AQA GCSE Physical Education Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport, June 2025: Question 4

1 mark · Easy difficulty · Multiple Choice

Identify which description defines the principle of training known as 'specificity'.

Practise this question

Question

Question 04 asks: 'Which one of these principles of training describes specificity?' with four multiple choice options: A - 'Training benefits are lost when training stops', B - 'Training is increased gradually as the body adjusts to the increased demands', C - 'Training that is suited to a particular sport or activity', and D - 'Training to make the body work harder than normal in order to improve it'. Next to each option is a lozenge to fill in.
Question text

04 Which one of these principles of training describes ‘specificity’?

[1 mark]

A Training benefits are lost when training stops

B Training is increased gradually as the body adjusts to the

increased demands

C Training that is suited to a particular sport or activity

D Training to make the body work harder than normal in order to

improve it

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme Mark scheme for Question 04 states: 'Marks for this question: AO1 = 1. Answer C – Training that is suited to a particular sport or activity (1)'.

04 Which one of these principles of training describes ‘specificity’?

[1 mark]

Marks for this question: AO1 = 1

Answer C – Training that is suited to a particular sport or activity (1)

How to answer it

Principles of Training: Defining Specificity

What this question tests

This question assesses pure AO1 (Knowledge and Understanding) recall of key training principles. You must be able to accurately distinguish between the definitions of the core principles of training: Specificity, Progression, Overload, and Reversibility.

Question 04

Multiple Choice: Principle of Specificity

AQA GCSE PE • Paper 1 / Paper 2 • 1 Mark (AO1)

✅ Correct Answer

C – Training that is suited to a particular sport or activity

Mark Scheme Breakdown:
• 1 mark (AO1): Selecting option C only.

💡 Key Knowledge: The SPORT Acronym

Every option in the question describes a real principle from the SPORT model:

  • S – Specificity: Making training relevant and appropriate to the activity, muscle groups, energy systems, or movements used (Option C).
  • P – Progression: Gradually increasing demands as fitness improves (Option B).
  • O – Overload: Making the body work harder than usual to create physiological adaptations (Option D).
  • R – Reversibility: Fitness loss that happens when training ceases or is reduced (Option A).
  • T – Tedium: Boredom from repeating identical sessions (prevented with variety).

🧠 Exam Technique: Elimination Strategy

On multiple-choice questions matching definitions:

  • Annotate the options: Write the actual principle next to each choice before filling the box:
    • A = Reversibility
    • B = Progressive Overload / Progression
    • C = Specificity
    • D = Overload
  • Root-word clue: Specificity shares its root with specific. Look for answers mentioning a "particular sport", "relevant muscle group", or "exact energy system".

❌ Common Errors & Traps

  • Confusing Overload (D) with Progression (B): Working harder than normal is overload; increasing that load gradually over time is progression.
  • Rushing without reading all options: Students often see "increased demands" in Option B and jump to conclusions without reading down to Option C.
  • Shading multiple boxes: This is a 1-mark question with a lozenge box. Shading more than one oval automatically scores 0 marks.

Topics

3.1 The human body and movement in physical activity and sport · 3.1.3 Physical training

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.