What does OCR A-Level PE skill acquisition cover?

It is Section A of Component 02 and covers how motor skills are learned and coached: the classification of skills on continua (open-closed, gross-fine, discrete-serial-continuous, self-paced-externally paced), the stages of learning (Fitts and Posner) and the information-processing model, transfer of learning and the learning theories (operant conditioning, observational learning, cognitive learning), the types of guidance and feedback, and the multi-store memory model. It rewards applying these ideas to coaching a named skill and learner.

What are Fitts and Posner's three stages of learning?

The cognitive stage, where the beginner forms a mental picture, makes many errors and relies on conscious thought and external feedback; the associative stage, where the performer practises, makes fewer errors and begins to use intrinsic feedback; and the autonomous stage, where the skill is automatic, fluent and needs little conscious attention, relying mainly on intrinsic feedback. A coach matches guidance and feedback to the stage.

What is the information-processing model?

It explains how a performer turns a stimulus into a movement: input arrives through the senses, selective attention filters the relevant cues, decision making compares them with stored experiences in memory to choose a response, output sends the motor programme to the muscles, and feedback (intrinsic and extrinsic) informs the next action. Hick's law adds that reaction time increases as the number of possible responses increases.

What is the difference between positive and negative transfer?

Positive transfer is when learning or performing one skill aids another (an overarm throw aiding a tennis serve); negative transfer is when one skill hinders another (a squash swing hindering a tennis swing). A coach maximises positive transfer by highlighting similarities and securing the basics, and limits negative transfer by avoiding overload and separating conflicting skills in time.

How should I revise skill acquisition for OCR PE?

Learn the classification continua, the stages of learning, the information-processing model, the learning theories, the types of guidance and feedback, and the memory stores with their capacity and duration. Then practise applying each to coaching a named skill and learner, because the application and extended-response marks come from that, not from definitions alone. Work through the five skill acquisition dot-point pages, then attempt the quiz.

EnglandPhysical Education

OCR A-Level PE skill acquisition: a complete overview of Component 02 Section A

A complete overview of OCR A-Level PE skill acquisition (Component 02, Section A). Covers the classification of skills, the stages of learning and information processing, transfer and learning theories, guidance and feedback, and memory models, with the applied coaching links the paper rewards.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.812 min readH555-2.1Updated 2026-06-02

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

Jump to a section

What this section demands
Classification of skills
Stages of learning and information processing
Transfer and learning theories
Guidance and feedback
Memory models
Check your knowledge

What this section demands

Skill acquisition is Section A of Component 02. It is the psychology of learning and coaching motor skills: how skills are classified, how performers learn and process information, how skills transfer, and how guidance, feedback and memory shape learning. The exam rewards precise knowledge of the models and, above all, applying them to coaching a named skill and learner. This overview ties the dot-point pages together.

Classification of skills

A skill is a learned, goal-directed action that is consistent, efficient and fluent. Skills sit on continua: open-closed (the environment), gross-fine (the muscles), discrete-serial-continuous (the structure), self-paced-externally paced (the timing) and simple-complex (the decisions). Classification guides the practice and feedback a coach should use. See the classification of skills page.

Stages of learning and information processing

Fitts and Posner's three stages run from the cognitive (many errors) through the associative to the autonomous (automatic). The information-processing model runs input to selective attention, to decision making (using memory), to output, with feedback. Reaction time plus movement time gives response time, and Hick's law says reaction time rises with the number of choices. See the stages of learning and information processing page.

Transfer and learning theories

Operant conditioning shapes behaviour through reinforcement, observational learning (Bandura) through watching a model, and cognitive learning through insight. Transfer is the effect of one skill on another (positive, negative, zero, proactive, retroactive, bilateral); coaches maximise positive transfer and limit negative transfer. See the transfer and learning theories page.

Guidance and feedback

Guidance is visual, verbal, manual or mechanical, each with strengths and limits. Feedback is intrinsic or extrinsic, positive or negative, and knowledge of results or knowledge of performance. Beginners need frequent, positive, extrinsic feedback (knowledge of results); autonomous performers rely on intrinsic feedback and knowledge of performance. See the guidance and feedback page.

Memory models

The multi-store memory model has a brief sensory store (filtered by selective attention), a short-term memory (about 7 plus or minus 2 items for 15 to 30 seconds) and an effectively unlimited long-term memory. Chunking, rehearsal, meaningfulness, association and imagery improve storage and retrieval. See the memory models page.

Check your knowledge

Attempt these, then check the solutions.

Place a 100 m sprint start on the open-closed and self-paced-externally paced continua. (2 marks)
Name Fitts and Posner's three stages of learning in order. (3 marks)
State Hick's law. (1 mark)
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of manual guidance. (2 marks)
State the capacity and duration of the short-term memory. (2 marks)

Sources & how we know this

OCR A Level Physical Education (H555) specification — OCR (2016)