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Subjects · Leaving Cert Physical Education

Leaving Cert Physical Education: Skilled performance & ability

How often Skilled performance & ability comes up on the Physical Education papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Skilled performance & ability, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Skilled performance & ability.

(a)Which best describes ability, as opposed to skill?
  1. A learned movement pattern improved by practice
  2. An innate, stable trait that underpins skills
  3. A temporary state that varies from game to game
(b)A skilled performer gets the result with no wasted energy or extra movement. This quality is called?
  1. Creative application of skill
  2. Kinaesthetic awareness
  3. Economy of movement
(c)How is a golf putt best classified?
  1. Closed, fine, self-paced
  2. Closed, gross, externally paced
  3. Open, gross, externally paced
Show the answers

(a) An innate, stable trait that underpins skills

(b) Economy of movement

(c) Closed, fine, self-paced

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Skilled performance & ability.

Higher Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q16
2024Q5
2023Q13, Q18
2022Q1
2021Q13, Q17

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Skilled performance & ability questions

Skilled performance & ability, 2 marks

Returning a fast tennis serve is which type of skill?

  1. Internally paced
  2. Closed
  3. Externally paced
Show the answer

Externally paced

The server controls the timing, so the receiver must react to the speed and direction of the ball.

Skilled performance & ability, 3 marks

A place-kicker's run-up and strike look the same on every kick, match after match. Which characteristic?

  1. Kinaesthetic awareness
  2. Consistency
  3. Anticipation
Show the answer

Consistency

A skilled performer repeats the same technique reliably, even under pressure. Beginners vary from one attempt to the next.

Skilled performance & ability, 2 marks

A shot put uses large muscle groups for a powerful action. On the muscular-involvement continuum it is?

  1. Gross
  2. Fine
  3. Serial
Show the answer

Gross

Gross skills use large muscle groups (legs, trunk, shoulders) for powerful whole-body actions. Fine skills use small muscle groups for precise control, such as a snooker shot.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q16
2024Q11
2023Q7, Q14
2022Q3, Q15
2021Q17

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Skilled performance & ability questions

Skilled performance & ability, 2 marks

A dart throw uses small, precise muscle movements. It is a…

  1. Gross skill
  2. Serial skill
  3. Fine skill
Show the answer

Fine skill

Fine skills use small muscle groups for precision. Gross skills use large muscle groups, as in a shot put.

Skilled performance & ability, 2 marks

A skill with a clear beginning and end, like a penalty kick, is a…

  1. Serial skill
  2. Discrete skill
  3. Continuous skill
Show the answer

Discrete skill

Discrete skills are single actions with a clear start and finish, like a shot, a throw or a kick.

Skilled performance & ability, 2 marks

Running and cycling, with no clear beginning or end to each movement, are…

  1. Continuous skills
  2. Discrete skills
  3. Closed skills
Show the answer

Continuous skills

In continuous skills, the end of one movement is the start of the next, so they flow in a cycle.

Other Physical Education topics

All of Leaving Cert Physical Education