AQA GCSE Physical Education Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport, June 2025: Question 8

✅ Acceptable Answers (1 Mark)

Any one of the following clear statements awards the mark:

• The muscle (or muscle group) that contracts / shortens.
• The muscle (or muscle group) responsible for the movement.
• The prime mover causing the joint action.

💡 Key Knowledge to Remember

• Agonist (Prime Mover): The muscle that actively contracts (shortens) to create movement.
• Antagonist: The muscle that relaxes and lengthens to allow the movement to take place.
• Classic Example: In a bicep curl during the upwards (flexion) phase, the biceps brachii is the agonist (contracts), while the triceps brachii is the antagonist (relaxes).

🧠 Exam Technique & Examiner Insight

• Command Word: State means you only need to provide a brief, factual definition. No elaboration or sporting example is required.
• Keep it generic: Notice the question asks for the general role, not a named muscle. Giving a specific muscle (e.g. "biceps") without stating what it does will score 0 marks.
• Use standard vocabulary: The word "contracts" is the safest, most reliable keyword in AQA mark schemes.

❌ Common Misconceptions to Avoid

• Confusing Agonist with Antagonist: Saying it is "the muscle that relaxes" (that is the antagonist).
• Naming a muscle instead of its function: Writing just "bicep" or "quadriceps" does not state a role.
• Vague answers: Stating "it helps you move" or "it works hard" is too imprecise to get credit. You must mention contraction or being responsible for movement.