GCSE Physical Education Short Paper A
Covers The Skeletal System, The Muscular System, The Cardiorespiratory System and Effects of Exercise and 3 more.
Questions
Question 1 [2 marks]
Principles of Training and Injury Prevention
Before a school hockey match begins, the referee walks the length of the pitch checking the surface.
State what the referee is checking for, and explain why this reduces the risk of injury to players.
Question 2 [3 marks]
Components of Fitness
A gymnast performs the splits as part of her floor routine.
Identify the component of fitness being demonstrated, define it, and explain why it is important for this move.
Question 3 [3 marks]
The Muscular System
During a press-up, an athlete's triceps and pectorals work together while her biceps relax.
Explain the roles of the agonist and the antagonist in this movement, using the triceps and biceps as your example.
Question 4 [3 marks]
Components of Fitness
A table tennis player watches the ball closely and times the swing of her racket precisely to make contact at the right moment.
Identify the skill-related component of fitness being demonstrated, define it, and explain why it is especially important in a fast-paced sport like table tennis.
Question 5 [4 marks]
Movement Analysis: Levers, Planes and Axes
A discus thrower spins on the spot before releasing the discus, turning through more than one full rotation while staying upright.
Name the plane and axis used for this spinning movement, and identify one other joint action being used at the shoulder as the discus thrower releases the discus.
Question 6 [4 marks]
The Skeletal System
The skeleton contains fixed, slightly movable and freely movable joints.
Name the joint classification found at the skull, at the vertebrae of the spine, and at the shoulder, and give one reason why the skull's joints being fixed is important.
Question 7 [4 marks]
The Cardiorespiratory System and Effects of Exercise
At rest, a swimmer's minute ventilation is 8 litres per minute. During a hard training set, her tidal volume rises to 2.5 litres per breath and her breathing rate rises to 24 breaths per minute.
Calculate her minute ventilation during the training set, using minute ventilation = tidal volume x breathing rate, and calculate how many times greater this is than her resting minute ventilation.
Question 8 [5 marks]
The Skeletal System
A marathon runner relies on a high number of red blood cells to transport oxygen, and on strong bones to cope with the repeated impact of training.
Explain how the bone marrow and the mineral content of bone support this runner's training, referring to blood cell production and mineral storage.
Question 9 [6 marks]
Movement Analysis: Levers, Planes and Axes
A basketball player performs a lay-up, jumping off one foot and extending her whole body upward and forward towards the basket.
Explain, referring to the sagittal and frontal planes and their axes, how the player's body moves during take-off and how a defender jumping straight up to block would move differently.
Question 10 [6 marks]
The Muscular System
A shot putter explodes into the put, driving powerfully from a crouched position, then holds her follow through position steady for a moment to avoid fouling.
Explain which type of muscle contraction is used during the explosive drive, and which is used while holding the follow through position, and explain which muscle fibre type is best suited to the drive phase.
Model solutions
| Question 1[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| checking the playing surface for hazards, e.g. holes, litter or wet/slippery patches | B1 |
| a correct explanation, e.g. removing or flagging hazards before play reduces the chance of a player tripping, slipping or being injured during the match | B1 |
| Final answer: Checking the surface for hazards; removing them before play reduces the risk of players tripping or slipping | |
| Question 2[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| flexibility | B1 |
| a correct definition, e.g. the range of movement possible at a joint | B1 |
| a correct explanation, e.g. it allows her joints and muscles to stretch far enough to complete the splits fully, improving the quality of the move | B1 |
| Final answer: Flexibility - the range of movement at a joint; needed to fully extend the legs in the splits | |
| Question 3[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| the agonist (triceps) contracting to produce the movement, straightening the elbow | B1 |
| the antagonist (biceps) relaxing (lengthening) to allow the movement to happen | B1 |
| correct use of the term antagonistic pair to describe how the two muscles work together | B1 |
| Final answer: The triceps (agonist) contracts while the biceps (antagonist) relaxes, working as an antagonistic pair | |
| Question 4[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| coordination | B1 |
| a correct definition, e.g. the ability to use the eyes, hands and body together accurately and smoothly | B1 |
| a correct explanation, e.g. the ball travels very quickly in table tennis, so poor hand-eye coordination would mean mistimed or missed shots | B1 |
| Final answer: Coordination - using the eyes and hands together accurately; essential given how little time there is to time each shot | |
| Question 5[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| the transverse plane | B1 |
| the longitudinal axis | B1 |
| a valid shoulder joint action at release, e.g. horizontal flexion (adduction) or extension | B1 |
| a clear link between the joint action named and the release action described | B1 |
| Final answer: Transverse plane, longitudinal axis; horizontal flexion or extension at the shoulder on release | |
| Question 6[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| fibrous joint at the skull (sutures) | B1 |
| cartilaginous joint between the vertebrae | B1 |
| synovial joint at the shoulder | B1 |
| a correct reason, e.g. the skull's fixed joints protect the brain by preventing movement of the skull bones | B1 |
| Final answer: Fibrous (skull), cartilaginous (vertebrae), synovial (shoulder); fixed skull joints protect the brain | |
| Question 7[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| minute ventilation = tidal volume x breathing rate | M1 |
| substituting 2.5 x 24 | M1 |
| 60 litres per minute | A1 |
| dividing 60 by 8 to give 7.5 times greater than at rest | A1 |
| Final answer: 60 litres per minute during the set, which is 7.5 times greater than her resting minute ventilation of 8 litres per minute | |
| Question 8[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| red bone marrow, found inside certain bones, producing red blood cells | B1 |
| a correct application, e.g. more red blood cells increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, supporting her aerobic training | B1 |
| bones storing minerals such as calcium and phosphorus | B1 |
| a correct application, e.g. these minerals keep bones strong and dense, helping them withstand the repeated impact forces of running | B1 |
| a correct overall link, e.g. both functions support her ability to train hard and recover, by supplying oxygen and providing a strong structural base | B1 |
| Final answer: Bone marrow produces red blood cells for oxygen transport; bones store calcium and phosphorus, keeping them strong enough to withstand repeated impact | |
| Question 9[6 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| the lay-up take-off involving forward and upward movement mainly in the sagittal plane | B1 |
| this movement occurring around the frontal (transverse) axis | B1 |
| a correct application, e.g. flexion and extension at the hip and knee drive the body forward and up in this plane | B1 |
| a defender jumping straight up moving mainly in the frontal plane | B1 |
| this movement occurring around the sagittal axis | B1 |
| a correct overall comparison, e.g. the lay-up combines forward travel with the jump, while a straight vertical block stays closer to one point on the floor | B1 |
| Final answer: The lay-up take-off is mainly sagittal plane movement about the frontal axis; a straight vertical jump to block is mainly frontal plane movement about the sagittal axis | |
| Question 10[6 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| isotonic (concentric) contraction used during the explosive drive | B1 |
| a correct explanation, e.g. the muscles shorten as they contract, producing the movement that drives the shot forward | B1 |
| isometric contraction used while holding the follow through position | B1 |
| a correct explanation, e.g. the muscles stay the same length, keeping the body still without visible movement | B1 |
| fast twitch fibres being best suited to the drive phase | B1 |
| a correct explanation, e.g. fast twitch fibres contract quickly and forcefully, producing the power needed for an explosive, short duration action | B1 |
| Final answer: Isotonic (concentric) contraction for the explosive drive, isometric contraction to hold the follow through; fast twitch fibres suit the drive | |