Contemporary studies in physical education — AS & A Level Physical Education (9396) questions by topic

Contemporary studies questions ask you to suggest reasons for the rising popularity of outdoor recreation, describe the characteristics of play, and outline differences between physical education, sport and physical recreation using examples such as basketball and netball, worth up to 30 marks.

Describe, suggest, outline and explain require concrete, syllabus-specific detail rather than general observations about sport and society. Drawn from 6 questions set in 2023 papers, this page's instant marking helps most where examiners report vague answers, for example candidates who describe risk in general rather than address the specific term, such as 'perceived', that the question is built around.

What examiners look for

A recurring criticism is describing risks generally rather than addressing the specific term, such as 'perceived', used in the question.
Examiners note candidates finding the concept of elite sport difficult to describe with sufficient precision.
Reports flag descriptions of private provision given instead of voluntary provision, and answers unable to go beyond simply naming volunteers.
Strong answers related increased participation to specific factors, such as promotion of health benefits, rather than asserting popularity alone.

May–June 2023, Paper 11

Question 3 · 30 marks

Outdoor recreation activities, such as hill walking, have become increasingly popular. Suggest reasons for the increase in the popularity of outdoor recreation activities.

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May–June 2023, Paper 12

Question 3 · 30 marks

Physical education, sport and physical recreation have some similarities and some differences. Basketball and netball can be played as sports and included as part of a physical…

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