AQA GCSE Physical Education Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport, June 2025: Question 10

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme

10 Figure 3 shows structures in the respiratory system.

Figure 3

10.1 Identify the structures labelled A, B and C in Figure 3.

[3 marks]

Marks for this question AO1 = 3

Award one mark for each of the following up to a maximum of three marks.

• A = Trachea (1)

• B = Bronchi (1) – – –

• C = Alveoli (1)

Maximum 3 marks

10.2 State what process occurs at C in Figure 3.

[1 mark]

Marks for this question AO1 = 1

Award one mark for stating what process will occur at C in Figure 3.

• Gaseous exchange (1)

• Diffusion (1)

Maximum 1 mark

How to answer it

Respiratory System: Structures & Gaseous Exchange

📋 WHAT THIS QUESTION TESTS

This question assesses fundamental recall (AO1) of the anatomy and physiology of the human respiratory system:

Identification of key anatomical structures: Trachea, bronchi, and alveoli on an anatomical diagram.
Physiological function: Naming the vital process taking place at the terminal air sacs (alveoli).

QUESTION 10.1

Identifying Respiratory Structures (3 Marks)

"Identify the structures labelled A, B and C in Figure 3."

✅ Mark Scheme Answers

A: Trachea [1 mark]
B: Bronchi (or Bronchus) [1 mark]
C: Alveoli (or Alveolus) [1 mark]

Total: 3 Marks (AO1) – 1 mark per correct identification.

💡 Pathway of Air Flow

Remember the anatomical order as air travels into the lungs:

Nose / Mouth
Pharynx & Larynx
A: Trachea (main airway supported by cartilage rings)
B: Bronchi (two main branches into each lung)
Bronchioles (smaller branching tubes)
C: Alveoli (microscopic air sacs at the ends)

🧠 Exam Technique: Label Precision

Look at the pointer lines carefully: Line B points to the primary fork entering the lung (bronchus), not the smaller twigs inside (bronchioles).
Line C points to the clusters at the very ends of the branches (alveoli).
Use specific scientific terminology rather than common lay terms to guarantee the mark.

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Writing "Windpipe": Always use the scientific term Trachea .
Confusing Bronchi and Bronchioles: Remember: Bronchi are the large primary branches; Bronchioles are the smaller sub-branches.
Labelling C as "Lungs": C points specifically to the micro-structures (alveoli), not the whole organ.

QUESTION 10.2

Process Occurring at the Alveoli (1 Mark)

"State what process occurs at C in Figure 3."

✅ Mark Scheme Answers

Any one of the following earns the mark:

Gaseous exchange [1 mark]
Diffusion [1 mark]

Total: 1 Mark (AO1)

💡 What Happens at the Alveoli?

Oxygen (O₂) diffuses from a high concentration in the alveoli across thin capillary walls into red blood cells (binding to haemoglobin).
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) diffuses from a high concentration in the capillary blood into the alveoli to be exhaled.
Alveoli have a huge surface area, thin walls (one cell thick), and an extensive capillary network to maximise this exchange.

🧠 Examiner Commentary

This is a simple recall question testing physiological function.

Either the overarching physiological term (gaseous exchange) or the underlying physical process (diffusion) is accepted by the exam board.
Keep it concise—you only need two words to secure full marks.

❌ Common Errors

Writing "Breathing" or "Ventilation": Breathing is the mechanical movement of air in and out of the lungs, not the process occurring specifically at the alveoli membrane.
Writing "Respiration": Respiration is a biochemical reaction occurring inside mitochondria to produce energy, not the exchange of gases at the lung surface.

Topics

3.1 The human body and movement in physical activity and sport · 3.1.1 Applied anatomy and physiology