A middle school PE department wants its end-of-unit assessment to reflect physical literacy rather than skill alone. Which assessment plan BEST fits that goal?

Skill checklists paired with student surveys on confidence, enjoyment, and out-of-school activity

Skill checklists scored at the end of each unit and averaged into a final proficiency rating

Fitness test scores compared with age-group norms to rank students across the grade level

Written tests on rules and history of the sports taught in each unit of the curriculum

A fourth-grade class is learning a folk dance set to music in 3/4 time. How should the teacher count the music to help students feel the meter?

"ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three," stressing the first beat of each measure

"ONE-two, ONE-two," stressing the first of every two beats in a measure

"ONE-two-three-four," stressing the first beat of every group of four

"five-six-seven-eight," counting only the second half of each 8-count phrase

A coach is planning the first two weeks of preseason practice outdoors in hot, humid weather. Which practice is MOST consistent with heat-safety guidelines?

Gradually increase practice length and intensity over 10–14 days

Limit water during practice so players build heat tolerance

Hold the hardest sessions in mid-afternoon to speed adaptation

Hold full-gear, full-length practices from the first day on

During a role-play, a student is offered a vape pen by a classmate at a party. Which response BEST demonstrates an effective refusal skill?

"No thanks, I don't vape. Let's go get some pizza instead."

"Maybe later, I guess. I don't really feel like it right now."

"I can't, because my parents would probably find out about it."

"Um, I'm not sure. What does it taste like, and is it strong?"

A health lesson for early elementary students addresses what to do if they find a gun. Which set of steps reflects recommended safety guidance?

Don't touch it, leave the area, and tell an adult right away

Pick it up carefully by the handle and bring it to an adult

Check whether it is loaded, then put it in a high place

Cover it with something and keep it a secret from others

A muscular 17-year-old football lineman has a BMI-for-age above the 95th percentile, but skinfold measurements show low body fat. What is the BEST interpretation?

BMI cannot separate lean mass from fat, so it misclassifies him

BMI accurately shows excess body fat, so he should cut calories

Skinfold results are invalid whenever BMI is above the 95th percentile

BMI and skinfolds measure the same thing, so the two should be averaged

For two weeks, students record their nightly sleep hours, try a set bedtime routine, and reflect on how their energy level changes. Which National Health Education Standards skill is being practiced?

Practicing health-enhancing behaviors and self-management

Advocating for the health of family and community members

Analyzing how technology and media influence health behaviors

Using interpersonal communication to resolve conflicts

A teacher posts a four-step conflict resolution process. One step is missing. Step Action 1 Both students take time to cool down. 2 Each student describes the problem using I-messages while the other listens. 3 ? 4 The students agree on a solution and plan how to carry it out. Which action BEST completes Step 3?

Both students brainstorm possible solutions that could work for each of them

The teacher decides which student is right and assigns a consequence

Each student lists the other student's faults to explain the conflict

The students agree to avoid each other completely for the rest of the school year

GACE Health and Physical Education P–12 (737)

Free GACE Health and Physical Practice Questions

10 sample questions for the GACE Health and Physical Education P–12 (737), with the correct answer and an explanation for each. No account needed. Try each one before you open the answer.

Sections covered on the exam: Physical Literacy and Movement Skills, Physical Activity, Skills for Enhancing Health and Reducing Risks, Health and Physical Education Program.

Question 1 · Physical Literacy and Movement Skills
A middle school PE department wants its end-of-unit assessment to reflect physical literacy rather than skill alone. Which assessment plan BEST fits that goal?
- A.Skill checklists scored at the end of each unit and averaged into a final proficiency rating
- B.Skill checklists paired with student surveys on confidence, enjoyment, and out-of-school activity
- C.Fitness test scores compared with age-group norms to rank students across the grade level
- D.Written tests on rules and history of the sports taught in each unit of the curriculum
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Skill checklists paired with student surveys on confidence, enjoyment, and out-of-school activity
Physical literacy is the ability, confidence, and desire to be physically active for life, so it spans physical competence, motivation and confidence, knowledge, and daily behavior. "Skill checklists paired with student surveys on confidence, enjoyment, and out-of-school activity" samples several of those domains. Skill checklists alone or written rules tests each measure a single domain, and norm-ranked fitness scores measure fitness rather than physical literacy.
Question 2 · Physical Literacy and Movement Skills
A fourth-grade class is learning a folk dance set to music in 3/4 time. How should the teacher count the music to help students feel the meter?
- A."ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three," stressing the first beat of each measure
- B."ONE-two, ONE-two," stressing the first of every two beats in a measure
- C."ONE-two-three-four," stressing the first beat of every group of four
- D."five-six-seven-eight," counting only the second half of each 8-count phrase
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. "ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three," stressing the first beat of each measure
Meter in 3/4 time groups the beats in threes with an accent on the first beat, so the teacher should count "ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three," stressing the first beat of each measure, the feel used in a waltz. Counting in twos or fours fits 2/4 or 4/4 time. "Five-six-seven-eight" is a lead-in cue for an 8-count phrase, not a description of meter.
Question 3 · Physical Activity
A coach is planning the first two weeks of preseason practice outdoors in hot, humid weather. Which practice is MOST consistent with heat-safety guidelines?
- A.Gradually increase practice length and intensity over 10–14 days
- B.Limit water during practice so players build heat tolerance
- C.Hold the hardest sessions in mid-afternoon to speed adaptation
- D.Hold full-gear, full-length practices from the first day on
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Gradually increase practice length and intensity over 10–14 days
Heat acclimatization takes about 10–14 days, so "Gradually increase practice length and intensity over 10–14 days" follows heat-safety guidance, along with phasing in equipment and allowing unlimited fluids. Restricting water raises the risk of dehydration and heat illness, and mid-afternoon sessions place the hardest work in the hottest part of the day.
Question 4 · Skills for Enhancing Health and Reducing Risks
During a role-play, a student is offered a vape pen by a classmate at a party. Which response BEST demonstrates an effective refusal skill?
- A."Maybe later, I guess. I don't really feel like it right now."
- B."No thanks, I don't vape. Let's go get some pizza instead."
- C."I can't, because my parents would probably find out about it."
- D."Um, I'm not sure. What does it taste like, and is it strong?"
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. "No thanks, I don't vape. Let's go get some pizza instead."
An effective refusal says no clearly, states a personal position, and offers an alternative, as in "No thanks, I don't vape. Let's go get some pizza instead." "Maybe later, I guess" leaves the door open to more pressure, and blaming parents implies the student would vape if no one found out.
Question 5 · Skills for Enhancing Health and Reducing Risks
A health lesson for early elementary students addresses what to do if they find a gun. Which set of steps reflects recommended safety guidance?
- A.Pick it up carefully by the handle and bring it to an adult
- B.Don't touch it, leave the area, and tell an adult right away
- C.Check whether it is loaded, then put it in a high place
- D.Cover it with something and keep it a secret from others
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Don't touch it, leave the area, and tell an adult right away
Child firearm safety guidance teaches "Don't touch it, leave the area, and tell an adult right away." Handling the gun in any way, even to bring it to an adult or check whether it is loaded, risks unintentional discharge. Adults are responsible for storing firearms unloaded and locked, with ammunition stored separately.

Question 6 · Physical Literacy and Movement Skills

A seventh-grade teacher reviews one student's physical literacy profile.

Domain indicator	Result
Locomotor and manipulative skill checklist	Proficient on 9 of 10 skills
Written check on rules and health benefits	92%
Self-rated enjoyment of PE (1–5)	1
Self-rated confidence trying new activities (1–5)	2
Days per week active outside school (self-report)	0–1

Based on this profile, which area of physical literacy should the teacher target MOST directly?

A.Motivation and confidence
B.Physical competence
C.Knowledge and understanding
D.Fundamental movement skill

Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. Motivation and confidence

The student's skill and knowledge scores are strong, but low enjoyment, low confidence in trying new activities, and almost no voluntary activity point to the affective domain, so the teacher should target "Motivation and confidence." Physical competence and fundamental movement skill are already rated proficient. "Knowledge and understanding" is also strong, since the student scored well on the written check.

Question 7 · Physical Literacy and Movement Skills
A teacher plans a unit in which students will compare bocce, golf, and disc golf. Under the games classification system used in tactical games teaching, these activities share which category?
- A.Net/wall games
- B.Striking/fielding games
- C.Target games
- D.Invasion games
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Target games
In "Target games," players send an object toward a target, and success depends on accuracy, which fits bocce, golf, and disc golf. Net/wall games such as tennis and volleyball send an object over or against a barrier. Striking/fielding games such as softball and cricket alternate batting and fielding, and invasion games such as soccer and ultimate involve moving into the opponent's territory to score.
Question 8 · Physical Activity
A muscular 17-year-old football lineman has a BMI-for-age above the 95th percentile, but skinfold measurements show low body fat. What is the BEST interpretation?
- A.BMI accurately shows excess body fat, so he should cut calories
- B.BMI cannot separate lean mass from fat, so it misclassifies him
- C.Skinfold results are invalid whenever BMI is above the 95th percentile
- D.BMI and skinfolds measure the same thing, so the two should be averaged
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. BMI cannot separate lean mass from fat, so it misclassifies him
BMI uses only height and weight, so "BMI cannot separate lean mass from fat, so it misclassifies him" when weight comes from muscle; skinfolds estimate body fat more directly. Treating the BMI as proof of excess fat ignores the skinfold data, and the two measures assess different things, so averaging them is meaningless.
Question 9 · Skills for Enhancing Health and Reducing Risks
For two weeks, students record their nightly sleep hours, try a set bedtime routine, and reflect on how their energy level changes. Which National Health Education Standards skill is being practiced?
- A.Advocating for the health of family and community members
- B.Analyzing how technology and media influence health behaviors
- C.Practicing health-enhancing behaviors and self-management
- D.Using interpersonal communication to resolve conflicts
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Practicing health-enhancing behaviors and self-management
Tracking a personal behavior, trying a healthy routine, and monitoring the results is "Practicing health-enhancing behaviors and self-management" (NHES Standard 7). "Advocating for the health of family and community members" would involve persuading others, which this project does not include.
Question 10 · Skills for Enhancing Health and Reducing Risks
A teacher posts a four-step conflict resolution process. One step is missing.
Step Action
1 Both students take time to cool down.
2 Each student describes the problem using I-messages while the other listens.
3 ?
4 The students agree on a solution and plan how to carry it out.
Which action BEST completes Step 3?
- A.Both students brainstorm possible solutions that could work for each of them
- B.The teacher decides which student is right and assigns a consequence
- C.Each student lists the other student's faults to explain the conflict
- D.The students agree to avoid each other completely for the rest of the school year
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Both students brainstorm possible solutions that could work for each of them
After each side is heard, conflict resolution moves to generating options: "Both students brainstorm possible solutions that could work for each of them," aiming for a win-win outcome. Having the teacher decide who is right turns the process into discipline, and listing faults reignites the conflict.

Step	Action
1	Both students take time to cool down.
2	Each student describes the problem using I-messages while the other listens.
3	?
4	The students agree on a solution and plan how to carry it out.

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