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EnglandPhysical Education

Sports psychology (Paper 2)

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

How does goal setting improve and motivate sporting performance?

The use of goal setting to improve and optimise performance, the SMART principle, and the difference between performance and outcome goals.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE PE on goal setting: why goals are set, the SMART principle, the difference between performance and outcome goals, and how goal setting motivates and improves performance.
8 min answer →

How do guidance and feedback help a performer learn and improve skills?

The types of guidance (visual, verbal, manual, mechanical) and the types of feedback (intrinsic, extrinsic, knowledge of results, knowledge of performance, positive, negative).
A focused answer to AQA GCSE PE on guidance and feedback: the four types of guidance, the types of feedback, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and which suit beginners and experts.
8 min answer →

How does a performer take in information and decide how to act in sport?

The basic information processing model (input, decision making, output, feedback) and how it applies to skilful performance.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE PE on information processing: the basic model of input, decision making, output and feedback, the role of selective attention and memory, and how the model applies to a sporting skill.
8 min answer →

How do performers prepare mentally and control arousal for competition?

Arousal and the inverted U theory, stress management and mental preparation techniques, aggression, and personality and motivation types.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE PE on mental preparation: arousal and the inverted U theory, stress management techniques, direct and indirect aggression, personality types and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
9 min answer →

How do we classify skills in sport and why does it matter?

The classification of skills on continua (basic to complex, open to closed) and the use of continua to describe sporting skills.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE PE on skill classification: what a skill is, the basic to complex and open to closed continua, why continua are used, and how to classify sporting skills with examples.
8 min answer →