| Date | May 2017 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 17M.3.SL.tz0.3 |
| Level | Standard Level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | time zone 0 |
| Command term | Define | Question number | 3 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Define ergogenic aid.
Outline two possible harmful effects of long term use of anabolic steroids.
Discuss the benefits for athletes of using beta blockers.
Markscheme
an ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that improves an athlete’s performance✔
Cardiovascular:
decreased HDL cholesterol / Increased LDL cholesterol / cardiac hypertrophy / increased risk of coronary heart disease / increased risk of heart attack✔
Liver:
liver toxicity / liver cancer✔
Psychiatric:
mood changes / increased aggression / depression/dependence & addiction✔
reproductive and hormonal changes for males and females✔
improve performance by blocking noradrenaline/reducing stress✔
reduce heart rate which can improve hand steadiness and performance in fine motor skills✔
improved precision and accuracy in fine motor skills which is crucial in sports such as archery / shooting✔
reduced symptoms of anxiety ‹eg, hand tremors›✔
Award [1 max] for list.
Examiners report
Generally well answered but some too vague such as referring to “heart problems” rather than specifically outlining a heart problem.
I was disappointed with the number of candidates that did not know what beta blockers were. Some confused them with diuretics, others with muscle-enhancing substances. Those who did know, generally answered it very well and obtained full marks.
