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Year 11
Edexcel

Exam technique and answering extended questions

I can develop AO3 skills to approach the extended answer questions with confidence.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Exam technique and answering extended questions

I can develop AO3 skills to approach the extended answer questions with confidence.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Extended questions are marked using level descriptors.
  2. The hollistic approach to answering encompasses all three assessment objectives.
  3. The command word used in the question determines the AO3 skill required.
  4. The skill can be either anlayse, discuss, evaluate or justify.

Keywords

  • Analyse - separate information in components and identify the characteristics

  • Discuss - present key points or provide strengths and weaknesses of an idea

  • Evaluate - judge from available evidence

  • Justify - support a case with evidence

Common misconception

In long answer questions it is better to recall as much of the topic as possible.

It is important to recall the specific knowledge relevant to the question but then apply that knowledge and develop the knowledge based on the command word. Simply just recalling knowledge will only hit AO1 marks awarded.


To help you plan your year 11 physical education lesson on: Exam technique and answering extended questions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use the specification to guide on the topics to practice these questions. Look out for words such as evaluate and justify in the additional information column. Provide time to understand the skills required for each command words and how sentence connectives are useful.
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Equipment

Level response grid from a mark scheme.

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the most amount of marks that a question could be worth?
4
6
Correct answer: 9
12
Q2.
Which fitness component is being able to keep the body stable, while at rest or in motion?
reaction time
coordination
agility
Correct answer: balance
Q3.
Match the examples from swimming to the correct type of guidance.
Correct Answer:visual,demonstrating the arm action on poolside
tick

demonstrating the arm action on poolside

Correct Answer:verbal,giving teaching points about the leg action
tick

giving teaching points about the leg action

Correct Answer:manual,supporting under the torso to stay afloat
tick

supporting under the torso to stay afloat

Correct Answer:mechanical,holding a noodle to practice a leg kick
tick

holding a noodle to practice a leg kick

Q4.
Identify the principles of training.
circuit
Correct answer: specificity
Correct answer: overload
vasoconstriction
balance
Q5.
Match the keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:analyse,separate information into components and identify the characteristics
tick

separate information into components and identify the characteristics

Correct Answer:discuss,present key points and provide strengths and weaknesses of an idea
tick

present key points and provide strengths and weaknesses of an idea

Correct Answer:evaluate,judge from available evidence
tick

judge from available evidence

Correct Answer:justify,support a case with evidence
tick

support a case with evidence

Q6.
The command words in an extended answer question (e.g. analyse, justify, discuss, evaluate) demonstrate which type of knowledge?
AO1
AO2
Correct answer: AO3
AO4

6 Questions

Q1.
Evaluate is to from available evidence.
Correct Answer: judge
Q2.
Which command word are we most likely to see in an extended answer question?
describe
define
Correct answer: justify
identify
give
Q3.
Match the sections of a know, apply and say why approach to answering.
Correct Answer:know,knowledge of the topic area in the question
tick

knowledge of the topic area in the question

Correct Answer:apply,application to the context/sport in the question
tick

application to the context/sport in the question

Correct Answer:say why,the skills as determined by the command word
tick

the skills as determined by the command word

Q4.
Which description best describes AO2 knowledge?
saying why not
recalling knowledge
saying why
Correct answer: applying knowledge
Q5.
The ITCH strategy can be used to help write the AO3 detail in an extended answer. What does the 'H' stand for?
Correct Answer: however
Q6.
Analyse is to information into components and identify the characteristics.
Correct Answer: separate