AQA GCSE Physical Education Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport, June 2025: Question 25

6 marks · Hard difficulty · Extended Response

Analyse how the redistribution of blood during exercise can improve performance when cycling 30 miles.

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Question text

25 Analyse how redistribution of blood during exercise can improve performance when

cycling 30 miles.

[6 marks]

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Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme

25 Analyse how redistribution of blood during exercise can improve performance when

cycling 30 miles.

[6 marks]

Marks for this question: AO1 = 1, AO2 = 2, AO3 = 3

Level Marks Description

Knowledge of redistribution of blood is accurate and generally well

detailed. Application to cycling 30 miles is mostly clear and effective.

3 5–6 Analysis is thorough, reaching valid and well-reasoned links to the

impact on performance. The answer is generally clear, coherent and

focused, with appropriate use of terminology throughout.

Knowledge of redistribution of blood is evident but is more detailed

for some aspects than others. There is some appropriate and

effective application to cycling 30 miles, although not always

2 3–4 presented with clarity. Any analysis is clear but reaches valid and

well-reasoned links to only some impacts on performance. The

answer lacks coherence in places, although terminology is used

appropriately on occasions.

Knowledge of redistribution of blood is limited. Application to cycling

30 miles is either absent or inappropriate. Analysis is poorly focused

1 1–2 or absent, with few or no reasoned links to any impact on

performance. The answer as a whole lacks clarity and has

inaccuracies. Terminology is either absent or inappropriately used.

00 No relevant content.

Possible content may include:

AO1 – Knowledge of redistribution of blood eg

• Vasodilation – arterioles become wider, increasing blood flow.

• Vasoconstriction – arterioles become smaller, restricting blood flow to those tissues.

AO2 – Application to cycling 30 miles eg

• During a 30 mile cycle ride vasodilation will occur to the working muscles.

• Particularly to muscles in the legs eg quadriceps group/gastrocnemius.– – –

• During a 30 mile cycle ride vasoconstriction will occur to non-essential organs/no working muscles.

• This could include the stomach and/or muscles in the arms eg biceps/triceps.

AO3 – Analysis of how redistribution of blood during exercise can improve performance when

cycling 30 miles eg

• Working muscles receive more blood during exercise.

• Blood contains oxygen carried by haemoglobin as oxyhaemoglobin.

• This extra oxygen allows the cyclist to work aerobically for longer/higher intensities.

• Therefore they can cycle for longer/at a higher average speed without producing lactic acid, which

would cause fatigue resulting in them having to slow down/stop.

• This means they can complete the ride in a faster time.

Accept any other appropriate analysis of how redistribution of blood during exercise can improve

performance when cycling 30 miles.

Maximum 6 marks

How to answer it

Redistribution of Blood During Endurance Cycling

📌 What this question tests

This 6-mark extended response question assesses your ability to explain the physiological mechanism of the vascular shunt mechanism and link it directly to endurance performance.

AO1 (1 mark): Recall of key physiological terms (vasodilation and vasoconstriction).
AO2 (2 marks): Application to a 30-mile cycle ride (identifying specific working vs. non-essential muscles/organs).
AO3 (3 marks): Detailed analysis of how extra oxygen delivery enhances aerobic energy production and improves overall race performance.

Question 25 • 6 Marks

Analyse how redistribution of blood during exercise can improve performance when cycling 30 miles.

AQA GCSE Physical Education — Paper 1

💡 Key Knowledge (AO1 & AO2)

Vasodilation: Arterioles supplying active tissues widen/dilate, increasing blood flow.
Vasoconstriction: Arterioles supplying inactive areas narrow/constrict, restricting blood flow.
Working muscles in cycling: Quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius (lower body).
Inactive areas: Inactive organs (e.g. digestive tract/stomach, kidneys) and non-working muscles (e.g. biceps/triceps).

🧠 Exam Technique: Structuring the 6 Marks

AO1 (1 Mark) Define both mechanisms: vasodilation and vasoconstriction of arterioles.
AO2 (2 Marks) Apply directly to the 30-mile ride: name specific leg muscles receiving more blood and organs receiving less blood.
AO3 (3 Marks) Create a chain of reasoning: More blood → More oxyhaemoglobin → Sustained aerobic respiration → Delays lactic acid & fatigue → Faster time over 30 miles.

📐 Chain of Analysis (AO3)

Increased Blood Supply: More oxygen-rich blood reaches the working leg muscles.
Oxygen Transport: Oxygen binds to haemoglobin in red blood cells to form oxyhaemoglobin.
Aerobic Energy: More oxygen allows the cyclist to produce energy via aerobic respiration for a longer duration.
Fatigue Delay: Working aerobically prevents or delays the anaerobic threshold and the accumulation of lactic acid.
Performance Outcome: Cyclist maintains a higher cadence/speed, avoids premature fatigue, and completes the 30 miles in a faster time.

✅ Model Answer (Level 3: Full 6 Marks)

During exercise, blood is redistributed around the body via the vascular shunt mechanism through vasodilation and vasoconstriction. Vasodilation occurs when the arterioles widen, increasing blood flow, whereas vasoconstriction occurs when arterioles narrow, restricting blood flow.

In a 30-mile cycle ride, vasodilation directs more blood toward the working leg muscles, such as the quadriceps and gastrocnemius, which are contracting repeatedly to pedal. At the same time, vasoconstriction restricts blood flow away from non-essential organs, such as the stomach/digestive system, and inactive muscles, such as the biceps.

This redistribution ensures that the active leg muscles receive an increased supply of oxygen carried as oxyhaemoglobin. As a result, the cyclist can produce energy via aerobic respiration for longer and at higher intensities. This delays the onset of fatigue and prevents the rapid accumulation of lactic acid. Consequently, the cyclist can maintain a higher average speed over the 30 miles without having to slow down, ultimately achieving a faster overall finishing time.

❌ Common Errors & Examiner Pitfalls

Mixing up blood vessels: Stating that veins or capillaries dilate/constrict. Always specify arterioles (or pre-capillary sphincters).
Generic answers (Lacking AO2): Just stating "muscles get blood". You must name specific muscles used in cycling (e.g. quadriceps, gastrocnemius) to secure AO2 marks.
Stopping short on analysis (Weak AO3): Ending the explanation at "gives muscles more oxygen". You must complete the chain: explain why oxygen improves performance (maintains aerobic work, delays lactic acid fatigue, leads to a faster race time).
Confusing the terms: Mixing up vasodilation (widening) and vasoconstriction (narrowing).

Mark Scheme Levels Breakdown:
• Level 3 (5–6 marks): Clear and accurate knowledge of redistribution, applied directly to the 30-mile ride, with thorough analysis explicitly linking oxygen delivery to endurance performance.
• Level 2 (3–4 marks): Good understanding but lacks depth in either naming specific muscles or completing the chain of analysis to race performance.
• Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic isolated points; simple recall of terms without clear application or analysis.

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.