AQA GCSE Physical Education Paper 2: Socio-cultural influences and wellbeing in physical activity and sport, June 2025: Question 8

✅ Model Answer / Scoring Points

A full 3-mark response requires a clear 3-step causal chain:

1. Step 1: Increases the number / count of red blood cells in the body [1 mark].
2. Step 2: Allows more oxygen to be carried and delivered to the working muscles [1 mark].
3. Step 3: Enables the swimmer to swim for longer without tiring / delays fatigue [1 mark].

🧠 Exam Technique: The "Cause to Effect" Chain

• An explain question requires a linked process, not isolated facts.
• Use connective words: "Blood doping increases red blood cells, which means that more oxygen reaches the working muscles, therefore the swimmer delays fatigue over long distances."
• Always finish by referencing the performer's context given in the question (swimming for longer/delaying fatigue).

💡 Key Knowledge

Blood doping involves removing blood weeks prior to competition, allowing the body to naturally replenish the lost red blood cells, and then re-infusing the stored cells before the event. This artificially boosts haemoglobin levels and aerobic capacity (VO₂ max).

❌ Common Errors

• Saying simply "increases blood" rather than specifically naming red blood cells or haemoglobin.
• Stating "gives them more energy" without mentioning oxygen delivery to working muscles.
• Failing to link the physiological change to endurance / delaying fatigue.

✅ Acceptable Answers (State any three)

• Increased wealth / money / sponsorship deals [1 mark]
• Increased fame / media exposure / public profile [1 mark]
• To level the playing field (feeling that competitors are already doping) [1 mark]
• Future job security / securing a professional contract [1 mark]

❌ Critical Trap to Avoid

Read the stem carefully: The question already gave "increasing chances of success". The mark scheme explicitly states:

"NB: Do NOT credit any response which links to increased chances of success e.g. increase in physical benefits (strength, speed) or mental benefits (confidence)."

Any mention of "running faster", "building muscle", or "recovering quicker" scored 0 marks here.

🧠 Exam Technique: Rule Out Given Information

Whenever a question states: "[X] is one factor. State three other factors...", immediately underline "other". Think about social, financial, or psychological motives rather than physiological ones.

💡 Key Knowledge

Elite sport incentives often drive unethical behaviour. Performers face immense pressure from sponsors, media, and fear of falling behind competitors who may be cheating.

✅ Acceptable Answers (State any three)

• Banned / disqualified / suspended from competing [1 mark]
• Fined / financial penalties [1 mark]
• Damage to reputation / loss of respect / public shaming [1 mark]
• Loss of income / loss of sponsorship or endorsement deals [1 mark]
• Stripped of titles / forced to return medals or prize money [1 mark]
• Loss of future career opportunities (e.g. coaching, punditry) [1 mark]

❌ Common Errors

• Listing health side effects (e.g. "heart attacks", "liver damage"). The question asks for the consequences of being caught, not the medical risks of the drugs.
• Repeating the same point using different words (e.g. writing "banned from competing" and "disqualified from events" as two separate points).

💡 Substance Options & Sporting Links

Choose any two pairs (1 mark for substance name + 1 mark for application):

• Anabolic Steroids: Increases muscle mass / speed of recovery → enables a sprinter to produce more explosive power OR a rugby player to hit harder.
• Beta Blockers: Reduces heart rate / steadies tremors → improves fine motor control and accuracy for an archer or snooker player.
• Stimulants: Increases alertness / decreases reaction time → quicker start out of the blocks in a 100m sprint OR increased aggression in rugby tackles.
• Peptide Hormones (EPO): Stimulates red blood cell production → allows a marathon runner or cyclist to maintain pace longer without fatigue.
• Diuretics: Rapid fluid loss OR masks other drugs → helps a jockey / boxer make weight quickly.
• Narcotic Analgesics: Masks pain → enables an injured footballer to play through an injury.

🧠 Exam Technique & Common Pitfalls

• Link substance directly to sport: Do not just state what the drug does biologically; explicitly state the sport and the exact skill or benefit.
• Conditional Marking Rule: If the substance name is incorrect, zero marks are awarded for the explanation, even if the sport description is good.
• Avoid Vague Terms: Do not say "makes them better at tennis". Say "increases muscle power so a tennis player can serve faster".

✅ Model Pair Example 1

Substance 1: Beta blockers [1 mark]

Explanation: Lowers heart rate and reduces muscle tremors, allowing an archer to keep their hands completely steady when releasing the arrow [1 mark].

✅ Model Pair Example 2

Substance 2: Anabolic steroids [1 mark]

Explanation: Promotes muscle growth and increases strength, allowing a shot putter to generate greater explosive force during the throw [1 mark].