AQA GCSE Physical Education Paper 2: Socio-cultural influences and wellbeing in physical activity and sport, June 2025: Question 13

10 marks · Medium difficulty · Short Answer

Suggest three reasons for a 14-year-old leading a sedentary lifestyle, state three consequences of a sedentary lifestyle, and explain two positive effects of hydration on performance.

Practise this question

Question

Question 13 consists of three parts. Part 13.1 asks to suggest three reasons why a 14-year-old may start to lead a sedentary lifestyle, worth 3 marks, with three numbered answer lines. Part 13.2 states that heart disease is one possible consequence of a sedentary lifestyle and asks to state three other possible consequences, worth 3 marks, with three numbered lines. Part 13.3 asks to explain two positive effects that staying fully hydrated may have on sporting performance, worth 4 marks, with two numbered sections containing multiple write-in lines.
Question text

13.1 Suggest three reasons why a 14-year-old may start to lead a sedentary lifestyle.

[3 marks]

13.2 Heart disease is one possible consequence of a sedentary lifestyle.

State three other possible consequences.

[3 marks]

13.3 Explain two positive effects that staying fully hydrated may have on sporting

performance.

[4 marks]

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme Mark scheme for Question 13. 13.1 awards 1 mark per point up to 3 for reasons such as peer influence, parental financial/transport constraints, negative past experiences, screen time, or increased school workload. 13.2 awards 1 mark each up to 3 marks for consequences such as diabetes, stroke, weight gain/obesity, poor self-esteem, hypertension, lethargy, poor sleep, or depression. 13.3 awards up to 2 marks per explanation up to 4 marks for benefits of hydration including lower heart rate and efficient oxygen supply, preventing blood viscosity increases, thermoregulation/preventing overheating, avoiding muscle cramps/fatigue, and maintaining concentration/alertness.

13.1 Suggest three reasons why a 14-year-old may start to lead a sedentary lifestyle.

[3 marks]

Marks for this question: AO1 = 3

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

• Their friends may not take part in physical activity so they may choose to do the same (1)

• Their parents may not be able to pay for them to take part in physical activities (1)

• Their parents may not be able to transport them to take part in physical activities (1)

• Their parents may not be physically active so they copy them (1)

• They may have had negative experiences when being active previously which has put them off taking

part in activities (1)

• They may spend all of their spare time gaming/watching TV/on social media (1)

• They have an increased workload at school so do not have the time (1)

Accept any other suitable response.

Maximum 3 marks

13.2 Heart disease is one possible consequence of a sedentary lifestyle.

State three other possible consequences.

[3 marks]

Marks for this question: AO1 = 3

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

• Diabetes (1)

• Stroke (1)

• Weight gain / obesity (1)

• Poor self-esteem / self-confidence (1)

• Hypertension (1)

• Lethargy / tiredness (1)

• Poor sleep / insomnia (1)

• Depression (1)

Accept any other suitable consequence of a sedentary lifestyle. Do not credit heart disease as it has–––JUNE 2025

been identified as a consequence in the question stem.

Maximum 3 marks

13.3 Explain two positive effects that staying fully hydrated may have on sporting

performance.

[4 marks]

Marks for this question: AO2 = 4

Award up to two marks for each of the following explanations up to a maximum of four marks.

• Heart rate is more likely to stay low (1) which means it can cope more efficiently with supplying the

muscles with oxygen (1)

• Blood does not become more viscous so the heart does not have to pump as hard to get oxygen to

the working muscles (1) which means performance can be maintained for a long period of time (1)

• Body temperature does not rise so there is no chance the body can overheat (1) and become faint /

pass out and cannot carry on (1)

• Muscle fatigue will be avoided that could have caused cramps (1) which enables the performer to

carry on playing for longer periods of time (1)

• Concentration will remain high as the mind remains clear (1) which will lead to the correct decisions

being made (1)

• Mental alertness will remain high as the performer remains clearly focused (1) so reaction times will be

quicker (1)

Accept any other suitable explanations.

Maximum 4 marks

How to answer it

Sedentary Lifestyles and Hydration in Sport

📋 What this question tests

This 10-mark section assesses your knowledge of Health, Fitness and Well-being:

  • AO1 (Recall): Identifying barriers that cause teenagers to adopt sedentary lifestyles and naming key health consequences of physical inactivity.
  • AO2 (Application): Explaining the physiological and mental benefits of staying hydrated directly linked to sporting performance.
Question 13.1 · 3 Marks (AO1)

Reasons for a 14-Year-Old Leading a Sedentary Lifestyle

Suggest three reasons why a 14-year-old may start to lead a sedentary lifestyle.

✅ Acceptable Answers (Any 3)

  • Peer influence: Friends do not take part, so they copy them or choose not to join in.
  • Technology / screen time: Spending spare time playing video games, watching TV, or browsing social media.
  • School pressure: Increased homework or revision demands, resulting in a lack of free time.
  • Financial barriers: Parents/carers cannot afford club fees, kit, or equipment.
  • Transport issues: Relying on parents who cannot drive them to sports facilities or training.
  • Role models: Parents are inactive, setting a sedentary example at home.
  • Past negative experiences: Bad experiences in PE or sport (e.g. being picked last, bullying, injury) putting them off.

🧠 Exam Technique

Notice the age constraint: "14-year-old". While the mark scheme is flexible, top answers directly reflect adolescent life (school workload, dependence on parents for money/lifts, screen time, peer group habits).

Award 1 mark for each valid reason suggested (maximum 3).

❌ Common Errors

  • Vague answers: Simply writing "lazy" or "bored" without offering a clear situational reason.
  • Repeating the same point: e.g., "they play video games" and "they sit on their phone all day" are both screen-time/gaming points.
Question 13.2 · 3 Marks (AO1)

Consequences of a Sedentary Lifestyle

Heart disease is one possible consequence of a sedentary lifestyle. State three other possible consequences.

✅ Acceptable Consequences (Any 3)

  • Obesity / weight gain
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Stroke
  • Depression
  • Poor self-esteem / low self-confidence
  • Lethargy / fatigue / constant tiredness
  • Poor sleep quality / insomnia

❌ The Classic Trap

  • Heart Disease: The question stem says: "Heart disease is one possible consequence... State three other possible consequences." Do NOT write heart disease, coronary heart disease (CHD), or heart attack—it gets 0 marks!
  • Vague fitness terms: Saying "unfit" or "bad health" is too broad. Use precise physical or mental health terms.
Award 1 mark for each correct health consequence (maximum 3).
Question 13.3 · 4 Marks (AO2)

Positive Effects of Hydration on Performance

Explain two positive effects that staying fully hydrated may have on sporting performance.

💡 The "1 + 1" Rule for 4-Mark Explain Questions

This question asks for two explanations worth 4 marks in total. That means each point is worth 2 marks:

1 mark: What hydration does to the body (Physiological/Mental effect) + 1 mark: How this helps sporting performance

✅ Model Answer Options (Choose 2)

  • Body Temperature:
    • Prevents overheating / maintains normal body temperature [1]
    • Impact: Prevents fainting/dizziness so the athlete can maintain intensity and continue playing [1].
  • Blood Viscosity & Heart Rate:
    • Blood volume stays normal / blood does not thicken (less viscous) [1]
    • Impact: The heart doesn't have to work as hard, ensuring efficient oxygen delivery to working muscles to delay fatigue [1].
  • Muscle Function:
    • Reduces the likelihood of muscle cramps / fatigue [1]
    • Impact: Allows the performer to sustain high work rate / stay on the pitch for the full duration [1].
  • Cognitive Function:
    • Keeps concentration and decision-making sharp [1]
    • Impact: Reduces unforced errors, e.g. choosing the correct pass in football or reacting quickly to an opponent [1].

🧠 How Examiners Grade This

Many students only write half of the answer: they mention "stops you getting cramp" or "keeps your heart rate lower", but forget to explain how that affects actual sporting performance.

Always connect your physiological point to an action in sport using connective phrases like:
"which means that..." or
"this allows the performer to..."

2 explanations × [1 mark point + 1 mark development] = 4 marks

Topics

3.2 Socio-cultural influences and wellbeing in physical activity and sport · 3.2.2 Socio-cultural influences · 3.2.3 Health, fitness and wellbeing

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.