A PE-specific blog by James Simms

Extended Writing in AQA A-level PE Paper 2

Written by James Simms | May 24, 2023 2:37:29 PM

Dear AQA A-level PE teachers and students,

This blog is for you. In recent months I have had fantastic feedback on a series of...

As you will probably know, AQA A-level PE has, by far the greatest requirement for extended writing and, for this reason, I have decided to publish two brand-new resources today.

These resources cover 8- and 15-mark writing for AQA A-Level PE Paper 2 and these should be utilised in combination with the equivalent resources for Paper 1 (see link above).

The resources are completely free and you can download them directly from this page.

Download your FREE long answer structuring templates


The documents incorporate the requirements for synoptic writing and it is specifically this element of the document that I would like your feedback on. You may be aware that, of the 12 extended writing pieces an AQA A-level PE student will write across Paper 1 and Paper 2, three pieces will be synoptic. Thus far, the synoptic element has always been:


1 x 8-mark synoptic piece and 2 x 15-mark synoptic piece


If you look at this image/table, you can also see the trends in how synoptic writing has been structured. Can you see any patterns?

   

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023 NME†

Paper 1

Section A

Anatomy and Physiology

8

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Evaluate

Evaluate

Evaluate

Factors affecting VO2 max

Cryotherapy and blood redistribution

Venous return

HITT training

Altitude training

Plyometrics

15

Evaluate

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Proprioceptors and PNF

Anaerobic energy systems

Musculoskeletal and levers at the knee and ankle

Muscle fibre types

Energy systems and dietary supplements

Specialist training method - Plyometrics

Paper 1

Section B

Skill Acquisition

8

Analyse

Analyse

Evaluate

Evaluate

Evaluate

Evaluate

Response time

Schema theory

Video analysis and feedback

Methods of guidance

Learning plateau and process goals/SMARTER

Behaviourism - Operant conditioning

15

Evaluate

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Evaluate

Analyse

Skill continua and PPP

Input stage of IP. Strategies to improve selective attention 

Baddeley and Hitch

Transfer of learning & skills continua

Massed & Distributed / Stage of learning

Simple and choice reaction time & inverted U theory of arousal

Paper 1

Section C

Sport and Society

8

Evaluate

Evaluate

Evaluate

Analyse

Evaluate

Evaluate

Socialisation

Social stratification

Barriers and strategies to overcome

Emergence of the middle class

Factories early and late 19th century

Industrial and post industrial (1780 - 1900) - Public schools

15

Evaluate

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Barriers and strategies to overcome

Barriers to female participation and changing attitudes

Changes in society 1870-1900

Discrimination, stereotyping and prejudice and Bandura self efficacy

Local partners to overcome disadvantaged groups

Sport England, local and national partners at grass roots level

Paper 2

Section A

Exercise Physiology

8

Evaluate

Evaluate

Analyse

Analyse

Evaluate

Analyse

Creatine and anabolic steroids

Strength training for injury rehabilitation

Macro, meso and micro cycles

FITT in continuous training

Screening to prevent musculo-skeletal injuries

Impulse

15

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Evaluate

Bernoulli principle

Factors affecting flight and maximising horizontal displacement

Newton's law of linear motion and muscle fibre recruitment

Angular momentum

Horizontal displacement and Bernoulli

Recovery from exercise and motivation

Paper 2

Section B

Sports Psychology

8

Evaluate

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Analyse

Evaluate

Visualisation and centering

Attribution

Arousal

Cognitive stress management techniques and Catastrophe theory

Overcome learned helplessness

Stress management - somatic techniques

15

Analyse

Evaluate

Analyse

Evaluate

Analyse

Analyse

Bandura and Vealey

Warm up for injury prevention and stress management

Faulty group processes

Anxiety and valid and reliable data

Autocratic and Chelladurai model of leadership

Tuckman's model of group dynamics

Paper 2

Section C

Sport and Society and the Impact of Technology

8

Evaluate

Analyse

Evaluate

Evaluate

Evaluate

Analyse

 

GPS

Recreation and Sport

Impact of commercialisation

EPO and altitude training

Win ethic / Sportsmanship / Gamesmanship

Effects of drugs on the performer/performance - Anabolic steroids and muscle fibre types

15

Analyse

Analyse

Evaluate

Analyse

Evaluate

Evaluate

 

Player violence. Instinct theory and frustration aggression hypothesis

Reasons for and implications of PEDS

Strategies for eliminating PEDS

NIS cyclists

Media and Bandura self efficacy

Development of equipment and facilities

Synoptic Totals

 

1 x 8 2 x 15 = 3

1 x 8 2 x 15 = 3

1 x 8 2 x 15 = 3

1 x 8 2 x 15 = 3

1 x 8 2 x 15 = 3

2 x 8 2 x 15 = 3

†National Mock Exam
Questions highlighted in grey involve synoptic content

Download your own copy of AQA A-Level PE Extended Writing Question Analysis.

 

 Why am I releasing these resources now? 

Put bluntly, one of the most common requests I get for resources and training is in the support of extended writing. Therefore, I have worked on these frameworks in order to address this demand.

Secondly, I have reviewed all current (and often paid) frameworks that are currently available from other providers. I never wish to be negative but the quality of the work that was previously out there is simply not up to scratch and I have decided to try and disrupt this niche by providing my resources for free and to everyone including directly to students.

I am very aware that there is anxiety in the sector about the 2023 Year 13 cohort being the first, real post-COVID exam group and I want to help as much as I can. Therefore, I want to make a critical point:

Assuming that teachers have the time and space to appropriately guide students about the use of the writing frameworks, I encourage all teachers of AQA A-level PE Year 13 groups to introduce my writing frames for this year’s exam series.

 

 Why are the resources free? 

Good question! I must admit that I was very tempted to charge for these resources but, ultimately, I want them used by all students, not just those whose teachers are willing to pay for them.

In return for the resources being provided for free, I urge teachers to value them as if they had spent hundreds of pounds on them. My concern is that, because I make them free, teachers may treat them as low quality. The opposite is literally true. These resources have 100% of my heart, brain and professionalism in them and I am currently using them with my own A-level PE students. Please, join me.

 

 What about OCR? What about Edexcel? 

The AQA A-level PE Paper 1 and OCR A-level models were published in recent weeks and are all available via our blog homepage. I currently have no plans to provide the Edexcel A-level equivalents. I’m sorry!! There are so few students studying that course that it is very difficult to allocate the time. I know this is disappointing but I really am doing my best.

Please begin to use these documents with your groups and do reach out to me with feedback and comment. You can do that publicly in the comments below or email me on james@theeverlearner.com.

Thank you and have a lovely day.

James