AQA GCSE PE Paper 1 practice questions

What is on Paper 1?

• Paper 1 covers the human body and movement in physical activity and sport.
• It is a written paper of 1 hour 15 minutes, worth 78 marks — 30% of the GCSE.
• Questions are a mix of multiple choice, short answer and longer extended responses.
• Always check the latest specification on your exam board's website, as details can change between exam years.

Paper 1 practice questions with answers

12 original questions across the 6 Paper 1 topics. Try each one before reading the answer.

1. The musculoskeletal system

   1. Which bone type acts mainly as a lever for large, powerful movements?

   • • Short bones
   • • Long bones
   • • Flat bones
   • • Irregular bones

   Answer: Long bones

   Long bones like the femur act as levers, allowing large ranges of movement.

2. The musculoskeletal system

   2. Which joint type is the knee?

   • • Ball and socket
   • • Pivot
   • • Hinge
   • • Condyloid

   Answer: Hinge

   The knee is a hinge joint, allowing flexion and extension in one plane.

3. Cardiovascular and respiratory systems

   3. What is the equation for cardiac output?

   • • Stroke volume ÷ heart rate
   • • Stroke volume × heart rate
   • • Heart rate − stroke volume
   • • Heart rate ÷ stroke volume

   Answer: Stroke volume × heart rate

   Cardiac output = stroke volume × heart rate.

4. Cardiovascular and respiratory systems

   4. A performer has a stroke volume of 70ml and a heart rate of 150bpm. Calculate cardiac output in ml/min.

   Answer: 10,500 ml/min

   Cardiac output = SV × HR = 70 × 150 = 10,500 ml/min.

5. Movement analysis

   5. What are the three components of a lever system?

   • • Fulcrum, effort, load
   • • Bone, muscle, joint
   • • Agonist, antagonist, fixator
   • • Flexion, extension, rotation

   Answer: Fulcrum, effort, load

   Every lever system has a fulcrum (pivot), effort (force) and load (resistance).

6. Movement analysis

   6. In a first class lever, where is the fulcrum positioned?

   • • Between effort and load
   • • At one end only
   • • Beyond the load
   • • There is no fulcrum

   Answer: Between effort and load

   First class levers have the fulcrum located between the effort and the load.

7. Components of fitness and fitness testing

   7. Which component of fitness is measured by the multi-stage fitness test?

   • • Flexibility
   • • Cardiovascular endurance
   • • Balance
   • • Reaction time

   Answer: Cardiovascular endurance

   The bleep test estimates VO2 max, a measure of cardiovascular endurance.

8. Components of fitness and fitness testing

   8. Which test measures flexibility?

   • • Sit and reach
   • • Illinois agility run
   • • Handgrip dynamometer
   • • 30m sprint

   Answer: Sit and reach

   The sit and reach test measures flexibility of the hamstrings and lower back.

9. Training methods and training seasons

   9. Which training method varies the pace and terrain within a single session?

   • • Continuous
   • • Fartlek
   • • Circuit
   • • Weight

   Answer: Fartlek

   Fartlek means 'speed play' and mixes fast and slow sections.

10. Training methods and training seasons

    10. Calculate the maximum heart rate for a 15-year-old.

    Answer: 205 bpm (220 − 15)

    MHR = 220 − age.

11. Principles of training, injury prevention and warm-ups

    11. What does the 'S' in SPORT principles stand for?

    • • Specificity
    • • Speed
    • • Strength
    • • Skill

    Answer: Specificity

    Specificity means training should match the sport or fitness component targeted.

12. Principles of training, injury prevention and warm-ups

    12. What does FITT stand for?

    Answer: Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type

    These four factors can be manipulated to apply progressive overload.

Where Paper 1 marks are usually lost

• Naming a bone, muscle or component of fitness without applying it to a sporting example.
• Describing a training method without linking it to the type of performer it suits.
• Misreading graphs and tables in data-analysis questions.
• Writing one-sided answers to extended questions that need analysis and evaluation.
• Confusing short-term and long-term effects of exercise.

How to pick up the extended-answer marks

• Underline the command word and the focus of the question before writing — most dropped marks come from answering a different question.
• Plan for one or two minutes: three or four points, each backed by evidence and explained.
• Keep linking back to the question in every paragraph, not just the conclusion.
• For 'evaluate' or 'how far do you agree' questions, weigh both sides and finish with a clear judgement.

Timing that works under pressure

• Check the marks per question and give each one time in proportion, keeping spare minutes for checking at the end.
• Bank the short questions first, then return to the longer answers with your remaining time.
• If a question stalls for more than two minutes, write down what you know and move on — partial marks still count.
• Leave five minutes to check spelling of key terms, units and whether any question part was skipped over a page break.

Revise each Paper 1 topic

• The musculoskeletal system (70 questions)
• Cardiovascular and respiratory systems (70 questions)
• Movement analysis (70 questions)
• Components of fitness and fitness testing (83 questions)
• Training methods and training seasons (82 questions)
• Principles of training, injury prevention and warm-ups (70 questions)

AQA PE Paper 1 FAQs

What topics are on AQA GCSE PE Paper 1?

Paper 1 assesses applied anatomy and physiology, movement analysis, and physical training.

How long is AQA GCSE PE Paper 1?

It is a 1 hour 15 minutes written exam worth 78 marks, which is 30% of the GCSE. Check your board's latest specification for any changes.

How should I revise for PE Paper 1?

Practise answering questions rather than rereading notes. Short daily sets of five questions per topic, marked straight away, expose weak areas faster than a long passive revision session.