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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

A practical exploration of power, speed and strength fitness tests

I can apply protocols of specific fitness tests that measure power, speed and strength, and compare results to normative data.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

A practical exploration of power, speed and strength fitness tests

I can apply protocols of specific fitness tests that measure power, speed and strength, and compare results to normative data.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Fitness tests are measured or recorded using various units.
  2. Power can be measured by the vertical jump test.
  3. The hand grip dynamometer tests muscular strength.
  4. The 30m sprint test measures speed.

Keywords

  • Speed - the rate at which someone can perform a movement or cover a distance

  • Strength - the amount of force a muscle can exert against a resistance

  • Power - the ability to undertake strength performance quickly

  • Normative data - information collected from a large group of people to show what's typical or average, so others can compare to it

Common misconception

Pupils do not stand straight against the wall with their arm touching the wall to gain the initial mark for the vertical jump test.

It is important for reliable results when measuring power that the arm is against the wall and outreached as high as possible, when taking the initial measurement.


To help you plan your year 10 physical education lesson on: A practical exploration of power, speed and strength fitness tests, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to go through these slides in a lesson before or after completing the test, so there is enough time to complete all the fitness tests in this lesson.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Stack of cones, stopwatches or timing gates, vertical jump board, chalk, tape measure and hand grip dynamometer.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

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.
Identify the correct definition of speed.
the range of movement around a joint
the ability to exert a maximal force in as short a time as possible
the maximum force a muscle/group of muscles can apply against a resistance
Correct answer: the rate at which someone can perform a movement or cover a distance
Q2.
The fitness test that measures cardiovascular endurance is the step test.
Correct Answer: Harvard
Q3.
Which athlete would require the most power?
Correct answer: a long jumper
a cricketer catching a ball
an archer shooting an arrow
a snowboarder turning
Q4.
Which athlete would require the least flexibility?
a hurdler moving over the hurdles
Correct answer: a marathon runner completing a race
a gymnast performing the splits
a footballer taking a throw-in
Q5.
Match the definitions to the correct component of fitness.
Correct Answer:speed,the rate at which someone can perform a movement or cover a distance
tick

the rate at which someone can perform a movement or cover a distance

Correct Answer:strength,the amount of force a muscle can exert against a resistance
tick

the amount of force a muscle can exert against a resistance

Correct Answer:power,the ability to undertake strength performance quickly
tick

the ability to undertake strength performance quickly

Correct Answer:flexibility,the range of movement around a joint
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the range of movement around a joint

Q6.
Match the fitness test to the correct component of fitness.
Correct Answer:speed,30m sprint test
tick

30m sprint test

Correct Answer:strength,1 rep max test
tick

1 rep max test

Correct Answer:power,vertical jump test
tick

vertical jump test

Correct Answer:cardiovascular endurance,12 minute Cooper run
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12 minute Cooper run

Correct Answer:muscular endurance,1 minute press-up test
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1 minute press-up test

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the distance of the fitness test, in metres, that measures speed?
10m
20m
Correct answer: 30m
100m
Q2.
Strength is measured by the grip strength test.
Correct Answer: dynamometer
Q3.
When conducting the sit and reach test, how should the knees be placed?
Correct answer: flat on the floor
bent upwards
sat crosslegged
out to the side
Q4.
How could you make the 30m sprint test more reliable?
complete with someone else at the same time
Correct answer: use timing gates instead of stopwatches
complete it outside
Correct answer: repeat three times and take an average
Q5.
Elvis is a 15 year old male. He scores 37cm in the vertical jump test. Using the table of normative data, rate Elvis' power.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: poor
below average
Correct answer: average
above average
Q6.
Amy is a 15 year old female. She scores 36kg in the grip strength dynamometer test. Using the table of normative data, rate Amy's strength.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: above average
Q5 BrianMac Sports Coach www.brianmac.co.uk Q6 BrianMac Sports Coach www.brianmac.co.uk