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HMS, BM 2013 HSC 26

Describe THREE characteristics of a learner that can influence his/her ability to learn a new skill.   (4 marks)

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Any THREE of the following:

  • Confidence refers to a learner’s belief in their ability to successfully perform a skill. High confidence encourages risk-taking and persistent practice, whilst low confidence may limit skill attempts and slow progression through learning stages.
  • Heredity involves inherited physical characteristics that influence performance potential. Factors like muscle fibre composition, somatotype, height and gender determine natural advantages for specific sports and create unchangeable performance ceilings that cannot be exceeded through training.
  • Ability encompasses how easily an individual learns, processes and implements new skills. This includes sense acuity, perception, reaction time and intelligence, which combine to enable rapid skill acquisition and successful refinement of movement patterns.
  • Personality develops from social interactions and learning experiences throughout life. Positive traits like motivation, dedication, cooperativeness and receptiveness to instruction create favourable learning environments that accelerate skill development and performance improvement in chosen activities.
  • Prior experience involves previous exposure to similar movement patterns or sports participation. Athletes with related experience can transfer existing skills to new situations, accelerating learning through familiar movement foundations and reducing time required for skill acquisition.
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Any THREE of the following:

  • Confidence refers to a learner’s belief in their ability to successfully perform a skill. High confidence encourages risk-taking and persistent practice, whilst low confidence may limit skill attempts and slow progression through learning stages.
  • Heredity involves inherited physical characteristics that influence performance potential. Factors like muscle fibre composition, somatotype, height and gender determine natural advantages for specific sports and create unchangeable performance ceilings that cannot be exceeded through training.
  • Ability encompasses how easily an individual learns, processes and implements new skills. This includes sense acuity, perception, reaction time and intelligence, which combine to enable rapid skill acquisition and successful refinement of movement patterns.
  • Personality develops from social interactions and learning experiences throughout life. Positive traits like motivation, dedication, cooperativeness and receptiveness to instruction create favourable learning environments that accelerate skill development and performance improvement in chosen activities.
  • Prior experience involves previous exposure to similar movement patterns or sports participation. Athletes with related experience can transfer existing skills to new situations, accelerating learning through familiar movement foundations and reducing time required for skill acquisition.

HMS, BM 2019 HSC 24

How can characteristics of the learner influence skill acquisition? Use examples to support your answer.   (5 marks)

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  • Prior experience accelerates skill acquisition through transfer of existing movement patterns. This occurs because familiar skills provide a foundation for learning new movements. For example, a netball player learning basketball benefits from existing passing and catching abilities.
  • Confidence levels determine learning progression rates. When athletes have high self-confidence, they attempt new skills more readily. This leads to faster movement through cognitive and associative learning stages. Conversely, low confidence results in hesitation and slower skill development.
  • Physical characteristics influence learning capacity and skill execution. For instance, height advantages in basketball enable easier shot blocking and rebounding acquisition. Natural flexibility allows gymnasts to master complex movements more rapidly than less flexible athletes.
  • Motivation drives practice intensity and persistence during challenging learning phases. Highly motivated learners maintain effort when facing difficulties. This creates more practice opportunities, resulting in accelerated skill development and technique refinement.
  • Age affects learning speed and retention capacity. Younger learners typically acquire motor skills faster due to neuroplasticity. However, older athletes compensate through experience and tactical understanding.

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  • Prior experience accelerates skill acquisition through transfer of existing movement patterns. This occurs because familiar skills provide a foundation for learning new movements. For example, a netball player learning basketball benefits from existing passing and catching abilities.
  • Confidence levels determine learning progression rates. When athletes have high self-confidence, they attempt new skills more readily. This leads to faster movement through cognitive and associative learning stages. Conversely, low confidence results in hesitation and slower skill development.
  • Physical characteristics influence learning capacity and skill execution. For instance, height advantages in basketball enable easier shot blocking and rebounding acquisition. Natural flexibility allows gymnasts to master complex movements more rapidly than less flexible athletes.
  • Motivation drives practice intensity and persistence during challenging learning phases. Highly motivated learners maintain effort when facing difficulties. This creates more practice opportunities, resulting in accelerated skill development and technique refinement.
  • Age affects learning speed and retention capacity. Younger learners typically acquire motor skills faster due to neuroplasticity. However, older athletes compensate through experience and tactical understanding.

♦♦ Mean mark 50%.

HMS, BM 2021 HSC 9 MC

An athlete consistently and accurately passes and controls the ball when under pressure during games. He communicates and interacts positively with his teammates.

Which two characteristics of the learner are being demonstrated by this athlete?

  1. Ability and personality
  2. Heredity and confidence
  3. Ability and prior experience
  4. Personality and prior experience
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\(A\)

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  • A is correct: Technical skill shows ability, teamwork shows personality traits.

Other Options:

  • B is incorrect: Heredity not demonstrated through learned skills.
  • C is incorrect: Prior experience not evidenced in description.
  • D is incorrect: Technical consistency demonstrates ability not experience.

HMS, BM EQ-Bank 534

Compare how personality traits influence skill acquisition in two different sports.   (4 marks)

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Sample Answer

  • In gymnastics, a willingness to take risks is essential for attempting complex movements like somersaults, whereas in team sports like soccer, cooperativeness is more critical for developing coordinated tactical patterns with teammates.
  • A determined personality facilitates progress in individual sports like swimming where repetitive practice is required, while in interactive sports like tennis, adaptability and quick decision-making are more valuable personality traits.
  • High levels of motivation directly influence practice quality and consistency in both sports, but manifestation differs—swimmers require intrinsic motivation for solitary training while rugby players might draw motivation from team dynamics.
  • Enthusiasm affects learning differently across sports, with gymnastics rewarding cautious, methodical progression through skills, whereas basketball may favor enthusiastic experimentation with new techniques during gameplay.
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Sample Answer 

  • In gymnastics, a willingness to take risks is essential for attempting complex movements like somersaults, whereas in team sports like soccer, cooperativeness is more critical for developing coordinated tactical patterns with teammates.
  • A determined personality facilitates progress in individual sports like swimming where repetitive practice is required, while in interactive sports like tennis, adaptability and quick decision-making are more valuable personality traits.
  • High levels of motivation directly influence practice quality and consistency in both sports, but manifestation differs—swimmers require intrinsic motivation for solitary training while rugby players might draw motivation from team dynamics.
  • Enthusiasm affects learning differently across sports, with gymnastics rewarding cautious, methodical progression through skills, whereas basketball may favor enthusiastic experimentation with new techniques during gameplay.

HMS, BM EQ-Bank 529 MC

The table below compares personality traits typically observed in elite and recreational athletes.

Elite Athletes Recreational Athletes
High competitive drive Participation-focused
Strong determination Enjoyment oriented
Consistent dedication to training Balance with other life priorities  
Willing to take performance risks   Socially motivated
High achievement motivation Less driven to perfect skills

Based on this comparison, which statement most accurately explains how personality traits differ between elite and recreational athletes?

  1. Elite athletes prioritise winning while recreational athletes prioritise participation
  2. Recreational athletes have better visualisation skills than elite athletes
  3. Elite athletes have less dedication than recreational athletes
  4. Recreational athletes take more risks in practice than elite athletes
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\(A\)

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  • A is correct: The table indicates elite athletes have “high competitive drive” and “high achievement motivation” (focused on performance excellence), while recreational athletes are “participation-focused” and “enjoyment-oriented.”

Other Options:

  • B is incorrect: The table doesn’t mention visualisation skills for either group.
  • C is incorrect: The table explicitly shows elite athletes have “consistent dedication to training” while recreational athletes “balance with other life priorities.”
  • D is incorrect: The table indicates elite athletes are “willing to take performance risks” while recreational athletes are more “socially motivated.”