IGCSE PE May 2017 Review Paper 1 – Modules 1.6 -1.8 Marking Scheme
1. Complete the chart below for ALL health and skill related
components of fitness.
Component of
Fitness
Definition
Test(s)
Cardiovascular
Endurance
The ability to
exercise aerobically
for long periods of
time
 Cooper Test
 Multistage fitness test
Muscular
Endurance
The ability to
perform repeated
contractions
without undue
fatigue
 Press-up test
 Sit up test
Body
Composition
The comparison of
a person’s lean
body mass and
their fat
 Skin-fold callipers
 Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis
Flexibility
The range of
movement around
a joint
 Sit and Reach Test
Muscular
Strength
The ability to apply
force against a
resistance
 Hand Grip Dynamometer
 1 Rep Max
Speed
The time taken to
perform a
movement
 50m sprint
Agility
The ability to
change direction at
pace and under
control
 Illinois Agility Test
Co-ordination
The ability to use
different body parts
to produce smooth
movements
 Alternate Hand Wall Test
Balance
The ability to
maintain
equilibrium whilst
stationary (STATIC)
or moving
(DYNAMIC)
 Standing Stork Test
Reaction Time
The time taken to
respond to a
stimulus
 Ruler drop Test
Power
Perform strength
performance
quickly (strength &
speed)
 Jump, run & throw tests
2. For each component of fitness be able to explain how it would
give a performer an advantage in a specific activity or sport.
Example – flexibility: the range of movement around a joint / able to
stretch and bend
athletics – hurdling / high jump;
football – goalkeeper able to catch a high ball;
tennis – player able to serve the ball;
weight-lifter – able to push the bar above their head
3. Explain how different factors could affect the level of fitness of a
performer.
 age of a performer – fitness peaks in mid-twenties;
 gender – from around age 11 males grow taller and stronger than
females – females are usually more flexible;
 build – the performer`s build makes their fitness components
more suitable for some sports than others;
 diet – the performer needs to eat a balanced healthy diet;
 exercise – the performer needs to take part in some degree of
exercise, the quality / quantity of exercise will affect the level of
fitness;
 physical disability – a disability may create a disadvantage due to
limited movement;
 illness and fatigue – tiredness results in lack of energy to be able
play / train;
 use of drugs – the chemicals will affect how the body functions /
damages health / reduces fitness / improves aspects of fitness;
 stress – high levels of stress lowers fitness as it harms health /
reduces sleep / prevents concentration;
 the environment – pollution can damage lungs / high altitude can
cause performers to be breathless;
 genetics of the performer – the inherited characteristics that in
part determine strength, muscle fibre composition, muscle size,
skeletal size, cardiac capacity, endurance capacities etc.;
 culture – some cultures restrict female participation;
4. Give two reasons why a coach would test a performers level of
fitness.
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be able to compare fitness levels with norms;
be able to compare with earlier tests to see progress;
identify strengths and weaknesses;
to be able to set targets;
motivates a performer;
determine when performer is ready to compete;
provide variety when training;
to set training programmes at an appropriate level
5. The graph below shows the heart rate of a generally unfit
person who takes part in a run on a flat surface at a steady pace.
Describe how this graph might differ if the person was a trained
athlete and ran at the same pace, and the reasons why the
differences might occur.
 resting heart rate will be lower – training increases the size and
strength of the heart so it increases the amount of blood 4
pumped to the muscles;
 increase of the working heart rate will be slower – as the blood
supply will meet the demands quicker, the increase in stroke
volume results in more oxygen being delivered to the muscles;
 working heart rate would be lower – more blood is pumped in
each beat / cardiac output maintains the oxygen demanded by the
muscles;
 recovery rate would be quicker – there would be a greater volume
of blood supplied to the muscles carrying more oxygen, so lactic
acid would be cleared more quickly;
6.
(i) Define VO2 Max
the maximum oxygen consumption that occurs during exercise, this is
measured in litres of oxygen consumed per 1
minute;
(ii) Explain two reasons for differences in VO2 measurements
between different sports.
 Gender - males usually have a greater lung capacity than females;
 fitness - athletes will improve their VO2 max with aerobic exercise
/ exercise is needed to improve VO2 max;
 age – as you get older it naturally decreases (after age 25)
 body composition – more lean body mass (muscle and less fat)
improves Vo2 Max
Example between sports:
nordic skiing: requires high-intensity exercise over a long period of
time / often performed at high altitude;
football: allows players to recover during the course of the game;
rowing: requires high levels of intense exercise over a short period of
time;
(iii) How would you test VO2 Max?
Multi-stage fitness test:
 requires a pre-recorded tape and recorder / marks on the floor
20m apart;
 if the athlete arrives at the end of the shuttle before the beep, the
athlete must wait for the beep before resuming running;
 if the athlete fails to reach the end of the shuttle before the beep
they are allowed two further attempts to regain the required pace
before being withdrawn from the test;
 the assistant records the level and the number of shuttles
completed at that level;
Cooper 12-minute run:
 stop-watch and a recording sheet, a flat surface ideally a 400m
running track or flat area so that distances can be measured;
 the assistant gives the command to start and starts the stop-watch
to commence the test;
 the assistant keeps the athletes informed of the remaining time
after each 400m;
 the assistant blows a whistle at the end of the 12 minutes;
 the distance covered is recorded to the nearest 10 metres;
Other tests could include the Harvard step test and VO2 max tests.
No marks for just naming the test.
Physique 1.7
1. Define the term physique
“Physique is the size and Shape of the human body”
2. What are the three somatotypes? How do they differ?
ENDOMORPH (remember DO – doughnut)
 Pear shaped
 Wide hips and shoulders
 Large % of body fat
MESOMORPH (remember M – muscle)
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Wedge shaped
Wide shoulders
Narrow hips
Muscular frame
Minimal body fat
ECTOMORPH (T – thin)
`
 Linear shaped
 Long limbs
 Slender frame
 Little fat or muscle
3. Identify sports for each somatotype where a performer would
benefit from that type of physique. Explain why.
SOMATOTYPE
IDEAL SPORTS
REASONS
Endomorph
Prop forward, Sumo
wrestler, Shot putter
Heavy, difficult to
move, can generate
considerable force
Mesomorph
Gymnast, wrestlers,
sprinters
Can generate speed
and power,
considerable
strength produced
Ectomorph
Basketball player,
volleyball player, high
jumper
Long reach,
generate large
vertical force
Drugs 1.8
1. Define drugs in relation to performance.
Any chemical introduced to the body which affects how the body
works"
2. Define doping.
Doping – improve performance by taking drugs
3. Identify the six drug classes as identified by the IOC and list
potential side effects and impact on performance.
Anabolic agents (steroids)

These are used by athletes who want to bulk up and increase their
muscle mass. They also allow the athlete to train harder

They have many side-effects, including high blood pressure;
heart disease; infertility and cancer. They can also cause women
to take on male characteristics such as facial hair!
Stimulants

Stimulants reduce pain, increase reaction speed and raise
aggression

They are highly addictive and have side effects including high
blood pressure, strokes, heart and liver problems. They can also
increase the risk of injury as pain is suppressed, causing the
athlete to continue to train or compete
Diuretics

Athletes use diuretics for one of two reasons. Either to lose weight
quickly (such as a boxer or jockey needing to meet weight)
through the effect of increased urination, or to clear traces of
other substances from their urine

They cause dehydration which can seriously affect your
performance in a negative way!
Narcotic analgesics

These are pain killers which athletes use to mask pain from an
injury or overtraining

These are highly addictive and cause withdrawal symptoms when
you stop using them. Constipation and low blood pressure are
other side effects
Peptide hormones

These include EPO (Erythropoetin) which works a bit like blood
doping. Most other peptide hormones have similar effects to
anabolic steroids

They can cause strokes and abnormal growth patterns
Anxiety-reducing

Hormone adrenaline released during anxiety which increases
your heart rate, breathing, perspiration and the conversion of
glycogen to glucose in muscles

Beta-blockers reduce the effect of adrenaline and overall calms
nerves

They can cause fainting, sleeplessness, nightmares, depression,
low energy and lower performance during lengthy endurance
events (example – tranquillizers) and are very addictive
4. What is blood doping?
 Blood doping is the practice of boosting the number of
red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic
performance. Because such blood cells carry oxygen from the
lungs to the muscles, a higher concentration in the blood can
improve an athlete's aerobic capacity (VO2 max) and endurance.
 Blood is removed from the athlete weeks prior to an event
 The blood is separated in a centrifuge
 The RBCs are then re-injected into the athlete
 This increases the viscosity of the blood which can lead to blood
clots, strokes and heart attacks
5. Explain the short and long term affects of smoking on
performance.
 Smoking increases blood pressure by raising the heart rate.
 Smoking can increase the risk of heart disease
 Nicotine itself increases the heart rate and carbon monoxide
reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. It combines
with haemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing oxygen
combining with the haemoglobin.
 This causes an increase in heart rate to compensate for the
reduced amount of oxygen carried in the blood.
 Long term effects include emphysema and cancer
6. Explain the short and long term affects of smoking on
performance.
 The alcohol in alcoholic drinks such as wines, beer and spirits is
ethanol, which is a depressant, meaning that it slows down signals
in the nerves and brain.
 This therefore increases a performers reaction time
 Small amounts of alcohol help people to relax, but greater
amounts lead to a lack of self-control.
 Drinkers of alcohol may not realise how much they are
consuming, and fall ill as a result. They may become unconscious,
and may even fall into a coma.
 Alcohol is addictive.
 Long-term effects of alcohol include damage to the liver and brain,
and it is often the cause of weight gain. Women who are pregnant
are warned not to drink alcohol or at least to limit their intake.