How are the five areas of study applied to explain and improve a real performance?
Applying theory to performance: using exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, skill acquisition and sport and society to explain strengths and weaknesses and to justify improvement.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on applying theory to performance: using exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, skill acquisition and sport and society to explain a performer's strengths and weaknesses, with worked links from each area of study to a real performance.
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to apply the five areas of study (exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, skill acquisition and sport and society) to explain a performer's strengths and weaknesses and to justify improvement.
Applying exercise physiology
Applying biomechanics and sport psychology
Applying skill acquisition and sport and society
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 20194 marksA distance runner fades in the final stage of a race. Using exercise physiology, explain the likely cause and one way the analysis would link theory to the performance.Show worked answer →
A Component 3 application question. Two marks for the physiology, two for the link to the performance.
The likely cause is a physiological weakness in aerobic capacity (a relatively low VO2 max) and the depletion of muscle glycogen, so as the race goes on the aerobic system cannot resynthesise ATP fast enough and the runner must rely more on the anaerobic glycolytic system, accumulating lactate and hydrogen ions that cause fatigue, forcing them to slow. The analysis links theory to the performance by using the exercise-physiology area of study to explain exactly why the fade occurs (the energy systems and VO2 max), rather than just saying the runner "got tired", and then pointing the development plan toward improving aerobic capacity (continuous and interval training to raise VO2 max and the lactate threshold).
A common dropped mark is describing the fade without using the physiology theory to explain the cause.
Eduqas 20216 marksChoose a performer and show how three different areas of study could each be used to analyse a weakness in their performance.Show worked answer →
A Component 3 synoptic application. Markers reward three areas of study each applied to a genuine weakness.
Award marks for: taking a tennis player as the example. Biomechanics (movement analysis): a weakness in the serve technique, for example a low ball-toss or poor sequencing, can be analysed using release height and the kinetic chain, explaining a loss of power and accuracy. Sport psychology: a weakness in handling pressure at key points, analysed using arousal and anxiety theory (the inverted U and cognitive anxiety), explaining why double faults rise at break points, and pointing to stress management. Skill acquisition: a weakness in a developing second serve, analysed using the stages of learning (the skill stuck in the associative stage) and feedback, explaining inconsistency. Exercise physiology and sport and society could also be applied (aerobic fitness for long matches; the cost of coaching as a socio-cultural factor). So each area of study provides a different lens that explains a different weakness, and using several gives a complete, synoptic analysis that the NEA rewards.
A top answer applies three distinct areas of study to genuine, different weaknesses in one named performer.
Related dot points
- The NEA practical performance: performing or coaching in one activity, the assessment against sport-specific criteria under formal conditions, the role of video evidence, and internal assessment with external moderation.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on the Component 3 practical performance: performing or coaching in one chosen activity, how it is assessed against sport-specific criteria under formal or competitive conditions, the role of video evidence, and the internal assessment and external moderation process.
- The analysis and evaluation of performance: observing and analysing a performance, identifying and prioritising strengths and weaknesses, and structuring the task to draw on the areas of study.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on the analysis and evaluation of performance task: observing and analysing a performance, identifying strengths and weaknesses, prioritising the most important weakness to address, and structuring the task so it draws on the five areas of study.
- Developing an action plan: designing a justified development plan for the prioritised weakness, selecting appropriate training methods or coaching, applying SMART goals, and evaluating the plan.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on developing an action plan: designing a justified development plan for a prioritised weakness, selecting the right training methods or coaching interventions, applying SMART goals and the principles of training, and evaluating whether the plan worked.
- Energy for exercise: ATP as the immediate energy source, the ATP-PC, glycolytic and aerobic systems (fuel, site, yield and by-products), the energy continuum, thresholds, and the factors affecting VO2 max.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on energy for exercise: ATP and its resynthesis, the three energy systems (fuel, site, controlling enzyme, ATP yield and by-products), the energy continuum and thresholds, and the factors that affect VO2 max, with worked relative-contribution reasoning.
- Stress, arousal and anxiety: the theories of arousal and performance (drive theory, inverted U, catastrophe theory, the zone of optimal functioning), somatic and cognitive anxiety, and stress management techniques.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on arousal, stress and anxiety: the drive, inverted U, catastrophe and zone of optimal functioning theories, the distinction between somatic and cognitive anxiety, and cognitive and somatic stress management techniques.
Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas A Level Physical Education Specification — Eduqas (2016)