AQA GCSE Physical Education sample questions and answers (8582)
Guide overview All 7 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
34 sample questions and answers
Taken from every topic of AQA GCSE Physical Education, specification 8582. The full guide has 653.
Paper 1
Applied Anatomy and Physiology
157 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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Bones and the functions of the skeleton
Which bones form the knee joint, and where does the patella sit?
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The femur and the tibia form the knee joint. The patella sits at the front of the knee joint. -
Joints, joint actions, ligaments and tendons
How does cartilage protect a joint?
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Cartilage covers the ends of the bones and stops them rubbing together. Cartilage also absorbs shock, such as on landing from a jump. -
Muscles and antagonistic pairs
Which two muscles work as a pair at the ankle?
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The gastrocnemius and the tibialis anterior work at the ankle. The gastrocnemius causes plantar flexion and the tibialis anterior causes dorsiflexion. -
The pathway of air and gaseous exchange
What is gaseous exchange?
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Gaseous exchange is the swap of gases between the alveoli and the blood. Oxygen diffuses into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses out. -
Blood vessels
Describe the structure of a capillary.
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A capillary is a very narrow vessel with walls only one cell thick. Red blood cells pass through a capillary in single file.
Paper 1
Movement Analysis
49 questions in the guide, across 3 subtopics. More from this topic
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Lever systems and mechanical advantage
Which lever class operates at the elbow as a football throw-in is released?
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Extension of the elbow is a first class lever. The elbow is the fulcrum, with the triceps pulling on one side and the ball on the other. -
Lever systems and mechanical advantage
What are the effort arm and the resistance arm of a lever?
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The effort arm is the distance from the fulcrum to where the effort acts. The resistance arm, or weight arm, is the distance from the fulcrum to the load. -
Joint movements in sporting actions
What movements happen at the shoulder as a sprinter's arms swing?
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The shoulder flexes as the arm drives forward. The shoulder extends as the arm swings back past the hip. -
Joint movements in sporting actions
What movements happen at the hip, knee and ankle as a performer lowers into a basic squat?
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The hip and knee flex as the body lowers. The ankle dorsiflexes as the knees travel forward over the toes. -
Planes and axes of movement
Which direction does the transverse axis run through the body?
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The transverse axis runs from side to side, through the hips. Movements in the sagittal plane turn about the transverse axis.
Paper 1
Physical Training
134 questions in the guide, across 8 subtopics. More from this topic
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Health, fitness and exercise
How can ill health lead to a fall in fitness?
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Ill health can leave a performer unable to train. Fitness then falls because the body loses its training adaptations. -
Components of fitness
What is power, also called explosive strength or anaerobic power?
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Power is strength performed at speed, and power = strength × speed. A long jumper uses power to drive off the board. -
Fitness tests and their data
How is the Vertical Jump Test carried out?
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The performer stands side-on to a wall and marks the highest point they can reach flat-footed. The performer then jumps as high as possible and marks the wall. The gap between the two marks is the score in centimetres. -
Principles of training
What is reversibility?
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Reversibility means that fitness gains are lost when training stops or is reduced. Adaptations made by the body slowly disappear without regular training. -
Types of training
Why does Fartlek training suit a football player?
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Football mixes walking, jogging and sprinting in unpredictable bursts. Fartlek training copies these changes of pace, training both aerobic and anaerobic fitness.
Paper 1, Paper 2
Use of Data
34 questions in the guide, across 2 subtopics. More from this topic
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Collecting and presenting data
How could a survey be used to collect data on participation in sport?
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A survey could ask every pupil in a year group how many hours of sport they do each week. The replies give numbers that can be totalled and compared. -
Collecting and presenting data
When should a bar chart be used to present data?
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A bar chart shows data in separate categories, such as the number of pupils who play each sport. The bars are equal in width with gaps between them. -
Analysing and evaluating data
What does a pie chart show?
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A pie chart shows how a whole is divided into parts. The size of each sector shows its share of the total. -
Analysing and evaluating data
A performer's sit-up score rises from 40 to 50 after a six-week programme. What is the percentage increase?
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The percentage increase is 25%. The rise of 10 sit-ups gives 10 ÷ 40 × 100 = 25%.
Paper 2
Sports Psychology
113 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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Classification of skills
What is a complex skill?
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A complex skill needs a lot of concentration, decision making and coordination. A somersault in gymnastics and a tumble turn in swimming are complex skills. -
Classification of skills
Classify a tennis serve on the open–closed and pacing continua, with reasons.
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A tennis serve is closed because the server performs it in stable conditions with no opponent interfering. The serve is self-paced because the server decides when to toss the ball. -
Goal setting and SMART targets
Why should beginners avoid outcome goals?
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Winning may be an unrealistic target for a beginner. Repeated failure to win can demotivate a beginner and lead them to give up. -
Goal setting and SMART targets
What makes a target measurable?
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A measurable target can be recorded so that progress can be checked. A netball shooter could count the goals scored from ten attempts. -
Information processing
What is selective attention?
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Selective attention is focusing on the relevant information in the display and ignoring what is irrelevant. A cricket batter focuses on the ball and ignores crowd noise.
Paper 2
Socio-Cultural Influences
94 questions in the guide, across 6 subtopics. More from this topic
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Engagement patterns and participation in sport
How does age affect participation in sport?
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Participation usually falls as people leave school and take on work and family commitments. Adapted activities such as walking football help older people stay active. -
Engagement patterns and participation in sport
How do family commitments and leisure time affect participation?
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People caring for children or relatives have less free time for sport. Long working hours also reduce the leisure time available. -
Commercialisation, sponsorship and the media
What is financial sponsorship?
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Financial sponsorship is a direct payment of money to a performer, team or event. The money can pay for training, travel and wages. -
Commercialisation, sponsorship and the media
How does the press cover sport?
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Newspapers and magazines report results, analysis and stories about performers. Press coverage can build a performer's reputation or damage it. -
Impacts of sponsorship, the media and technology
What are the positive impacts of sponsorship and the media on spectators?
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Spectators can watch more sport than ever, live and on demand. Coverage includes replays, statistics and expert analysis.
Paper 2
Health, Fitness and Wellbeing
72 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Physical, emotional and social health and wellbeing
How can sport help a person control their emotions?
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Sport gives a safe outlet for frustration and anger. Performers learn to stay calm under pressure and to cope with winning and losing. -
Physical, emotional and social health and wellbeing
Why might someone take part in physical activity?
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People take part to improve their health, fitness and appearance. Many also take part for enjoyment, friendship or the challenge of competition. -
Sedentary lifestyles and obesity
What are the emotional consequences of a sedentary lifestyle?
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A sedentary lifestyle can lead to poor self-esteem. Many inactive people also suffer from lethargy and poor sleep. -
Sedentary lifestyles and obesity
What mental ill health can obesity cause?
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Obesity can contribute to depression. Obesity can also cause a loss of confidence. -
Somatotypes
Which somatotype suits sumo wrestling, and why?
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An endomorph suits sumo wrestling. The greater body mass makes the wrestler hard to push out of the ring.
AQA GCSE Physical Education Active Recall Guide
The other 619 questions, with the answers printed after each section.