AQA GCSE Physical Education Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport, June 2025: Question 22

4 marks · Medium difficulty · Short Answer

State whether the 100m race in athletics is an aerobic or anaerobic event and justify your answer.

Practise this question

Question

Question 2.2 asks: 'State whether the 100m race in athletics is an aerobic or anaerobic event. Justify your answer. [4 marks]'. Below the prompt are two answer sections: a single line labeled 'State' and several lines labeled 'Justification'.
Question text

22 State whether the 100m race in athletics is an aerobic or anaerobic event.

Justify your answer.

[4 marks]

State

Justification

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2.2 with a total of 4 marks (AO2 = 1, AO3 = 3). AO2 awards 1 mark for stating 'Anaerobic'. AO3 awards up to 3 marks for justifying points: 100m is a sprint event lasting a short period of time; maximal intensity/effort means insufficient oxygen to work aerobically; energy demand exceeds oxygen available; no reduction in intensity/time to rest to repay oxygen debt; body uses glucose to produce energy and lactic acid due to lack of oxygen. Note states no marks awarded for justification if anaerobic is not stated.

22 State whether the 100m race in athletics is an aerobic or anaerobic event.

Justify your answer.

[4 marks]

Marks for this question: AO2 = 1, AO3 =3

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

AO2 (sub-max 1 mark)

• Anaerobic (1)

AO3 (sub-max 3 marks)

• 100m is a sprint event which lasts a short period of time (1)

• Maximal intensity or effort means insufficient oxygen is available to work aerobically (1)

• Energy demand is higher than oxygen available (1)

• No reduction in intensity/time to rest to repay oxygen debt (1)

• Body uses glucose → energy + lactic acid because of the lack of oxygen (1)

Credit any other suitable response.

NB Do not award marks for the justification if the candidate does not state anaerobic.

Maximum 4 marks

How to answer it

Energy Systems: 100m Athletics Sprint

📋 What this question tests

This question assesses your ability to apply knowledge of energy systems to a specific physical activity (AO2) and analyse/justify the physiological reasons behind that classification (AO3):

  • Identifying the dominant energy system (aerobic vs. anaerobic) for sprinting.
  • Linking intensity (maximal effort) and duration (short time frame, ~10–15 seconds) to oxygen availability.
  • Explaining energy release when oxygen demand exceeds supply (glucose → energy + lactic acid).

Question 2.2

State whether the 100m race in athletics is an aerobic or anaerobic event. Justify your answer. [4 marks]

✅ Model Full-Mark Answer

State: Anaerobic [1 mark - AO2]

Justification (any 3 of the following points):

  • The 100m is a sprint event that lasts for a very short duration / time (typically 10–15 seconds). [1 mark - AO3]
  • It is performed at maximal intensity/effort, meaning there is insufficient oxygen available to work aerobically. [1 mark - AO3]
  • The rate of energy demand is much higher than the oxygen supplied to the working muscles. [1 mark - AO3]
  • Energy is released through the breakdown of glucose without oxygen, producing lactic acid:
    glucose → energy + lactic acid. [1 mark - AO3]
Mark scheme breakdown: 1 mark for State (AO2) + 3 marks for distinct Justification points (AO3) = 4 marks total.

💡 Key Knowledge: Aerobic vs Anaerobic

  • Anaerobic: "Without oxygen". Used during short bursts of high/maximal intensity exercise (up to ~60 seconds).
  • Equation:
    glucose → energy + lactic acid
  • Intensity vs Duration rule: The higher the intensity, the quicker the body runs out of sufficient oxygen to produce ATP aerobically.
  • Oxygen Debt (EPOC): Maximal work cannot be sustained continuously without accumulating an oxygen debt, which cannot be repaid during a sprint because there is no rest or drop in intensity.

🧠 Exam Technique & Structure

  • Check the command word: "State" requires a single direct word or phrase. "Justify" requires reasons that explain why.
  • The "Golden Trinity" of Justification:
    1. State the duration (short time / under 15 seconds).
    2. State the intensity (maximal effort / sprinting).
    3. Explain the oxygen balance (demand exceeds supply / lack of oxygen).
  • Mentioning the chemical pathway (glucose into lactic acid) provides an easy, reliable extra marking point.

❌ Common Misconceptions & Traps

  • Crucial Mark Scheme Rule: If you write "Aerobic" for the state mark, zero marks can be awarded for the entire question, even if parts of your justification mention anaerobic principles!
  • Vague answers: Writing simply "it is fast" is too colloquial. Use precise PE terminology: "high/maximal intensity" or "short duration sprint".
  • Repeating the same point: Stating "it doesn't use oxygen" and "there is no oxygen available" counts as the same point. You must address duration, intensity, or the chemical pathway to hit all 3 justification marks.

📐 Summary Checklist for 4/4 Marks

Criterion Target Concept Mark
1. Identification Anaerobic 1 (AO2)
2. Duration Short duration / brief sprint event 1 (AO3)
3. Intensity / Oxygen Maximal intensity; oxygen demand > supply 1 (AO3)
4. By-product / Respiration Energy from glucose produces lactic acid 1 (AO3)

Topics

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

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physical Education examination, Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport, June 2025. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.