MAXE · EP
EXAM K–12 Physical Education Certification Preparation
K-12 D E V E L O P I N G P H Y S I C A L LY L I T E R AT E I N D I V I D U A L S
Physical Education
CO M P L E T E Q U E ST I O N S & V E R I F I E D A N S W E RS | K– 1 2 P E C E RT I F I C AT I O N E X A M
INSTITUTION Physical Education Certification COURSE CODE PE K–12
Program
PROGRAM Physical Education Teacher ACADEMIC YEAR
Certification
EXAM TITLE Physical Education | Complete TOTAL QUESTIONS 35 Questions
Questions & Verified Answers
COURSE TITLE Physical Education K–12 Pedagogy FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
& Content Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover motor development, movement concepts, fitness, pedagogy, and professional practice.
▸ Correct answers and detailed teaching rationales appear below each question.
▸ All content aligned with K–12 physical education standards and best practices.
, SECTION I — PHYSICAL EDUCATION K–12
Questions 1 – 35
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
1. Which of the following is the best example of a non-locomotor activity?
A. Running across the gymnasium
B. Have students stand back to back and have them practice passing a basketball between
each other by rotating their hips while remaining in place
C. Skipping around cones
D. Galloping from one line to another
CORRECT ANSWER B — Have students stand back to back and have them practice passing a
basketball between each other by rotating their hips while remaining in
place
RATIONALE Non-locomotor (axial) skills are movements performed in place without traveling
— twisting, bending, stretching, rotating. Rotating the hips while passing a
basketball without moving the feet is a clear non-locomotor activity. Running,
skipping, and galloping are all locomotor skills that involve traveling from one
location to another. Non-locomotor skills develop body awareness, core stability,
and flexibility.
, 2. Which of the following activities would be the least effective in improving muscle
strength?
A. Weight lifting
B. Resistance band exercises
C. Long distance running
D. Bodyweight exercises like push-ups
CORRECT ANSWER C — Long distance running
RATIONALE Long distance running primarily develops cardiorespiratory endurance and
muscular endurance, not muscular strength. Strength development requires
high-resistance, low-repetition overload — such as weight lifting, resistance
bands, or bodyweight exercises with progressive difficulty. The principle of
specificity dictates that training adaptations are specific to the stimulus applied.
Aerobic running does not provide sufficient resistance to significantly increase
maximal strength.
3. Which of the following is the most important consideration in an elementary physical
education class?
A. To ensure only the most athletic students succeed
B. To ensure the activity enables all students to participate
C. To focus exclusively on competitive sports
D. To minimize physical activity to prevent injuries
CORRECT ANSWER B — To ensure the activity enables all students to participate
RATIONALE Inclusive participation is the cornerstone of quality elementary physical
education. Activities should be designed or modified so that every student —
regardless of ability level, disability status, or prior experience — can engage
meaningfully. This principle aligns with developmentally appropriate practice,
universal design for learning, and the SHAPE America standards. Excluding
students or emphasizing only elite performance contradicts the educational
mission of PE.