AQA A-LEVEL PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Question Paper & Mark Scheme
(Merged) 2025-2026 [VERIFIED]
{BRANDNEW} !!!!
Question: What is the best definition of fitness?
A) The ability to run long distances
B) The ability to lift heavy weights
C) The ability to cope with the demands of day-to-day life
D) The ability to exercise daily
Answer: C
Rationale: Fitness refers to overall physical capability to manage daily life demands, not just
performance in one activity.
Question: How is cardiac output calculated?
A) Heart rate × stroke volume
B) Stroke volume × tidal volume
C) Venous return × heart rate
D) Stroke volume ÷ heart rate
Answer: A
Rationale: Cardiac output is the total volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle per
minute, calculated by multiplying stroke volume by heart rate.
Question: What does stroke volume represent?
A) Blood pressure in arteries
B) Volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle per beat
C) Total blood in the body
D) Heart rate per minute
,Answer: B
Rationale: Stroke volume is the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle during one
contraction.
Question: Bradycardia is defined as:
A) Resting heart rate above 100 bpm
B) Resting heart rate below 60 bpm
C) High stroke volume
D) Increased cardiac output
Answer: B
Rationale: Bradycardia occurs when the resting heart rate is below 60 beats per minute.
Question: Venous return refers to:
A) Blood pumped from the left ventricle
B) Blood returned to the right atrium via veins
C) Total cardiac output per minute
D) Heart rate during exercise
Answer: B
Rationale: Venous return is the volume of blood returning to the heart via the veins,
influencing stroke volume.
Question: Maximum heart rate is calculated as:
A) 200 – age
B) 220 – age
C) 180 – age
D) 240 – age
Answer: B
Rationale: The standard formula for estimating max heart rate is 220 minus age in years.
Question: Starling’s law of the heart states:
A) Heart rate is controlled by the medulla
B) Greater stretch of cardiac muscle increases contraction strength
C) Cardiac output equals heart rate × tidal volume
D) Stroke volume decreases with exercise
,Answer: B
Rationale: The more the cardiac muscle is stretched during filling, the stronger the
subsequent contraction, increasing stroke volume.
Question: Cardiac hypertrophy refers to:
A) Weakened heart muscles
B) Increased cardiac muscle mass
C) Faster heart rate
D) Reduced stroke volume
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac hypertrophy is the thickening of heart muscle, often due to exercise or
high blood pressure.
Question: What is the role of the sinoatrial (SA) node?
A) Delays impulses before ventricles contract
B) Acts as the pacemaker of the heart
C) Stimulates the medulla oblongata
D) Sends blood to the lungs
Answer: B
Rationale: The SA node generates impulses that initiate each heartbeat, controlling heart
rate.
Question: Which part of the cardiac conduction system delays the impulse before
ventricular contraction?
A) SA node
B) AV node
C) Bundle of His
D) Purkinje fibers
Answer: B
Rationale: The atrioventricular node pauses the impulse to ensure atrial contraction is
complete before ventricular contraction.
Question: What effect does the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) have on heart rate?
A) Slows it down
B) Speeds it up
, C) Maintains it at rest
D) Has no effect
Answer: B
Rationale: The SNS triggers “fight or flight,” increasing heart rate and cardiac output during
stress or exercise.
Question: The parasympathetic nervous system:
A) Increases stroke volume
B) Speeds up heart rate
C) Slows down heart rate at rest
D) Stimulates venous return
Answer: C
Rationale: The parasympathetic nervous system predominates at rest, lowering heart rate
and conserving energy.
Question: What is an anticipatory rise in heart rate?
A) Increase in heart rate after exercise
B) Increase before an event due to adrenaline
C) Gradual reduction in heart rate
D) Decrease in heart rate before sleep
Answer: B
Rationale: The heart rate rises prior to activity in anticipation, triggered by adrenaline.
Question: Myogenic means:
A) Generated within muscle tissue
B) Controlled by the medulla
C) Produced by hormones
D) Controlled by nerves only
Answer: A
Rationale: The heart’s contraction is myogenic because it originates within cardiac muscle
cells, independent of neural input.
Question: Vascular shunting allows:
A) Redistribution of blood to active muscles
B) Increase in stroke volume
Question Paper & Mark Scheme
(Merged) 2025-2026 [VERIFIED]
{BRANDNEW} !!!!
Question: What is the best definition of fitness?
A) The ability to run long distances
B) The ability to lift heavy weights
C) The ability to cope with the demands of day-to-day life
D) The ability to exercise daily
Answer: C
Rationale: Fitness refers to overall physical capability to manage daily life demands, not just
performance in one activity.
Question: How is cardiac output calculated?
A) Heart rate × stroke volume
B) Stroke volume × tidal volume
C) Venous return × heart rate
D) Stroke volume ÷ heart rate
Answer: A
Rationale: Cardiac output is the total volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle per
minute, calculated by multiplying stroke volume by heart rate.
Question: What does stroke volume represent?
A) Blood pressure in arteries
B) Volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle per beat
C) Total blood in the body
D) Heart rate per minute
,Answer: B
Rationale: Stroke volume is the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle during one
contraction.
Question: Bradycardia is defined as:
A) Resting heart rate above 100 bpm
B) Resting heart rate below 60 bpm
C) High stroke volume
D) Increased cardiac output
Answer: B
Rationale: Bradycardia occurs when the resting heart rate is below 60 beats per minute.
Question: Venous return refers to:
A) Blood pumped from the left ventricle
B) Blood returned to the right atrium via veins
C) Total cardiac output per minute
D) Heart rate during exercise
Answer: B
Rationale: Venous return is the volume of blood returning to the heart via the veins,
influencing stroke volume.
Question: Maximum heart rate is calculated as:
A) 200 – age
B) 220 – age
C) 180 – age
D) 240 – age
Answer: B
Rationale: The standard formula for estimating max heart rate is 220 minus age in years.
Question: Starling’s law of the heart states:
A) Heart rate is controlled by the medulla
B) Greater stretch of cardiac muscle increases contraction strength
C) Cardiac output equals heart rate × tidal volume
D) Stroke volume decreases with exercise
,Answer: B
Rationale: The more the cardiac muscle is stretched during filling, the stronger the
subsequent contraction, increasing stroke volume.
Question: Cardiac hypertrophy refers to:
A) Weakened heart muscles
B) Increased cardiac muscle mass
C) Faster heart rate
D) Reduced stroke volume
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac hypertrophy is the thickening of heart muscle, often due to exercise or
high blood pressure.
Question: What is the role of the sinoatrial (SA) node?
A) Delays impulses before ventricles contract
B) Acts as the pacemaker of the heart
C) Stimulates the medulla oblongata
D) Sends blood to the lungs
Answer: B
Rationale: The SA node generates impulses that initiate each heartbeat, controlling heart
rate.
Question: Which part of the cardiac conduction system delays the impulse before
ventricular contraction?
A) SA node
B) AV node
C) Bundle of His
D) Purkinje fibers
Answer: B
Rationale: The atrioventricular node pauses the impulse to ensure atrial contraction is
complete before ventricular contraction.
Question: What effect does the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) have on heart rate?
A) Slows it down
B) Speeds it up
, C) Maintains it at rest
D) Has no effect
Answer: B
Rationale: The SNS triggers “fight or flight,” increasing heart rate and cardiac output during
stress or exercise.
Question: The parasympathetic nervous system:
A) Increases stroke volume
B) Speeds up heart rate
C) Slows down heart rate at rest
D) Stimulates venous return
Answer: C
Rationale: The parasympathetic nervous system predominates at rest, lowering heart rate
and conserving energy.
Question: What is an anticipatory rise in heart rate?
A) Increase in heart rate after exercise
B) Increase before an event due to adrenaline
C) Gradual reduction in heart rate
D) Decrease in heart rate before sleep
Answer: B
Rationale: The heart rate rises prior to activity in anticipation, triggered by adrenaline.
Question: Myogenic means:
A) Generated within muscle tissue
B) Controlled by the medulla
C) Produced by hormones
D) Controlled by nerves only
Answer: A
Rationale: The heart’s contraction is myogenic because it originates within cardiac muscle
cells, independent of neural input.
Question: Vascular shunting allows:
A) Redistribution of blood to active muscles
B) Increase in stroke volume
