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Data handling is a component of AQA GCSE PE that many students overlook in their revision. Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 can include questions that ask you to interpret data from tables, bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts. You may also be asked to present data by plotting points on a graph or completing a table. This lesson covers all the data skills you need for the exam, with plenty of practice scenarios drawn from PE contexts.
In real-world sport and exercise science, data is everywhere: fitness test results, heart rate data, performance statistics, participation surveys, and nutritional analysis. AQA includes data questions to test whether you can:
Data questions typically appear once or twice on each paper and are worth 2–4 marks each. They are often among the most accessible marks on the paper if you know what to look for.
Exam Tip: Data questions are frequently based on fitness test results or participation statistics. Revise the normative data ranges for common fitness tests (e.g. what counts as "excellent" or "below average" for a bleep test or sit-and-reach test) — this helps you draw meaningful conclusions from the data.
Tables are the most straightforward data format. They present information in rows and columns.
| Participant | Bleep Test (Level) | Sit-and-Reach (cm) | Illinois Agility (seconds) | 1-Minute Press-Up Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | 10.4 | 28 | 16.2 | 35 |
| Beth | 8.7 | 34 | 17.8 | 22 |
| Chris | 12.1 | 22 | 15.1 | 42 |
| Dana | 7.3 | 40 | 19.0 | 18 |
Possible exam questions:
Exam Tip: Always check whether higher or lower values indicate better performance. For time-based tests (e.g. Illinois Agility, 30m sprint), a lower number is better. For count-based tests (e.g. press-ups, sit-ups) and level-based tests (e.g. bleep test), a higher number is better.
Bar charts use rectangular bars to represent data values. The height (or length) of each bar corresponds to the value it represents.
If a bar does not line up exactly with a grid line, you need to estimate. For example, if the grid lines are at 10, 20, 30, and the top of a bar is halfway between 20 and 30, the value is approximately 25.
Exam Tip: When reading values from bar charts in the exam, be as precise as possible. If the value appears to be between two grid lines, give an appropriate estimate (e.g. "approximately 25") rather than rounding to the nearest grid line. The mark scheme usually accepts a small range of values.
Line graphs show how a variable changes over time or in relation to another variable. They are particularly common in Paper 1 for topics like heart rate during exercise, oxygen consumption, and the effects of training.
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Increase | The value goes up | "Heart rate increased from 72 to 165 bpm during exercise" |
| Decrease | The value goes down | "Heart rate decreased during the recovery period" |
| Plateau / Level off | The value stays roughly constant | "Heart rate levelled off at approximately 160 bpm during steady-state exercise" |
| Steep increase/decrease | The value changes rapidly | "There was a steep increase in heart rate in the first two minutes of exercise" |
| Gradual increase/decrease | The value changes slowly | "Heart rate gradually decreased over the 10-minute recovery period" |
| Peak | The highest point on the graph | "Heart rate peaked at 185 bpm at the end of the sprint interval" |
| Fluctuate | The value goes up and down irregularly | "Participation rates fluctuated between 2015 and 2020" |
Imagine a line graph showing heart rate (y-axis, bpm) over time (x-axis, minutes). The graph shows:
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