Extended Response Questions — Structure and Technique

Extended response questions are where the biggest mark differentials occur between students. These questions — worth 6 or 9 marks — use levels-based marking and test your ability to construct a sustained, logical argument using accurate PE knowledge. This lesson gives you a step-by-step method for planning, writing, and checking extended responses to maximise your marks.

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How Extended Response Questions Appear on the Paper

Extended response questions appear towards the end of each section on both papers. You will typically face:

Paper	Number of Extended Questions	Mark Values
Paper 1	2–3	Mix of 6-mark and 9-mark
Paper 2	2–3	Mix of 6-mark and 9-mark

Together, extended response questions are worth approximately 18–24 marks per paper — roughly 25–30% of the total. This means that getting these questions right can be the difference between a grade 5 and a grade 7, or between a grade 7 and a grade 9.

Exam Tip: Many students spend most of their revision time on content knowledge and very little on extended response technique. Dedicate at least 20% of your revision time specifically to practising extended answers. Even excellent knowledge will score poorly if it is not structured properly.

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Understanding Levels-Based Marking

Unlike short answer questions (where each correct point earns 1 mark), extended responses use levels-based marking. The examiner reads your entire answer and decides which level it fits into based on the quality of your response overall.

The Three Levels (6-Mark Questions)

Level	Marks	Descriptor	What This Looks Like
Level 3	5–6	Detailed knowledge and understanding. Clear, sustained line of reasoning. Effective use of terminology. Relevant sporting examples. Balanced analysis/evaluation.	A well-structured answer that demonstrates thorough knowledge, applies it to the context of the question, uses PE terminology throughout, and (for evaluate/discuss) presents both sides with a clear conclusion
Level 2	3–4	Sound knowledge and understanding. Some reasoning but not fully sustained. Some terminology. Examples may be generic. Analysis/evaluation may be one-sided.	A reasonable answer that shows good knowledge but may lack structure, miss one side of the argument, use limited examples, or fail to sustain the argument throughout
Level 1	1–2	Basic knowledge. Limited or no reasoning. Little or no terminology. No relevant examples. Description rather than analysis/evaluation.	A brief or superficial answer that lists a few facts without explanation, uses everyday language instead of PE terminology, and does not address the command word
Level 0	0	Nothing creditworthy	No relevant content

The Three Levels (9-Mark Questions)

Level	Marks	Descriptor
Level 3	7–9	Detailed knowledge and understanding with a sustained, clear line of reasoning. Accurate and relevant use of terminology. Relevant and well-developed sporting examples. Thorough and balanced analysis/evaluation.
Level 2	4–6	Sound knowledge and understanding with some reasoning. Appropriate use of terminology in places. Some relevant examples. Partial analysis/evaluation, may be unbalanced.
Level 1	1–3	Basic or limited knowledge. Minimal reasoning. Little or no terminology. Generic or no examples. Descriptive rather than analytical.

Exam Tip: The key difference between Level 2 and Level 3 is the word "sustained." A Level 3 answer maintains a clear, logical argument from start to finish. Every paragraph connects to the one before it and to the overall question. A Level 2 answer has some good points but they feel disconnected or incomplete.

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The PEE Chain: Point, Evidence, Explain

The PEE chain is the fundamental building block of extended responses. Each developed argument should follow this structure:

Element	What It Is	Example (Topic: Benefits of Warming Up)
Point	A clear statement that directly answers the question	"One benefit of warming up is that it reduces the risk of injury."
Evidence	A fact, statistic, or PE concept that supports the point	"This is because warming up increases the temperature of the muscles, making them more elastic and pliable."
Explain	A further development that shows the significance or consequence	"As a result, the muscles and tendons are less likely to tear during explosive movements such as sprinting, which means the performer can train more consistently without missing sessions due to injury."

Building Multiple PEE Chains

A strong extended answer typically contains 3–4 PEE chains (for a 6-mark question) or 4–5 PEE chains (for a 9-mark question). Each chain makes a new, distinct point.

graph TD
    A["Point 1"] --> B["Evidence 1"]
    B --> C["Explain 1"]
    C --> D["Point 2"]
    D --> E["Evidence 2"]
    E --> F["Explain 2"]
    F --> G["Point 3"]
    G --> H["Evidence 3"]
    H --> I["Explain 3"]
    I --> J["Conclusion"]
    style A fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style B fill:#2980b9,color:#fff
    style C fill:#8e44ad,color:#fff
    style D fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style E fill:#2980b9,color:#fff
    style F fill:#8e44ad,color:#fff
    style G fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style H fill:#2980b9,color:#fff
    style I fill:#8e44ad,color:#fff
    style J fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff

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Planning Your Extended Response

Never start writing an extended response immediately. Spend 1–2 minutes planning.

The 4-Step Planning Process

1. Read the question twice. Underline the command word and the topic.
2. Identify the command word. This tells you what structure your answer needs (e.g. evaluate = for and against + conclusion).
3. Brainstorm your points. Jot down 4–6 bullet points of things you could include.
4. Order your points logically. Number them in the order you will write them. Group related points together.

Planning for "Evaluate" Questions

For evaluate questions, split your plan into two columns:

For / Advantages / Positive	Against / Disadvantages / Negative
Point 1	Counter-point 1
Point 2	Counter-point 2
Point 3	Counter-point 3
Conclusion: Which side is stronger and why?

Planning for "Discuss" Questions

Discuss questions are similar to evaluate questions but may not always require a judgement. Still, a conclusion strengthens your answer.

Planning for "Analyse" Questions

For analyse questions, break the topic into its component parts and examine each:

Component	How It Works	Why It Matters
Component 1	Explanation	Significance
Component 2	Explanation	Significance
Component 3	Explanation	Significance

Exam Tip: Your plan does not need to be neat — it is for your eyes only. Use abbreviations, arrows, and shorthand. The time you spend planning is repaid many times over through a more structured, coherent answer that reaches Level 3.

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Writing the Extended Response

Opening

Start with a brief statement that shows you understand the question. Do not waste time restating the question or writing a lengthy introduction.

Weak opening: "In this essay I am going to evaluate the use of technology in sport. Technology is something that is used in many sports and has many advantages and disadvantages."

Strong opening: "Technology in sport has transformed both performance and officiating, but its use remains controversial due to cost, accessibility, and the impact on the flow of competition."

Body Paragraphs

Each paragraph should contain one PEE chain. Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence (the Point), then develop it with Evidence and Explanation.

Connective words and phrases to use: