Here are free Primary 3 Physical and Health Education first term exam questions and answers for teachers, parents and pupils. The questions follow the NERDC first term scheme of work, and the answers are at the bottom of this page.

Use the paper for revision at home, a class test or your end-of-term examination. You may copy it for your own class.

Primary 3 Physical and Health Education First Term Examination

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes  |  Total: 60 marks

Section A: Objective Questions (20 marks)

Choose the correct answer from the options A to D. Each question carries ½ mark.

1. PE stands for ____.

(A) Physical Education    (B) Primary English    (C) Personal Exercise    (D) Pupils’ Examination

2. PE helps our bodies to be ____.

(A) strong and healthy    (B) weak and tired    (C) sick    (D) lazy

3. For a PE lesson, we should wear our ____.

(A) best party clothes    (B) school sandals    (C) sportswear (PE kit)    (D) pyjamas

4. During PE, we should obey the ____.

(A) loudest pupil    (B) school gateman    (C) teacher’s rules    (D) shopkeeper

5. Which of these is a safety rule in PE?

(A) Run with sharp objects.    (B) Do not push others.    (C) Play on broken glass.    (D) Fight your friends.

6. The part of the body that joins the head to the body is the ____.

(A) knee    (B) elbow    (C) ankle    (D) neck

7. Moving the head up and down is called ____.

(A) nodding    (B) jumping    (C) clapping    (D) hopping

8. Lifting the shoulders up and down is called ____.

(A) shrugging    (B) kicking    (C) skipping    (D) running

9. Turning the head from left to right is a movement of the ____.

(A) toes    (B) knees    (C) neck    (D) fingers

10. Light exercises done before PE to prepare the body are called ____.

(A) sleep    (B) warm-up    (C) break    (D) lunch

11. Moving the arms round and round is called arm ____.

(A) circles    (B) jumps    (C) kicks    (D) nods

12. How many fingers do we have on both hands?

(A) five    (B) eight    (C) twelve    (D) ten

13. Clapping and catching help to improve hand ____.

(A) hunger    (B) sleep    (C) coordination    (D) colour

14. Moving the arms forward and backward is called arm ____.

(A) nods    (B) swings    (C) shrugs    (D) hops

15. Opening and closing the hands is a movement of the ____.

(A) fingers    (B) toes    (C) knees    (D) neck

16. Moving forward on one leg is called ____.

(A) sitting    (B) hopping    (C) crawling    (D) clapping

17. Pushing off the ground with both feet into the air is called ____.

(A) jumping    (B) sleeping    (C) nodding    (D) clapping

18. Bending down to touch your toes stretches the ____.

(A) ears    (B) eyes    (C) legs and back    (D) teeth

19. The joint in the middle of the leg that bends is the ____.

(A) elbow    (B) wrist    (C) knee    (D) neck

20. Which part of the body do we use to kick a ball?

(A) hand    (B) ear    (C) head only    (D) foot

21. Bending forward to touch your toes is called ____.

(A) twisting    (B) hopping    (C) clapping    (D) bending

22. Reaching up high with both arms is called ____.

(A) sitting    (B) bending    (C) stretching    (D) kneeling

23. Turning the upper body from side to side is called ____.

(A) jumping    (B) nodding    (C) twisting    (D) clapping

24. Using many parts of the body together smoothly is called ____.

(A) coordination    (B) sleeping    (C) eating    (D) resting

25. Star jumps use ____.

(A) only the eyes    (B) only the ears    (C) only the fingers    (D) the whole body

26. Running very fast over a short distance is called a ____.

(A) walk    (B) rest    (C) crawl    (D) sprint

27. When we run, we should swing our ____.

(A) ears    (B) arms    (C) heads round    (D) eyes

28. When we run, we should look ____.

(A) behind    (B) at the sky    (C) ahead (forward)    (D) at our feet all the time

29. A running game where one player chases the others is ____.

(A) chess    (B) ludo    (C) tag (catch me)    (D) draughts

30. Running makes our heart and ____ strong.

(A) hair    (B) legs    (C) teeth    (D) nails

31. Jumping from where you stand without running first is a ____ jump.

(A) running    (B) standing    (C) sitting    (D) lying

32. Running before you jump is called a ____ jump.

(A) standing    (B) sleeping    (C) sitting    (D) running

33. After a jump, we should land on ____.

(A) our heads    (B) both feet with knees bent    (C) our backs    (D) one finger

34. Jumping over a rope that is turned round is called ____.

(A) swimming    (B) dancing    (C) kicking    (D) rope skipping

35. Landing on soft sand helps to prevent ____.

(A) injury    (B) hunger    (C) laughter    (D) sleep

36. Which of these is a ball game?

(A) swimming    (B) running    (C) skipping    (D) football

37. When catching a ball, we should use ____.

(A) both hands    (B) one finger    (C) our feet only    (D) our heads

38. Throwing the ball to a teammate is called ____.

(A) kicking off    (B) passing    (C) sleeping    (D) sitting

39. When catching a ball, keep your eyes on the ____.

(A) sky    (B) ground    (C) teacher’s shoes    (D) ball

40. Football is played mainly with the ____.

(A) hands    (B) feet    (C) ears    (D) elbows

Section B: Theory Questions (40 marks)

Answer any FOUR questions. Each question carries 10 marks.

1. (a) What is Physical Education? Give TWO reasons why PE is important. [5 marks]

(b) Write THREE safety rules during a PE lesson. [5 marks]

2. (a) Name FIVE parts of the body. [5 marks]

(b) Name THREE movements of the head, neck and shoulders. [5 marks]

3. (a) What is the difference between hopping and jumping? [5 marks]

(b) Name THREE whole-body movements and explain ONE of them. [5 marks]

4. (a) Give THREE tips for running well. [5 marks]

(b) Name TWO types of jumps. How should you land after a jump? [5 marks]

5. (a) Name FOUR ball games. (b) Give THREE tips for catching a ball. (c) Give THREE tips for throwing a ball. [10 marks]

6. Describe a simple warm-up that you can do before a PE lesson. Name FIVE exercises. [10 marks]

Answer Key

Section A

1. A	2. A	3. C	4. C	5. B	6. D	7. A	8. A	9. C	10. B
11. A	12. D	13. C	14. B	15. A	16. B	17. A	18. C	19. C	20. D
21. D	22. C	23. C	24. A	25. D	26. D	27. B	28. C	29. C	30. B
31. B	32. D	33. B	34. D	35. A	36. D	37. A	38. B	39. D	40. B

Give ½ mark for each correct answer (20 marks).

Section B: Marking Guide

Question 1(a) [5 marks]

• PE is the subject that teaches us to keep our bodies fit through games and exercises (2)
• Any two: makes us strong; keeps us healthy; helps us play with others; improves coordination (3)

Question 1(b) [5 marks]

• Any three: obey the teacher; wear PE kit; do not push others; warm up first; play on a safe ground; report injuries (5 marks shared)

Question 2(a) [5 marks]

• Any five, e.g. head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, legs, knees, feet, toes (1 mark each)

Question 2(b) [5 marks]

• Nodding, turning the head side to side, shrugging the shoulders (accept shoulder rolls) (5 marks shared)

Question 3(a) [5 marks]

• Hopping is moving on one leg (2.5)
• Jumping is pushing off the ground with both feet (2.5)

Question 3(b) [5 marks]

• Bending, stretching, twisting (3)
• Correct explanation of one, e.g. twisting is turning the upper body from side to side (2)

Question 4(a) [5 marks]

• Any three: look ahead; swing your arms; run on the balls of your feet; lift your knees; breathe well (5 marks shared)

Question 4(b) [5 marks]

• Standing jump and running jump (2)
• Land on both feet with the knees bent, on soft ground or sand (3)

Question 5 [10 marks]

• (a) Any four: football, basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis (4)
• (b) Any three: watch the ball; use both hands; spread your fingers; pull the ball into your chest (3)
• (c) Any three: look at your partner; step forward; swing your arm; follow through (3)

Question 6 [10 marks]

• Any five correct warm-up exercises, e.g. jogging on the spot, arm circles, neck turns, toe touches, star jumps, leg swings (2 marks each)

Accept other correct answers written in the pupil’s own words.

More Free Primary 3 Exam Questions

• All Primary 3 first term exam questions (free)
• Primary 3 English Language exam questions
• Primary 3 Mathematics exam questions
• Primary 3 Basic Science exam questions
• Primary 3 Christian Religious Studies exam questions
• Primary 3 Islamic Studies exam questions
• Primary 3 Nigerian History exam questions
• Primary 3 Social and Citizenship Studies exam questions
• Primary 3 Cultural and Creative Arts exam questions

More Teaching Resources

• Primary 3 lesson notes
• Primary 4 first term exam questions
• Primary 5 first term exam questions
• Primary 6 first term exam questions

Frequently Asked Questions