Skeletal and Muscular Systems
Cardiorespiratory & Respiration
Biomechanics & Forces
Health, Fitness & Training
Skill Acquisition
100

Name two major functions of the skeleton other than protection

Shape & Support, Muscle Attachment / Movement, or Red Blood Cell Production

100

State the correct order of structures air passes through from the mouth/nasal passage to the gas exchange surface

Mouth/nasal passage ---> Trachea ---> Bronchi ---> Bronchioles ---> Alveoli

100

 Identify the specific joint movement occurring at the ankle when a sprinter pushes off starting blocks

Plantar flexion

100

 Identify the recognized fitness test used to measure cardiovascular endurance (stamina)

Multi-Stage Fitness Test (Beep Test) OR 12-Minute Cooper Run

100

State the mandatory mark scheme rule when asked to compare skill and ability.

You MUST reference BOTH: Skills are learned, practiced, and sport-specific, whereas Abilities are innate, genetically inherited, and enduring. (Stating "skill is learned" alone = 0 marks

200

Name two components of a synovial joint and give a different, specific physiological function for each

  • Synovial Fluid: Acts as a lubricant / reduces friction / absorbs shock.
  • Cartilage: Prevents bones knocking together / absorbs shock / cushions joint.
  • Ligament: Connects bone to bone / holds joint in place / provides stability.
  • Synovial Membrane: Secretes/produces synovial fluid

Examiner Warning: Writing "protects the joint" or "strengthens the joint" receives 0 marks for being Too Vague

200

State the summary word equations for both aerobic and anaerobic respiration

  • Aerobic: Glucose + Oxygen ---> Carbon Dioxide + Water1.
  • Anaerobic: Glucose ---> Lactic Acid
200

Identify the three essential components that make up any lever system in the human body

Fulcrum (pivot point), Effort (muscular force), and Load (resistance)

200

State what each letter in the FITT framework stands for when applying progressive overload

Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type

200

Name four of the six recognized characteristics of a skilled performance

Any four from: Fluent, Aesthetically Pleasing, Consistent, Accurate, Goal-Directed, or Coordinated

300

Describe the difference between an isometric contraction and an isotonic concentric contraction using a bicep curl as an example

Isometric produces force with no change in muscle length (holding a dumbbell static at 90°), whereas Isotonic Concentric causes the muscle to shorten under tension (lifting the dumbbell toward the shoulder)

300

State the formula for Cardiac Output ($Q$) and calculate the output for an athlete with a Heart Rate of 70 bpm and Stroke Volume of 80 mL

Cardiac Output (Q) = Heart Rate (HR) X Stroke Volume  (SV)

Calculation: 70 X 80 = 5600mL/min or 5.6L/min

300

State the mathematical equation for Newton's 2nd Law of Motion and describe how increasing muscular force affects a kicked ball

Force (F) = Mass (m) X Acceleration(a) 

Increasing muscular force proportionally increases the acceleration of the ball

300

Define the training principles Specificity and Reversibility

Specificity means matching training to the specific demands of the activity/muscles used; Reversibility means fitness adaptations are lost when training stops or is reduced

300

 Classify a tennis serve on the Open–Closed continuum and justify your choice

Closed skill because the environment is stable/predictable, opponents cannot affect the execution before contact, and the server controls the pace

400

Identify the agonist and antagonist operating at the knee joint during the preparation phase (bending the knee) of kicking a football

Hamstrings group is the agonist (contracting to flex the knee), and Quadriceps group is the antagonist (relaxing)

400

Describe the action of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles during inhalation (inspiration) and the resulting change in lung volume

The diaphragm contracts and moves downward/flattens, the external intercostal muscles contract moving the ribs upward and outward, and lung volume increases

400

Compare the range of movement and structural stability of the shoulder joint with the knee joint  

The shoulder (ball & socket) has a greater range of movement than the knee (hinge), BUT the knee is more stable than the shoulder (or shoulder is less stable than the knee)

Examiner Warning: You MUST explicitly reference BOTH joints in your answer

400

Describe Fartlek training and explain how it differs from continuous training

Fartlek ("speed play") involves continuous activity with variations in pace and terrain, working both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems, whereas continuous training stays at a steady pace/intensity

400

Identify the four sequential stages of a simple information processing model.

Input ---> Decision-making ---> Output ---> Feedback

500

Compare Type I (slow-twitch) and Type II (fast-twitch) muscle fibres across force created, fatigue tolerance, and energy supply


  1. Type I creates low force, whereas Type II creates high force.
  2. Type I has high fatigue tolerance, whereas Type II has low fatigue tolerance.
  3. Type I relies on aerobic respiration, whereas Type II relies on anaerobic respiration.


500

Explain what EPOC stands for and how elevated breathing after exercise aids recovery from anaerobic effort

 Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption. High breathing rates supply oxygen to break down and remove accumulated lactic acid and replenish oxygen/ATP stores

500

Using Newton's 3rd Law of Motion, explain how a sprinter uses starting blocks to accelerate

The sprinter exerts a backward/downward force against the blocks, and the blocks exert an equal and opposite forward/upward Ground Reaction Force (GRF) that propels the sprinter forward

500

Define VO2\max and list three factors (other than gender) that affect an individual's VO2max level

  • Definition: The maximum volume of oxygen the body can take in, transport, and use per minute.
  • Three Factors: Any three from: Age, Genetics, Training Level / Fitness, or Lifestyle
500

 Compare Short-Term Memory (STM) with Long-Term Memory (LTM), and explain the concept of single-channel hypothesis

  • Memory Comparison: Short-Term Memory has limited capacity and holds information briefly unless practiced, whereas Long-Term Memory has limitless capacity and holds stored motor programs for long periods.
  • Single-Channel Hypothesis: The brain can only process one piece of information at a time; if multiple stimuli occur simultaneously, information overload occurs and decision-making slows down