1. This year’s full course GCSE PE exam will include the 'traditional' multiple-choice and short-
answer questions and two longer-answer questions.
Each question is allocated six marks. This equates to 7.5% (per question) of the available
marks for the paper, and therefore it is important that you attempt these questions fully. It's
almost as important for you to understand how to structure your answers as it is to have the
knowledge required to address the question.
From your point of view, a blank page to fill can potentially be daunting. But if you are
equipped with the knowledge of how to address them, these types of questions can be
viewed as a series of short answers rather than one long essay question.
The format of the questions will be constant:
(i) A scenario to set the scene and give the question context
(ii) The question to be answered
(iii) A series of bullet points identifying the content you 'may like to consider'.
It is this final point (iii) that holds the key for you about how to structure your answer. By
taking each bullet point in turn, candidates can break the question down into more
manageable chunks, helping them structure your answer and ensuring appropriate topics are
covered to achieve maximum marks.
In the same way that the format of the questions will remain constant, so too will the mark
scheme. The mark scheme will be banded with marks allocated as follows:
Level Mark
Level 0 0
Level 1 1-2
Level 2 3-4
Level 3 5-6
In order to progress through the levels, you need-well written and balanced answers. This is
why it is so important for you to address all aspects of the question rather than focus on one
area. For example, if there were three bullet points to consider and only two were addressed,
the maximum band achieved would be Level 2 as the answer does not give the full breadth
required. Similarly, if only one bullet point was covered the highest band achieved would be
Level 1.
These questions can be based on any area of the specification, so revision for this style of
question will be good revision for any aspect of the paper. You could develop a series of
scenario cards for each area of the specification.
Possible scenarios:
2. 1. Bernadette has a healthy, active lifestyle and is trying to encourage her family to
become active. Explain how physical activity can lead to a healthy, active lifestyle,
considering:
• Physical benefits
• Mental benefits
• Social benefits
Response: Explain each type of benefit, giving examples of how each is achieved and impacts
on health, finishing with a conclusion that supports the idea that physical activity can lead to
a healthy, active lifestyle.
Marking: To achieve maximum marks, cover each bullet point (two or three different points
on each) and put the answer into structured sentences/paragraphs.
2. Imran enjoys physical activity and participates in all sports at school, but a
limited number outside of school. Identify key influences that may impact on Imran
achieving involvement in physical activity. You may consider:
• People
• Resources
Response: A sentence to say that there are potentially many influences, before focusing in on
the two stated in the question. Explain each key influence, giving examples of the influence
they may have and finishing with a conclusion that supports the idea that these two
influences may have impacted on participation.
Marking: To achieve maximum marks, cover each bullet point (three or four different points
on each) and put the answer into structured sentences/paragraphs.
These two scenarios are examples from the first two areas of the specification. Questions
could be based on the fitness components relating to different activities; principles of
training; methods of training; fitness testing; the use of drugs in sport - in fact, as mentioned
previously, any part of the specification!
Although candidates are faced with a blank page, answers do not need to be long: these are
only six-mark questions. As a rough guide, if three bullet points are included in the question,
your students should think of a maximum of three different points relating to each - there's
no need for them to write everything they know about a topic. The purpose of the question is
to assess knowledge, but also to test their ability to write in a coherent, structured way.
Sample assessment papers (SAMs), available on the GCSE PE qualification page, have
early examples of this style of question that you could use with your students. However,
please note that from 2011 questions will be structured with bullet points as described above
to assist students with their planning.
Penny Lewis
