Skill acquisition and psychology — AS & A Level Physical Education (9396) questions by topic
Skill acquisition and psychology covers personality theories, differences between Type A and Type B characteristics, innate versus underlying motor abilities, and justifying why a skill such as a basketball shot counts as open, discrete and complex, worth up to 30 marks.
Describe, suggest, explain, state and outline require precise use of psychological terminology rather than general sporting commentary. With 11 questions drawn from 2023 papers, this page's instant marking is useful because examiners repeatedly note candidates confusing this topic with other syllabus areas, so checking each answer against the mark scheme catches a misapplied model or term before it recurs across a whole paper.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is describing other models or syllabus areas instead of the one the question actually asks about.
- Examiners note that giving unrealistic goals, or citing motivation when the question already stated it, could not be credited.
- Reports flag weaker answers describing leadership characteristics generally without explaining their effect on a sports team, as the question required.
- Strong answers described both components of an attitude with suitable examples, often linked to a positive attitude towards fitness training.
May–June 2023, Paper 11
Shooting in a team sport such as basketball or netball may be classified as: - an open skill - a discrete skill - a complex skill. Justify each of these classifications.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
Skilful performances can be seen as fluent and efficient by coaches. Identify three other characteristics of skilful performance that coaches could see.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 13
Kicking a ball in a team game is a learned sport-specific skill. Describe the progression from motor abilities to kicking a ball in a team game.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 31
Suggest why a person with a neurotic introverted personality would be unlikely to reach an elite level in sport.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 32
Outline two named theories of personality.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 33
Suggest why a person with a neurotic introverted personality would be unlikely to reach an elite level in sport.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
Motor abilities are described as innate and underlying. State the meaning of these two terms as they relate to motor abilities.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
Motor abilities are described as innate. State the meaning of the term innate as it relates to motor abilities.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 13
Motor abilities are described as innate and underlying. State the meaning of these two terms as they relate to motor abilities.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 32
Describe three differences between the characteristics of extroversion and the characteristics of introversion.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 33
Describe three differences between the characteristics of Type A personalities and the characteristics of Type B personalities.
Answer this question and get it marked →