AQA GCSE Physical Education Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport, June 2025: Question 11

Mark scheme

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11 Define expiratory reserve volume (ERV).

Identify what happens to ERV during exercise.

[2 marks]

Marks for this question AO1 = 1, AO2 = 1

Award one mark for a definition and one further mark for an example.

AO1 (sub-max 1 mark)

• The amount of air that could be breathed out above tidal volume (1)

• The maximum amount of additional air that can be forced out of the lungs after a normal breath (1)

AO2 (sub-max 1 mark)

• It decreases (1)

Maximum 2 marks

How to answer it

Question 11: Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)

📌 What this question tests

This 2-mark question assesses knowledge of respiratory system volumes and responses to physical activity under Paper 1 (The human body and movement in physical activity and sport):

AO1 (Knowledge & Recall): Accurately defining Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV) using precise physiological terminology.
AO2 (Application): Stating the acute effect of exercise on ERV as Tidal Volume expands.

Part 1 • 1 Mark (AO1)

Define Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)

Recalling the precise textbook definition

✅ Acceptable Answers (Any 1)

The amount of air that could be breathed out above tidal volume. [1 mark]
The maximum amount of additional air that can be forced out of the lungs after a normal breath. [1 mark]

💡 Key Knowledge

Key components required for this definition:

Additional / Extra: It is air remaining beyond a normal breath.
Forced / Maximum: It requires active muscular contraction (internal intercostals and abdominals).
After normal expiration: It is measured starting from the bottom of normal tidal volume.

🧠 Exam Technique

Always state where the breath starts. Saying just "air you force out" is incomplete. Top marks go to candidates who write: "The extra volume of air that can be forcibly expired after a normal breath."

❌ Common Errors

Confusing ERV with Residual Volume (RV): RV is the air that always remains in the lungs and cannot ever be breathed out.
Leaving out "after normal breath": Saying simply "air you breathe out" just describes expiration or tidal volume.
Confusing with IRV: Writing about breathing in rather than breathing out.

Mark Allocation: 1 mark awarded under AO1 for a complete, accurate definition.

Part 2 • 1 Mark (AO2)

Identify What Happens to ERV During Exercise

Understanding acute changes in lung volumes

✅ Acceptable Answer

It decreases / goes down / reduces. [1 mark]

💡 Why Does ERV Decrease?

During exercise, the body demands much more oxygen and needs to remove carbon dioxide faster:

Tidal Volume (TV) increases significantly to bring in deeper breaths.
Because each breath is deeper, both inhalation and exhalation encroach on reserve space.
Therefore, both Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) and Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV) decrease as TV expands into them.

📐 Spirometer Trace Summary Table

Tidal Volume (TV): Increases during exercise
Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV): Decreases during exercise
Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV): Decreases during exercise
Residual Volume (RV): Remains constant

❌ Common Misconceptions

Guessing "increases": Many students assume everything increases during exercise (like heart rate, ventilation, and tidal volume). Remember: reserve volumes decrease!
Writing vague descriptions: Avoid vague phrases like "it changes" or "it gets faster". You must clearly state that the volume decreases.

Mark Allocation: 1 mark awarded under AO2 for correctly identifying that ERV decreases.

Topics

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