration, ergogenic aids, and energy balance
- Psychological theories and models: arousal, anxiety, motivation, aggression, group dynamics, and mental skills training
Not Covered
- HL-only extension topics: further study of the endocrine system, detailed pharmacology of performance-enhancing drugs beyond the SL overview, advanced biomechanical modelling, and HL-specific Paper 3
- Clinical diagnosis or medical treatment protocols beyond the scope of exercise science
- Detailed molecular biology or biochemistry beyond the energy systems content specified in the SL syllabus
- Sport-specific coaching methodologies not referenced in the IB SEHS syllabus
- Advanced statistical methods beyond those specified (e.g. ANOVA, regression analysis, multivariate statistics)
- Detailed pharmacokinetics or drug metabolism beyond ergogenic aids overview
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