← Physical Education syllabus

EnglandPhysical Education

Skill acquisition (Component 02)

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How are motor skills classified, and why does it matter for coaching?

The characteristics of skill and the classification of skills on continua (open-closed, gross-fine, discrete-serial-continuous, self-paced-externally paced), and how classification informs practice.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on the classification of skills: the characteristics of a skilled performance, the main classification continua (open-closed, gross-fine, discrete-serial-continuous, self-paced-externally paced, simple-complex), and how a coach uses classification to choose practice.
9 min answer →

How do guidance and feedback help a performer learn and refine a skill?

The types of guidance (visual, verbal, manual, mechanical), the types of feedback (intrinsic, extrinsic, knowledge of results and performance), and matching each to the stage of learning.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on guidance and feedback: the four types of guidance (visual, verbal, manual, mechanical) and their strengths and limits, the types of feedback (intrinsic, extrinsic, positive, negative, knowledge of results and knowledge of performance), and how a coach matches each to the stage of learning.
10 min answer →

How does memory store and retrieve the information needed to perform a skill?

The multi-store memory model (short-term sensory store, short-term memory, long-term memory), selective attention, and the strategies that improve the storage and retrieval of motor information.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on memory models: the multi-store memory model with the short-term sensory store, short-term memory and long-term memory, their capacity and duration, the role of selective attention and rehearsal, and the strategies (chunking, imagery, association) that improve storage and retrieval.
9 min answer →

How does a performer move through the stages of learning and process information to act?

Fitts and Posner's three stages of learning, the shape of learning curves and the plateau, and the information-processing model from input to output including reaction, response and movement time.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on the stages of learning and information processing: Fitts and Posner's cognitive, associative and autonomous stages, the shapes of learning curves and the performance plateau, the information-processing model (input, decision making, output, feedback), and reaction, movement and response time including Hick's law.
11 min answer →

How do learning theories explain skill development, and how does one skill affect another?

The learning theories (operant conditioning, observational learning and cognitive learning), the types of transfer of learning, and how a coach maximises positive transfer and limits negative transfer.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on transfer and learning theories: operant conditioning (Thorndike and Skinner), Bandura's observational learning, the cognitive (insight) theory, the types of transfer (positive, negative, zero, proactive, retroactive, bilateral), and how a coach uses them to develop skill.
10 min answer →