Year 10 Paper 6: Full Year 10 Review
Covers every Year 10 topic: the skeletal, muscular and cardiorespiratory systems, movement analysis, and all three physical training topics.
Year 10 here means a typical teaching order, not a syllabus rule. No exam board defines what belongs to Year 10, and schools sequence the course differently. Check it against your own scheme of work before using it to decide what a class has covered.
Questions
Question 1 [2 marks]
Principles of Training and Injury Prevention
A swimmer follows exactly the same training set, in the same pool, every single session for a year.
Name the training principle being ignored here, and explain why ignoring it could reduce her motivation to train.
Question 2 [2 marks]
The Muscular System
A footballer performs a squat as part of her warm up, bending then straightening her knees.
Name the muscle found at the front of the thigh that contracts to straighten the knee during this squat, and state whether it is working as the agonist or the antagonist.
Question 3 [2 marks]
The Cardiorespiratory System and Effects of Exercise
Oxygenated blood arrives at the heart from the lungs before being pumped out to the rest of the body.
Name the two chambers on the left side of the heart that this oxygenated blood passes through.
Question 4 [2 marks]
Movement Analysis: Levers, Planes and Axes
A diver performs a forward somersault, rotating head over heels.
Name the plane and the axis of rotation used during this somersault.
Question 5 [2 marks]
The Muscular System
A weightlifter performs a bicep curl, bending his elbow to lift the bar towards his shoulder.
Name the muscle that contracts to cause this movement, and state whether it is working as the agonist or the antagonist.
Question 6 [3 marks]
Movement Analysis: Levers, Planes and Axes
A swimmer performs a tumble turn at the end of a length, rotating forwards through the water before pushing off the wall.
Name the plane and axis of rotation used during the tumble turn, and give one other sporting example that uses the same plane and axis.
Question 7 [3 marks]
The Skeletal System
A hockey player is struck on the shin during a match and her shin guard protects the bone underneath.
Name the long bone found in the lower leg that this shin guard protects, and state two other functions of the skeleton besides protection that are demonstrated when she runs up the pitch.
Question 8 [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 9 [3 marks]
Training Methods and Fitness Testing Data
A cross country squad completes the Cooper 12-minute run test at the start of the season.
Identify the component of fitness being tested, and describe how the test is carried out.
Question 10 [4 marks]
The Muscular System
A sprinter's leg bends rapidly at the knee during the recovery phase of her running action, before straightening again to drive forward.
Identify the muscle contracting as the agonist to bend (flex) the knee during recovery, and identify the antagonist muscle during this same phase.
Question 11 [4 marks]
Principles of Training and Injury Prevention
A runner increases the distance of her long run by a small amount each week as part of her marathon training.
Explain what is meant by the principle of progressive overload, and describe one risk of not applying it correctly.
Question 12 [4 marks]
Training Methods and Fitness Testing Data
A rugby squad uses a hand grip dynamometer to test each player's grip strength before pre-season training begins.
Identify the health-related component of fitness being tested, describe how the test is carried out, and state one limitation of using this test to represent a player's overall strength.
Question 13 [4 marks]
The Cardiorespiratory System and Effects of Exercise
A PE teacher explains the process of breathing out (expiration) during recovery after a sprint, when the athlete needs to expel air quickly and forcefully.
Describe what happens to the diaphragm, the intercostal muscles, and the volume and pressure inside the chest cavity during forced expiration.
Question 14 [5 marks]
Principles of Training and Injury Prevention
A student tries resistance training for the first time in a PE lesson and wakes up the next morning with sore, stiff muscles that get slightly worse over the following day.
Name this delayed muscle soreness, explain what is thought to cause it, and explain how a longer warm-up or a more gradual increase in training load could help reduce it in future.
Question 15 [5 marks]
The Skeletal System
A basketball player pushes off through her ankle before extending her knee explosively during a lay-up.
Identify the type of synovial joint found at the ankle, and identify the joint action occurring there as she pushes off. Explain one way this joint's range of movement differs from a ball and socket joint's.
Question 16 [5 marks]
Principles of Training and Injury Prevention
A swimmer always finishes her session with a cool-down of gentle swimming and stretching before leaving the pool.
State three benefits of completing a cool-down after taking part in exercise, and explain why removing lactic acid is one of them.
Question 17 [5 marks]
Training Methods and Fitness Testing Data
A coach records the number of press-ups eight athletes complete in one minute: 32, 28, 41, 35, 30, 27, 44, 39.
Calculate the mean number of press-ups for the squad, giving your answer to 1 decimal place, and calculate the range of the data.
Question 18 [6 marks]
Components of Fitness
A tennis player must sprint to reach a drop shot, stretch her arm and racket as far as possible to make contact, and stay upright without losing her footing.
Identify three components of fitness this situation demonstrates, and give a correct definition for each one.
Question 19 [6 marks]
Principles of Training and Injury Prevention
A marathon runner's coach wants her training to be highly specific to the demands of a marathon, but is also aware that running long distances at the same steady pace, session after session, carries its own risks.
Explain the principle of specificity as it applies to marathon training, and explain why applying it too strictly, without variety, could create problems for this runner.
Question 20 [6 marks]
The Muscular System
A long jumper drives explosively from the take-off board, extending fully at the hip, knee and ankle to generate maximum lift.
Identify the muscle acting as the agonist at the hip, at the knee and at the ankle during this extension, and explain why fast twitch muscle fibres are especially important in these muscles for the take-off.
Question 21 [6 marks]
Components of Fitness
A triathlete must swim, then cycle, then run one after another in a single race, each discipline placing slightly different physical demands on her.
Explain how the importance of cardiovascular endurance and other components of fitness changes across the three disciplines of a triathlon.
Question 22 [6 marks]
The Cardiorespiratory System and Effects of Exercise
Blood must travel back up from a runner's legs to her heart against gravity, even though veins carry blood at much lower pressure than arteries.
Explain two mechanisms that help venous return during exercise, and explain why efficient venous return is important for maintaining cardiac output.
Question 23 [6 marks]
Training Methods and Fitness Testing Data
A talent identification programme uses a battery of fitness tests, including the standing broad jump and the 30 m sprint, to help select young athletes for a development squad.
Evaluate the use of these fitness tests for talent identification, and explain how using a battery of several tests, rather than just one, improves the quality of the selection decision.
Question 24 [6 marks]
Principles of Training and Injury Prevention
A rower returns to training after two weeks off with illness, and is keen to get back to her previous fitness as quickly as possible.
Explain how she should apply the principles of moderation, progressive overload and rest and recovery as she returns to training, and explain the risk of ignoring these principles.
Model solutions
| Question 1[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| tedium (variance) | B1 |
| a correct explanation, e.g. always doing the same training becomes repetitive and boring, which can reduce motivation to keep training | B1 |
| Final answer: Tedium (variance) - repeating identical training can become boring and reduce motivation | |
| Question 2[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| quadriceps | B1 |
| agonist (prime mover) | B1 |
| Final answer: Quadriceps, working as the agonist | |
| Question 3[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| left atrium | B1 |
| left ventricle | B1 |
| Final answer: Left atrium and left ventricle | |
| Question 4[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| the sagittal plane | B1 |
| the transverse axis | B1 |
| Final answer: Sagittal plane, transverse axis | |
| Question 5[2 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| biceps (brachii) | B1 |
| agonist (prime mover) | B1 |
| Final answer: Biceps, working as the agonist | |
| Question 6[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| the sagittal plane | B1 |
| the transverse axis | B1 |
| a valid other example in the same plane and axis, e.g. a forward roll in gymnastics or a somersault | B1 |
| Final answer: Sagittal plane, transverse axis (e.g. also seen in a forward roll) | |
| Question 7[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| tibia | B1 |
| movement, e.g. providing attachment points for muscles so the leg can move | B1 |
| support, e.g. bearing the body's weight while running | B1 |
| Final answer: Tibia; movement (muscle attachment) and support are also demonstrated | |
| Question 8[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 9[3 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| cardiovascular fitness (aerobic endurance) | B1 |
| the performer running (or walking, if needed) as far as possible in exactly 12 minutes | B1 |
| the total distance covered in that time being recorded as the score | B1 |
| Final answer: Tests cardiovascular fitness; the performer covers as much distance as possible in 12 minutes, and the distance is the score | |
| Question 10[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| hamstrings identified as the agonist | B1 |
| the hamstrings contracting to flex the knee | B1 |
| quadriceps identified as the antagonist | B1 |
| the quadriceps relaxing (lengthening) to allow the movement to happen | B1 |
| Final answer: Hamstrings (agonist) contract to flex the knee during recovery; quadriceps (antagonist) relax to allow this | |
| Question 11[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| overload meaning the demands of training are gradually increased (through FITT) so the body works harder than it is used to | B1 |
| progressive meaning this increase happens gradually over time, rather than all at once | B1 |
| a correct reason this causes adaptation, e.g. the body adapts to cope with the increased demand, improving fitness | B1 |
| a correct risk if applied incorrectly, e.g. increasing training too quickly can lead to overtraining or injury | B1 |
| Final answer: Progressive overload means gradually increasing training demands over time; increasing it too quickly risks overtraining or injury | |
| Question 12[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| strength | B1 |
| the performer squeezing the dynamometer as hard as possible with one hand, with the highest reading recorded | B1 |
| a correct limitation, e.g. it only measures the strength of the hand and forearm muscles, not the whole body | B1 |
| a correct additional detail, e.g. a rugby player also needs strength in the legs and upper body for scrums and tackles, which this test does not measure | B1 |
| Final answer: Strength; the performer squeezes the dynamometer as hard as possible and the highest reading is recorded; it only tests grip strength, not whole-body strength | |
| Question 13[4 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| the diaphragm relaxing and returning to its domed shape | B1 |
| the internal intercostal muscles contracting, pulling the ribcage down and in | B1 |
| the volume of the chest (thoracic) cavity decreasing | B1 |
| the pressure inside the chest cavity increasing above atmospheric pressure, forcing air out of the lungs | B1 |
| Final answer: Diaphragm relaxes and domes upward, internal intercostals contract to pull the ribcage down, chest volume decreases and pressure increases, forcing air out | |
| Question 14[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) | B1 |
| a correct cause, e.g. small amounts of microscopic damage to muscle fibres caused by unfamiliar or intense exercise | B1 |
| a correct additional detail, e.g. it typically appears 24 to 72 hours after exercise, unlike soreness felt immediately after exercise | B1 |
| a correct explanation of the warm-up link, e.g. a thorough warm-up prepares the muscles for the demands of exercise, reducing the initial strain placed on them | B1 |
| a correct explanation of gradual overload, e.g. increasing training load more gradually (progressive overload) reduces the sudden, unfamiliar stress placed on the muscle fibres | B1 |
| Final answer: DOMS - caused by microscopic muscle fibre damage from unfamiliar/intense exercise; a longer warm-up and a more gradual increase in load can both help reduce it | |
| Question 15[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| a hinge joint at the ankle | B1 |
| plantarflexion occurring as she pushes off (pointing the toes down) | B1 |
| a correct description of the push-off movement, e.g. this straightens the ankle to help drive the body upward and forward | B1 |
| a correct difference, e.g. a hinge joint only allows movement in one plane (flexion and extension), giving it less freedom of movement than a ball and socket joint | B1 |
| a correct additional detail, e.g. a ball and socket joint allows movement in multiple planes, including rotation, which a hinge joint cannot do | B1 |
| Final answer: Hinge joint; plantarflexion drives the push-off; a hinge joint moves in one plane only, unlike the multi-directional ball and socket joint | |
| Question 16[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| gradually lowering the heart rate back towards its resting level | B1 |
| helping to remove lactic acid (or other waste products) from the muscles | B1 |
| reducing the risk of blood pooling in the muscles/limbs by keeping blood circulating | B1 |
| a correct explanation of lactic acid removal, e.g. continued light exercise keeps blood flowing through the muscles, carrying lactic acid away to be broken down | B1 |
| a correct link to benefit, e.g. removing lactic acid can reduce the muscle soreness felt over the following days | B1 |
| Final answer: Lowers heart rate gradually, removes lactic acid and prevents blood pooling; continued blood flow during the cool-down carries lactic acid away, reducing soreness | |
| Question 17[5 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| adding the eight values, total = 276 | M1 |
| dividing the total by 8 | M1 |
| mean = 34.5 press-ups | A1 |
| finding highest minus lowest, 44 - 27 | M1 |
| range = 17 press-ups | A1 |
| Final answer: Mean = 34.5 press-ups; range = 17 press-ups | |
| Question 18[6 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| speed identified, needed to cover the ground quickly to reach the drop shot in time | B1 |
| flexibility identified, needed to stretch the arm and racket as far as possible to make contact with the ball | B1 |
| balance identified, needed to stay upright and in control while stretching to reach the shot | B1 |
| a correct definition of speed, e.g. the maximum rate at which a person is able to move over a set distance | B1 |
| a correct definition of flexibility, e.g. the range of movement possible at a joint | B1 |
| a correct definition of balance, e.g. the ability to keep the body's centre of mass over its base of support | B1 |
| Final answer: Speed, flexibility and balance, each defined and linked to covering the ground, stretching to reach the ball and staying in control | |
| Question 19[6 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| specificity meaning training should match the demands of the event, e.g. focusing on long, steady-paced aerobic running for a marathon | B1 |
| a correct application, e.g. this directly develops the aerobic endurance and running economy needed on race day | B1 |
| a correct problem, e.g. repeating the same type of session constantly risks tedium/boredom, which can reduce motivation to train | B1 |
| a further correct problem, e.g. it also risks overuse injury, as the same muscles, tendons and joints are repeatedly stressed in the same way | B1 |
| a correct suggested balance, e.g. some variety, such as occasional cross-training or varied-pace sessions, can reduce these risks | B1 |
| a correct overall link, e.g. training should stay broadly specific to the marathon while still varying enough to protect motivation and reduce injury risk | B1 |
| Final answer: Specificity means training should match the demands of a marathon (long, steady aerobic running); applied too strictly, without variety, it risks both tedium and overuse injury, so some variation should still be built in | |
| Question 20[6 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| gluteals (gluteus maximus) as the agonist at the hip, extending it | B1 |
| quadriceps as the agonist at the knee, extending it | B1 |
| gastrocnemius as the agonist at the ankle, causing plantarflexion | B1 |
| a correct explanation of why fast twitch fibres matter, e.g. they contract quickly and forcefully, generating the power needed for the movement | B1 |
| a correct link to the event, e.g. take-off lasts a very short time, so fibres that fatigue quickly are not a disadvantage here | B1 |
| a correct overall link, e.g. all three muscles must contract together, powerfully and quickly, to convert the horizontal speed of the run-up into the vertical lift needed at take-off | B1 |
| Final answer: Gluteals (hip), quadriceps (knee) and gastrocnemius (ankle) all act as agonists, extending fully; fast twitch fibres in each give the fast, powerful contraction needed for the short, explosive take-off | |
| Question 21[6 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| cardiovascular endurance being essential across all three disciplines, as the race is sustained over a long period | B1 |
| a correct additional demand in swimming, e.g. flexibility at the shoulder helps produce an efficient, less tiring stroke | B1 |
| a correct additional demand in cycling, e.g. muscular endurance in the legs is needed to keep pedalling against resistance for a long period | B1 |
| a correct additional demand in running, e.g. balance and coordination help maintain an efficient running technique when the legs are already fatigued | B1 |
| a correct explanation of why cardiovascular endurance remains most important overall, e.g. without it she could not sustain effort for the full duration of any of the three disciplines | B1 |
| a correct overall link, e.g. cardiovascular endurance underpins the whole race, while other components become more or less important depending on the specific demands of each discipline | B1 |
| Final answer: Cardiovascular endurance is essential throughout, but the next most important component shifts with the discipline: flexibility for an efficient swim stroke, muscular endurance for sustained cycling, and balance/coordination for running technique when fatigued | |
| Question 22[6 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| the skeletal muscle pump, where contracting leg muscles squeeze the veins running through them, helping push blood back towards the heart | B1 |
| a correct additional detail, e.g. this effect increases during exercise as the muscles contract more frequently and forcefully | B1 |
| one-way (pocket) valves in the veins, which stop blood flowing backward, away from the heart, between contractions | B1 |
| a correct additional detail, e.g. this ensures blood keeps moving in one direction, towards the heart, despite the low pressure in the veins | B1 |
| a correct explanation of the importance to cardiac output, e.g. cardiac output depends on stroke volume, which depends on enough blood returning to (filling) the heart between beats | B1 |
| a correct overall link, e.g. without efficient venous return, stroke volume and therefore cardiac output would fall, reducing the oxygen delivered to the working muscles | B1 |
| Final answer: The skeletal muscle pump and one-way valves in the veins help return blood to the heart against gravity; efficient venous return keeps the heart adequately filled, maintaining stroke volume and cardiac output | |
| Question 23[6 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| a correct advantage, e.g. tests give quick, standardised, objective data that allows fair comparison between many young athletes | B1 |
| a correct limitation, e.g. tests such as the standing broad jump or sprint do not measure sport-specific skill or decision-making | B1 |
| a further correct limitation, e.g. results can be affected by the athlete's motivation, nerves, or how well the test is explained/administered on the day | B1 |
| correct reasoning for using a battery, e.g. no single test measures every component of fitness, so relying on one test alone gives an incomplete picture | B1 |
| a correct application, e.g. combining the broad jump (power) and sprint (speed) tests gives a broader profile than either test used alone | B1 |
| a correct overall judgement, e.g. a battery of tests improves reliability of the overall picture but should still be combined with match/game observation for a fully rounded selection decision | B1 |
| Final answer: Tests give useful, objective but incomplete data; using several tests together (a battery) builds a broader, more reliable fitness profile than any single test, though observation of play should still be used alongside it | |
| Question 24[6 marks] | |
|---|---|
| Answer or working | Marks |
| moderation meaning training should be sensible and appropriate to her current fitness level, not excessive | B1 |
| a correct application, e.g. she should not attempt her pre-illness training load immediately | B1 |
| progressive overload meaning the training load should be increased gradually over successive sessions | B1 |
| a correct application, e.g. building distance or intensity back up gradually over several weeks rather than in one session | B1 |
| rest and recovery meaning enough time must be left between sessions for the body to adapt, especially while still recovering from illness | B1 |
| a correct overall risk if ignored, e.g. returning too hard, too soon risks injury, a relapse of illness, or overtraining, delaying her return further | B1 |
| Final answer: Train moderately and increase load gradually (progressive overload) with adequate rest between sessions; ignoring these risks injury, a relapse or overtraining, delaying her return even further | |