Summary AQA: A-LEVEL PHYSICAL EDUCATION (7582) Specification For teaching from September 2016 onwards for A-level exams in 2018 onwards Version 1.5 15 November 2021

Contents 1 Introduction 5 1.1 Why choose AQA for A-level Physical Education 5 1.2 Support and resources to help you teach 5 2 Specification at a glance 7 2.1 Subject content 7 2.2 Assessments 7 3 Subject content 9 3.1 Factors affecting participation in physical activity and sport 9 3.2 Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport 18 4 Scheme of assessment 31 4.1 Aims 31 4.2 Assessment objectives 31 4.3 Assessment weightings 32 4.4 Synoptic assessment 33 4.5 Non-exam assessment (NEA): Practical performance in physical activity and sport 33 5 Non-exam assessment administration 117 5.1 Supervising and authenticating 117 5.2 Avoiding malpractice 118 5.3 Teacher standardisation 119 5.4 Internal standardisation 119 5.5 Commenting 119 5.6 Submitting marks 120 5.7 Factors affecting individual students 120 5.8 Keeping students' work 120 5.9 Moderation 121 5.10 After moderation 122 6 General administration 125 6.1 Entries and codes 125 6.2 Awarding grades and reporting results 125 6.3 Resits and shelf life 125 6.4 Previous learning and prerequisites 125 6.5 Access to assessment: diversity and inclusion 126 6.6 Working with AQA for the first time 126 6.7 Private candidates 126 Are you using the latest version of this specification? • You will always find the most up-to-date version of this specification on our website at • We will write to you if there are significant changes to the specification. 1 Introduction 1.1 Why choose AQA fAo-rlevel Physical Education Our A-level Physical Education qualification allows students to play to their strengths and gain dynamic theoretical and practical skills for further education or work. We’ve worked with teachers, higher education, the Youth Sport Trust and other subject experts to design our specifications. You’ll be familiar with most of the content, yet you’ll see we’ve refreshed a number of topics to reflect contemporary changes. You can find out about all our Physical Education qualifications at 1.2 Support and resources to help you teach We’ve worked with experienced teachers to provide you with a range of resources that will help you confidently plan, teach and prepare for exams. Teaching resources Visit • flexible schemes of work to help you plan for course delivery in your own way • individual lesson plans in specific topic areas to assist you in providing continuity and progression in teaching • specimen assessment materials that will give your students a clear idea as to what is expected in the exams • a student textbook from an AQA approved publisher • practical exemplars to help you and your students with assessment standards • training courses to help you deliver physical education qualifications • subject expertise courses for all teachers, from newly-qualified teachers who are just getting started to experienced teachers looking for fresh inspiration. Preparing for exams Visit • past papers, mark schemes and examiners’ reports • sample papers and mark schemes for new courses • Exampro: a searchable bank of past AQA exam questions • example student answers with examiner commentaries. Analyse your students' results with Enhanced Results Analysis (ERA Find out which questions were the most challenging, how the results compare to previous years and where your students need to improve. ERA, our free online results analysis tool, will help you see where to focus your teaching. Register at For information about results, including maintaining standards over time, grade boundaries and our post-results services, visit Keep your skills up-to-date with professional development Wherever you are in your career, there’s always something new to learn. As well as subject- specific training, we offer a range of courses to help boost your skills. • Improve your teaching skills in areas including differentiation, teaching literacy and meeting Ofsted requirements. • Prepare for a new role with our leadership and management courses. You can attend a course at venues around the country, in your school or online – whatever suits your needs and availability. Find out more at Help and support available Visit our website for information, guidance, support and resources at If you'd like us to share news and information about this qualification, sign up for emails and updates at Alternatively, you can call or email our subject team direct. E: T: 2 Specification at a glance This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams and submit all their non-exam assessment at the end of the course. 2.1 Subject content 1. Applied anatomy and physiology (page 9) 2. Skill acquisition (page 12) 3. Sport and society (page 16) 4. Exercise physiology (page 19) 5. Biomechanical movement (page 20) 6. Sport psychology (page 22) 7. Sport and society and the role of technology in physical activity and sport (page 27) 2.2 Assessments Paper 1: Factors affecting participation in physical activity and sport What's assessed Section A: Applied anatomy and physiology Section B: Skill acquisition Section C: Sport and society How it's assessed • Written exam: 2 hours • 105 marks • 35% of A-level Questions • Section A: multiple choice, short answer and extended writing (35 marks) • Section B: multiple choice, short answer and extended writing (35 marks) • Section C: multiple choice, short answer and extended writing (35 marks) Paper 2: Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport What's assessed Section A: Exercise physiology and biomechanics Section B: Sport psychology Section C: Sport and society and technology in sport How it's assessed • Written exam: 2 hours • 105 marks • 35% of A-level Questions • Section A: multiple choice, short answer and extended writing (35 marks) • Section B: multiple choice, short answer and extended writing (35 marks) • Section C: multiple choice, short answer and extended writing (35 marks) Non-exam assessment: Practical performance in physical activity and sport What's assessed Students assessed as a performer or coach in the full sided version of one activity. Plus: written/verbal analysis of performance. How it's assessed • Internal assessment, external moderation • 90 marks • 30% of A-level 3 Subject content 3.1 Factors affecting participation in physical activity and sport 3.1.1 Applied anatomy and physiology Students should develop knowledge and understanding of the changes within the body systems prior to exercise, during exercise of differing intensities and during recovery. Students should be able to interpret data and graphs relating to changes within the musculo- skeletal, cardio-respiratory and neuro-muscular systems and the use of energy systems during different types of physical activity and sport, and the recovery process. 3.1.1.1 Cardio-respiratory system Students should understand the relationship between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and how changes within these systems prior to exercise, during exercise of differing intensities and during recovery allow the body to meet the demands of exercise. They should also understand how taking part in physical activity and sport, as part of a healthy lifestyle, can have a positive effect on these systems. 3.1.1.2 Cardiovascular system Content Additional information Understanding of the impact of physical activity and sport on the health and fitness of the individual. Health (heart disease, high blood pressure, effects of cholesterol, stroke). Fitness (cardiac output – trained and untrained individuals, maximal and sub- maximal exercise). The hormonal, neural and chemical regulation of responses during physical activity and sport. Anticipatory rise. Redistribution of blood (vascular shunting vasoconstriction, vasodilation). Cardiac conduction system. Sympathetic and parasympathetic. Carbon dioxide. Receptors involved in regulation of responses during physical activity. Chemoreceptor, proprioceptor, baroreceptor. Content Additional information Transportation of oxygen. Haemoglobin. Myoglobin. Oxyhaemoglobin disassociation curve. Bohr shift. Venous return. Mechanisms. Relationship with blood pressure (systolic, diastolic). Starling’s law of the heart. Cardiovascular drift. Arterio-venous oxygen difference (A-VO2 diff). Variations in response to an exercise session. Variations between trained and untrained individuals. Adaptations to body systems resulting in training effect. 3.1.1.3 Respiratory system Content Additional information Understanding of lung volumes and the impact of and on physical activity and sport. Residual volume. Expiratory reserve volume. Inspiratory reserve volume. Tidal volume. Minute Ventilation. Gas exchange systems at alveoli and muscles. Oxygen and carbon dioxide. Principles of diffusion and partial pressures. The neural and chemical regulation of pulmonary ventilation during physical activity and sport. Sympathetic and parasympathetic. Carbon dioxide. Receptors involved in regulation of pulmonary ventilation during physical activity. Chemoreceptor, proprioceptor, baroreceptor. Impact of poor lifestyle choices on the respiratory system. Smoking. Oxygen transport.