AQA GCSE Physical Education Paper 2: Socio-cultural influences and wellbeing in physical activity and sport, June 2025: Question 11

3 marks · Medium difficulty · Short Answer

Identify the personality type most suited to basketball and justify your choice.

Practise this question

Question

Question 11 asks: 'Identify the personality type that would be most suited to basketball. Justify your choice. [3 marks]'. Below the prompt are two answer spaces: 'Personality type' with a single line, and 'Justification' with four lines for writing.
Question text

11 Identify the personality type that would be most suited to basketball.

Justify your choice.

[3 marks]

Personality type

Justification

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme Mark scheme for Question 11 showing a total of 3 marks (AO2 = 1, AO3 = 2). AO2 awards 1 mark for 'Extrovert'. AO3 awards up to 2 marks for justifying reasons: being a team sport where extroverts like interacting with others, avoiding boredom from being by themselves, requiring gross movement skills/lower concentration, being fast-paced matching higher arousal preferences, or communication importance where extroverts tend to be talkative. Note states not to award justification marks if personality type is incorrect.

11 Identify the personality type that would be most suited to basketball.

Justify your choice.

[3 marks]

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

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

AO2 (sub-max 1 mark)

• Extrovert (1)

AO3 (sub-max 2 marks)

• It is a team sport and extroverts tend to like interacting with others (1)

• They are prone to boredom if by themselves so being part of a team avoids this (1)

• Requires gross movement skills where lower levels of concentration are required which tends to suit

extroverts (1)

• It is a fast-paced activity and extroverts tend to prefer this rather than low arousal activities (1)

• Communication is important and extroverts tend to be talkative which will help them with this (1)

Accept any other suitable examples and justification of why basketball would be most suited to an

extrovert.

NB Do not award marks for the justification if personality type is incorrect.

Maximum 3 marks

How to answer it

Question 11: Personality Types in Sport

📋 What this question tests

Socio-cultural influences and sports psychology: Personality types (Extrovert vs Introvert)

  • AO2 (Application): Selecting the appropriate personality profile suited to basketball (1 mark).
  • AO3 (Analysis / Justification): Linking specific characteristics of this personality type directly to demands of the sport (2 marks).
Question Breakdown

Question 11 [3 marks]

Identify the personality type that would be most suited to basketball. Justify your choice.

✅ Model Answer & Mark Scheme

Personality type (1 mark):

  • Extrovert [AO2]

Justification (Any 2 distinct points, 1 mark each):

  • Basketball is a team sport and extroverts enjoy interacting and socialising with others. [1 mark]
  • Communication is vital during play; extroverts are typically talkative/outgoing, which helps direct team play. [1 mark]
  • It is a fast-paced, dynamic sport, which suits extroverts who thrive in high-arousal environments. [1 mark]
  • Involves primarily gross movement skills needing lower levels of sustained concentration compared to fine individual tasks. [1 mark]
  • Extroverts get bored easily on their own, so being part of an active team sport keeps them engaged. [1 mark]

💡 Key Knowledge: Extrovert vs Introvert

Extroverts:

  • Social, outgoing, talkative, enthusiastic.
  • Prefer team sports (e.g. basketball, rugby, football).
  • Thrive on high arousal, excitement, and fast pace.
  • Tend to suit gross skills requiring power and energy.

Introverts:

  • Shy, quiet, reserved, thoughtful.
  • Prefer individual sports (e.g. archery, marathon running).
  • Perform best at low arousal; require high concentration.

🧠 Exam Technique: "Linking" for AO3

Notice the condition on the mark scheme: "NB Do not award marks for the justification if personality type is incorrect."

  • Step 1: Always get the identification right first. Basketball is loud, dynamic, and team-based = Extrovert.
  • Step 2: Structure each justification point with a Feature of the Sport linked to a Personality Trait:
    [Sport demand] + [Why extroverts fit it]
    e.g., "Basketball requires constant communication (sport demand) and extroverts are naturally outgoing/talkative (personality trait)."

❌ Common Student Traps

  • Missing the link: Simply saying "They like team sports" without explaining why (e.g. failure to state they enjoy social interaction or communication).
  • Describing the player's physical ability: Writing "Extroverts are tall and can jump high" receives zero marks. The focus must be on psychological traits and environmental preferences.
  • Vague answers: Stating "They are good at basketball" instead of linking specific traits like arousal levels, boredom thresholds, or communication needs.
Examiner Insight: Full 3/3 marks require clear separation between naming the personality type and giving two independent, well-explained justifications. Ensure both justification points focus on different aspects (e.g. one on teamwork/interaction and one on pace/arousal levels).

Topics

3.2 Socio-cultural influences and wellbeing in physical activity and sport · 3.2.1 Sports psychology

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physical Education examination, Paper 2: Socio-cultural influences and wellbeing in physical activity and sport, June 2025. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.