Secondary 4 Physical Education Practice Paper: Fitness And Training Principles, Exercise Physiology And Energy Systems, Sport Psychology And Motivation, Skill Learning And Teaching, Sport, Society And Culture, Safety And First Aid

Secondary 4 Physical Education Practice Paper: Fitness and Training Principles, Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems, Sport Psychology and Motivation, Skill Learning and Teaching, Sport, Society and Culture, Safety and First Aid

2026-11-14

Physical Education – Secondary 4 – Practice Paper

S4 PE paper, 24 parts: fitness indices, training heart rates, energy systems, VO2max, motivation, skill learning, participation and first aid.

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Paper details　S4 Physical Education practice paper with 24 parts and marking points on fitness testing, training heart rate, energy systems, motivation, skill learning and first aid.

Section A: Fitness and Training Principles (16 marks)

Source A: a Secondary 4 boy weighs 68.0 kg and is 1.72 m tall; he can bench press 60 kg for 8 repetitions.
Source B: he is 16 years old with a resting heart rate of 62 beats per minute; the coach prescribes target heart rates at 60 and 80 per cent intensity using the Karvonen formula.
Source C: bioelectrical impedance gives a body fat percentage of 18.0 per cent; the target is 15.0 per cent.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
1	(a) Calculate his body mass index to one decimal place and classify it using Asian adult cut-offs.	Answer: 68.0 divided by 1.72 squared gives 23.0 kilograms per square metre (2 marks); 23.0 has reached the overweight band under Asian cut-offs, 23.0 to 24.9, but not obesity (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the working and value, 2 marks for the correct classification; “normal” scores nothing.
2	(b) Use the Karvonen formula to find the target heart rates at 60 and 80 per cent intensity, to the nearest whole number.	Answer: maximal heart rate is 220 minus 16, that is 204 beats (1 mark); heart rate reserve is 204 minus 62, that is 142 beats (1 mark); 60 per cent gives 62 plus 0.6 times 142, that is 147 beats (1 mark); 80 per cent gives 62 plus 0.8 times 142, that is 176 beats (1 mark). Marking points: the reserve must appear; taking a percentage of maximal heart rate directly scores nothing for that part.
3	(c) Estimate his one repetition maximum with the Brzycki formula, one repetition maximum equals load divided by 1.0278 minus 0.0278 times repetitions, to one decimal place.	Answer: the denominator is 1.0278 minus 0.2224, that is 0.8054 (2 marks); 60 divided by 0.8054 gives 74.5 kilograms (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the denominator and 2 for the result; adding repetitions to the load scores nothing.
4	(d) Calculate fat mass, lean mass and the body mass at the target body fat percentage, each to one decimal place, and state how much fat must be lost.	Answer: fat mass is 68.0 times 18 per cent, that is 12.24 kilograms, and lean mass is 55.76 kilograms (2 marks); mass at the target is lean mass divided by 0.85, that is 65.6 kilograms (1 mark); 2.4 kilograms of fat must be lost (1 mark). Marking points: 1 mark per value, assuming lean mass is unchanged.

Section B: Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems (16 marks)

Source A: a student runs 100 m in 11.2 seconds.
Source B: the same student covers 2,400 m in the twelve-minute run; the Cooper formula is VO2max equals distance minus 504.9, divided by 44.73.
Source C: in a 400 m race about sixty per cent of energy comes from anaerobic pathways; aerobic oxidation of one glucose molecule yields 32 net ATP and anaerobic glycolysis yields 2 ATP; he runs for 30 minutes at 700 kilocalories per hour.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
5	(a) Calculate the average speed over 100 m in metres per second and in kilometres per hour, each to one decimal place.	Answer: 100 divided by 11.2 gives 8.9 metres per second (2 marks); multiplying by 3.6 gives 32.1 kilometres per hour (2 marks). Marking points: a correct method with a wrong unit conversion earns only 2 marks.
6	(b) Use the Cooper formula to estimate maximal oxygen uptake to one decimal place and state the fitness level it represents.	Answer: 2,400 minus 504.9 gives 1,895.1 (2 marks); divided by 44.73 gives 42.4 millilitres per kilogram per minute (1 mark); for a Secondary 4 boy this is a moderate level (1 mark). Marking points: 2 marks for the working, 1 for the value, 1 for the judgement.
7	(c) Calculate the ratio of net ATP from aerobic oxidation to that from anaerobic glycolysis per glucose molecule, and explain why a 400 m race cannot rely on aerobic metabolism alone.	Answer: 32 divided by 2 gives a ratio of 16 (2 marks). Aerobic oxidation yields far more ATP but is slow, needs oxygen delivery and takes time to rise; a 400 m race lasts about a minute at very high intensity, so oxygen supply cannot meet demand and anaerobic pathways supply energy fast, producing lactate (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the ratio; the explanation must mention both the rate of supply and the oxygen limit.
8	(d) Calculate the energy cost of his 30 minute run in kilocalories and explain why prolonged low intensity exercise relies more on fat.	Answer: 700 times 0.5 gives 350 kilocalories (2 marks). At low intensity energy demand rises slowly so fat oxidation can keep pace, and fat is the largest energy store; as exercise continues, fatty acid availability and enzyme activity increase, raising the fat contribution (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the value; the explanation needs intensity, rate of supply and fat stores.

Section C: Sport Psychology and Motivation (16 marks)

Source A: six players score 14, 18, 20, 16, 12 and 22 on a pre-match anxiety scale out of 30.
Source B: 15 of the 25 items in a motivation questionnaire measure intrinsic motivation.
Source C: the eight items of a self-efficacy scale score 7, 8, 9, 6, 8, 7, 9 and 8 out of 10; the student runs 100 m in 12.4 seconds and targets 11.9 seconds.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
9	(a) Calculate the mean anxiety score to one decimal place and the range.	Answer: the total of 102 divided by 6 gives a mean of 17.0 (2 marks); the highest score 22 minus the lowest 12 gives a range of 10 (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks each, with the total or the extreme scores shown.
10	(b) Calculate the percentage of items measuring intrinsic motivation to one decimal place and give one example of how intrinsic motivation can be raised.	Answer: 15 divided by 25 times 100 per cent gives 60.0 per cent (2 marks). For example, letting students choose how they practise and set personal targets, focusing on mastery and enjoyment rather than prizes, raises competence and autonomy (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the percentage; the example must target autonomy, competence or enjoyment; offering rewards is extrinsic and scores nothing.
11	(c) Calculate the mean self-efficacy score to two decimal places and state two ways a coach can raise it.	Answer: the total of 62 divided by 8 gives 7.75 (2 marks). Methods: set graded tasks the athlete can complete, giving mastery experiences; use peer modelling, giving vicarious experience; give specific verbal encouragement, giving verbal persuasion (2 marks for any two). Marking points: 2 marks for the value, 1 mark per method.
12	(d) Calculate the percentage improvement the target represents to one decimal place and judge whether the goal is appropriate.	Answer: the gap of 0.5 seconds divided by 12.4 seconds times 100 per cent gives 4.0 per cent (2 marks). The goal is specific, measurable and time bound, and a change of about four per cent is a realistic progressive challenge, so it satisfies the SMART principles (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the percentage; the judgement must mention specificity, measurability or reasonable difficulty.

Section D: Skill Learning and Teaching (16 marks)

Source A: five students record reaction times of 0.21, 0.19, 0.24, 0.22 and 0.20 seconds.
Source B: errors in a skill fall from 60 to 45 across a practice block.
Source C: a class of 30 uses four practice stations with 12 minutes at each; a retention test gives 72 marks for the massed practice group and 85 marks for the distributed practice group.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
13	(a) Calculate the mean reaction time of the five students to two decimal places and the gap between the fastest and the slowest.	Answer: the total of 1.06 divided by 5 gives 0.21 seconds (2 marks); 0.24 minus 0.19 gives 0.05 seconds (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the mean and 2 for the gap, with the total shown.
14	(b) Calculate the percentage reduction in errors to one decimal place and say whether the skill is fully consolidated.	Answer: 15 divided by 60 times 100 per cent gives 25.0 per cent (2 marks). It does not mean the skill is consolidated: 45 errors remain, and performance may drop in retention tests or under competitive pressure, so practice in varied conditions is still needed (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the percentage; the judgement must note residual errors or the need for automation.
15	(c) Calculate the average number of students per station and the time needed to complete one circuit of all four stations.	Answer: 30 divided by 4 gives 7.5 students (2 marks); 12 minutes times 4 stations gives 48 minutes (2 marks). Marking points: the answer should note that rotating in groups of 8 makes the arrangement workable.
16	(d) Calculate how far the distributed practice group exceeds the massed group in percentage points and in per cent to one decimal place, and explain why.	Answer: 85 minus 72 gives 13 percentage points (2 marks); 13 divided by 72 times 100 per cent gives 18.1 per cent (1 mark). Distributed practice includes rest intervals that reduce fatigue and massed inhibition, and recall is better at the start of each session, so retention and transfer improve (1 mark). Marking points: the two values, and an explanation mentioning fatigue or memory consolidation.

Section E: Sport, Society and Culture (16 marks)

Source A: a survey of 1,600 residents finds 320 of them exercise three or more times a week.
Source B: a district spends 12 million Hong Kong dollars on sport, of which 4.8 million goes to elite training.
Source C: the district has 45 badminton courts for 500,000 residents; a marathon uses 1,200 staff, of whom 240 are volunteers, and is broadcast live for 3 hours.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
17	(a) Calculate the participation rate for exercising three or more times a week to one decimal place.	Answer: 320 divided by 1,600 times 100 per cent gives 20.0 per cent (4 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the working and 2 for the value; a decimal instead of a percentage loses 1 mark.
18	(b) Calculate the share of total sport spending going to elite training to one decimal place and state one social effect of this allocation.	Answer: 4.8 million divided by 12 million times 100 per cent gives 40.0 per cent (2 marks). Effect: resources concentrate on a few elite athletes while community facilities and mass programmes receive less, which can widen participation gaps and weaken sport for all (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the percentage; the effect must link to equity or mass participation.
19	(c) Calculate how many residents share each badminton court on average to the nearest whole number and comment on whether facilities are adequate.	Answer: 500,000 divided by 45 gives about 11,111 residents per court (2 marks). That is roughly 90 courts per million people, so peak slots are hard to book and demand from schools and the community cannot be met, so provision is inadequate (2 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the value; the comment must use the per capita or per million figure.
20	(d) Calculate volunteers as a percentage of event staff to one decimal place and state two positive social effects of a major event.	Answer: 240 divided by 1,200 times 100 per cent gives 20.0 per cent (2 marks). Positive effects: it builds community cohesion and a volunteering culture; it boosts tourism, retail and the sport industry while raising the city image and civic pride (2 marks for any two). Marking points: 2 marks for the percentage, 1 mark per specific effect.

Section F: Safety and First Aid (20 marks)

Source A: a player weighs 68.0 kg before training and 66.8 kg after one hour without drinking.
Source B: he then replaces 150 per cent of the fluid lost.
Source C: a team-mate becomes dizzy with cool clammy skin after training in hot humid weather, suggesting heat exhaustion; another team-mate has a swollen painful ankle sprain.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
21	(a) Calculate the sweat loss over the hour and the fluid he should drink, each to one decimal place.	Answer: sweat loss is 68.0 minus 66.8, that is 1.2 litres (2 marks); replacement is 1.2 times 150 per cent, that is 1.8 litres (2 marks). Marking points: sweat loss, then replacement at 150 per cent; omitting the 150 per cent factor earns only part marks.
22	(b) Calculate the percentage body mass loss to two decimal places and explain why replacing both water and electrolytes matters.	Answer: 1.2 divided by 68.0 times 100 per cent gives 1.76 per cent (2 marks). Dehydration lowers plasma volume, raises heart rate and impairs thermoregulation, reducing performance; sweat also loses sodium and potassium, and drinking large volumes of plain water can cause hyponatraemia, so electrolyte drinks are needed (3 marks). Marking points: 2 marks for the percentage; the explanation must cover dehydration effects and electrolyte loss.
23	(c) Describe how to manage heat exhaustion and state at least two preventive measures.	Answer: Management: stop exercise at once, move to a cool ventilated place, loosen clothing, lie the player down with legs raised, cool with wet towels and a fan, give electrolyte fluids, and call an ambulance if there is no improvement or consciousness deteriorates (3 marks). Prevention: avoid midday heat, drink at regular intervals before and during exercise, wear loose light clothing, and increase the load gradually with heat acclimatisation (2 marks). Marking points: 3 marks for management, 1 mark per preventive measure.
24	(d) Explain the first 48 hour management of an ankle sprain and state two things that must not be done.	Answer: rest and avoid weight bearing; apply ice wrapped in a towel for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours; apply compression with an elastic bandage from the toes upwards; elevate the limb above heart level; seek medical assessment if a fracture is suspected (3 marks). Do not: use heat or soak the ankle in hot water, massage or manipulate the injured site firmly, or continue playing and weight bearing (2 marks). Marking points: 3 marks for management, 1 mark per action to avoid.

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