IGCSE Physical Education 0413 · Topic 3

Skill acquisition and psychology: past paper questions

224 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Describe, Explain, Suggest, Identify, Name

Real questions on skill acquisition and psychology

The newest 20 of 224 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0413/12 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[3]
Describe an example from a game of netball for each of the following characteristics of skilled performance: fluent accurate coordinated.
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0413/12 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[2]
Some netball players have an extrovert personality type. Describe two characteristics of an extrovert personality type.
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0413/12 · October/November 2025 · Q9a[4]
Complete the table to identify the stages of learning. Describe a different characteristic of each stage. stage of learning description of characteristic cognitive skill is performed consistently to a very high standard
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0413/12 · October/November 2025 · Q9b[4]
Identify two types of feedback that would be most likely to benefit a performer in the cognitive stage of learning. Using a named physical activity, describe one example of each type of feedback. type of feedback type of feedback physical activity example of type of feedback example of type of feedback
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0413/12 · October/November 2025 · Q14a[4]
type of anxiety description type of anxiety description (a) Describe two named types of anxiety that could affect a sprinter.
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0413/12 · October/November 2025 · Q14b[2]
Suggest two different causes of anxiety for a sprinter.
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0413/13 · October/November 2025 · Q5a[6]
During a game of baseball the batter will usually receive a number of balls to hit. Other than decision making, describe how the batter may use three named stages of the information processing model when hitting these balls. stage description description stage description stage
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0413/13 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[3]
Decision making involves memory. Describe three differences between short-term memory and long-term memory.
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0413/13 · October/November 2025 · Q5c[4]
Identify two types of guidance. Describe an example of how a coach may provide each type of guidance to a batter in baseball. type of guidance example type of guidance example
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0413/13 · October/November 2025 · Q9a[6]
Describe two named types of motivation. Give an example of each type of motivation. type of motivation description of type of motivation example type of motivation description of type of motivation example
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0413/13 · October/November 2025 · Q9b[1]
Suggest a benefit of motivation for a performer.
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0413/13 · October/November 2025 · Q13[2]
Explain how two factors may cause a variation in the skill level between performers.
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0413/11 · May/June 2025 · Q10[3]
Suggest one physical activity that might typically be played by a performer who has an introverted personality type. Give two different justifications for the activity suggested. activity justification justification
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0413/11 · May/June 2025 · Q13a[4]
Explain why two skills from a named physical activity require different optimal levels of arousal. physical activity skill explanation skill explanation
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0413/11 · May/June 2025 · Q13b[3]
Suggest three effects of overarousal on performance.
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0413/11 · May/June 2025 · Q13c[2]
Name and describe one relaxation technique a performer may use to control arousal. relaxation technique description
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0413/12 · May/June 2025 · Q3a[3]
Suggest how warming up may help reduce cognitive anxiety for a sprinter.
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0413/12 · May/June 2025 · Q3b[3]
Other than not warming up, suggest three sporting factors that could cause cognitive anxiety for a sprinter while waiting to start the race.
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0413/12 · May/June 2025 · Q3c(i)[2]
Describe two examples of extrinsic motivation that could encourage a sprinter to participate in the sport.
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0413/12 · May/June 2025 · Q3c(ii)[2]
Describe two positive effects of intrinsic motivation for a sprinter.
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What examiners said

Candidates were often unable to identify an appropriate sport from the list of approved activities. Many candidates identified archery. Stronger candidates gained credit with an appropriate activity such as swimming but rarely gave two suitable justifications of their chosen activity, often repeating the same response.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0413/11 Q10 (Cambridge)

Candidates were able to achieve credit for identifying a skill, but the majority of candidates were unable to explain the chosen skill.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0413/11 Q13(a) (Cambridge)

Most candidates gained partial credit for the identification of a relaxation technique with the strongest candidates able to describe the technique.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0413/11 Q13(c) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Download 0413 papers

In the syllabus

1 0413.3.1.01 — age and maturity.

age and maturity.
culture.
motivation.
anxiety.
arousal conditions.
facilities.
environment.
teaching and coaching.
fluent.
aesthetically pleasing.
consistent.
accurate.

2 0413.3.1.02 — culture.

culture.

3 0413.3.1.03 — motivation.

motivation.

4 0413.3.1.04 — anxiety.

anxiety.

5 0413.3.1.05 — arousal conditions.

arousal conditions.

6 0413.3.1.06 — facilities.

facilities.

7 0413.3.1.07 — environment.

environment.

8 0413.3.1.08 — teaching and coaching.

teaching and coaching.

9 0413.3.1.09 — fluent.

fluent.

10 0413.3.1.10 — aesthetically pleasing.

aesthetically pleasing.

11 0413.3.1.11 — consistent.

consistent.

12 0413.3.1.12 — accurate.

accurate.

13 0413.3.1.13 — goal-directed.

goal-directed.

14 0413.3.1.14 — coordinated.

coordinated.

15 0413.3.1.15 — basic and complex.

basic and complex.

16 0413.3.1.16 — fine and gross.

fine and gross.

17 0413.3.1.17 — open and closed.

open and closed.

18 0413.3.1.18 — input.

input.

19 0413.3.1.19 — decision-making.

decision-making.

20 0413.3.1.20 — output.

output.

21 0413.3.1.21 — feedback.

feedback.

22 0413.3.1.22 — cognitive.

cognitive.

23 0413.3.1.23 — associative.

associative.

24 0413.3.1.24 — autonomous.

autonomous.

25 0413.3.2.01 — intrinsic.

intrinsic.
extrinsic.
knowledge of performance.
knowledge of results.
cognitive performers make more use of extrinsic feedback / knowledge of results.
autonomous performers can use intrinsic feedback / knowledge of performance.

26 0413.3.2.02 — extrinsic.

extrinsic.

27 0413.3.2.03 — knowledge of performance.

knowledge of performance.

28 0413.3.2.04 — knowledge of results.

knowledge of results.

29 0413.3.2.05 — cognitive performers make more use of extrinsic feedback / knowledge of results.

cognitive performers make more use of extrinsic feedback / knowledge of results.

30 0413.3.2.06 — autonomous performers can use intrinsic feedback / knowledge of performance.

autonomous performers can use intrinsic feedback / knowledge of performance.

31 0413.3.3.01 — visual.

visual.
verbal.
manual / mechanical.

32 0413.3.3.02 — verbal.

verbal.

33 0413.3.3.03 — manual / mechanical.

manual / mechanical.

34 0413.3.4.01 — intrinsic.

intrinsic.
extrinsic.

35 0413.3.4.02 — extrinsic.

extrinsic.

36 0413.3.6.01 — cognitive.

cognitive.
somatic.
increased concentration.
controlled breathing.
reduced heart rate.

37 0413.3.6.02 — somatic.

somatic.

38 0413.3.6.03 — increased concentration.

increased concentration.

39 0413.3.6.04 — controlled breathing.

controlled breathing.

40 0413.3.6.05 — reduced heart rate.

reduced heart rate.

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