Question 1

What are the 10 components of fitness for GCSE PE?

Accepted Answer

The 10 components are: cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, speed, strength, power, flexibility, agility, balance, coordination, and reaction time. They are split into health-related (cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, flexibility, body composition – though body composition is often included as an 11th, OCR GCSE focuses on 10) and skill-related (agility, balance, coordination, power, reaction time, speed). Make sure you know definitions and examples for each.

Question 2

How do I remember the components of fitness for my exam?

Accepted Answer

A common mnemonic is 'MRS C PFAB' – Muscular endurance, Reaction time, Speed, Cardiovascular endurance, Power, Flexibility, Agility, Balance. Or try 'All Silly Monkeys Can't Play Football' for agility, speed, muscular endurance, coordination, power, flexibility, balance. Write them out, test yourself, and link each to a sportsperson you know.

Question 3

What is the difference between health-related and skill-related fitness?

Accepted Answer

Health-related components (cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, flexibility) are important for overall health and daily life – they reduce the risk of disease and help you function well. Skill-related components (agility, balance, coordination, power, reaction time, speed) are more about performance in sports and activities. For example, a desk worker needs flexibility to avoid back pain, but a gymnast needs balance for routines.

Question 4

Which components of fitness are most important for football?

Accepted Answer

Football requires a mix: cardiovascular endurance for running for 90 minutes, speed for sprints, agility for dribbling past defenders, balance for staying on your feet, coordination for passing and shooting, and power for jumping and kicking. Muscular endurance in the legs also helps with repeated kicking. No single component is most important – it's the combination that matters.

Question 5

How is power different from strength in GCSE PE?

Accepted Answer

Strength is the maximum force a muscle can produce in one contraction – like a one-rep max bench press. Power is the ability to exert force quickly – it's strength × speed. For example, a shot putter needs power to throw the shot far, while a weightlifter doing a heavy squat needs strength. Power is often tested with a vertical jump or medicine ball throw.

Question 6

What fitness tests measure each component?

Accepted Answer

Cardiovascular endurance: Cooper 12-minute run or multi-stage fitness test (bleep test). Muscular endurance: sit-up or press-up test. Speed: 30m sprint. Strength: handgrip dynamometer or one-rep max. Power: vertical jump or standing long jump. Flexibility: sit and reach test. Agility: Illinois agility test. Balance: stork stand test. Coordination: wall toss test. Reaction time: ruler drop test. Know the test name and what it measures.

Components of fitness

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Related Topics in OCR GCSE Physical Education

Aerobic and anaerobic exercise

Applied anatomy and physiology

Applying the principles of training

Characteristics of skilful movement

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