May 2025 SEHS SL Exam Analysis
The May 2025 Sports, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS) Standard Level papers delivered a rigorous but fair assessment. Paper 1 offered a standard distribution of multiple-choice questions across all core options, while Paper 2 tested candidates' ability to synthesize physiological pathways and biomechanical theories with real-world athletic scenarios.
Where the Marks Were Found
The highest concentration of marks resided in the core chapters: Generating movement in the body and Response. Structured questions in Paper 2 heavily tested muscle tissue properties, quadriceps anatomy, and anaerobic energy pathways. The Motor learning section was another major point generator, featuring a comprehensive data-based question on long-term memory and selective attention in Section A. In Section B, candidates who selected Option 4 tackled detailed applications of the ATP-CP system and alveolar gaseous exchange, while those choosing Option 5 or 6 had to demonstrate deep familiarity with Newton's laws or aerobic field tests.
Examiner Pitfalls & Strategy
A review of the marking criteria highlights several areas where students frequently lose easy marks:
- Data Identification: In data-based questions (like Q1a), examiners required both the group and the exact condition (e.g., 'Control and 24-hour recall') to award credit. Simply writing 'Control' was penalized.
- Anatomical Precision: Misidentifying key leg muscles like the vastus lateralis or rectus femoris remains a common trap. Confusing the perimysium with other muscle coverings also cost candidates.
- Diagrammatic References: For biomechanical questions such as angular momentum, candidates who failed to explicitly link their explanations to the provided diagrams (e.g., referring to 'Picture A' or 'open limbs') could not achieve full marks.
Future Outlook & Prediction
Analysis of historical mark distributions shows that Injury (Biomechanics) and Motivation were significantly underrepresented in this series. Future examinees should anticipate these topics to feature prominently in upcoming papers. Master the mathematical calculations of standard deviation \( \sigma \) and biomechanical equations such as \( F = ma \) to guarantee performance on quantitative items.