General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Physical Education (PE) Practice Exam

An open skill is characterized by its performance in an unpredictable environment, which means that external factors can influence how the skill is executed. This unpredictability arises from challenges such as opponents’ movements, weather conditions, or varying circumstances within the sporting context. For instance, a skill such as dribbling in basketball requires the player to adapt constantly to the movements of defenders and other game dynamics.

In contrast, the other characteristics involve environments that are more controlled or predictable. A skill performed in a consistent environment generally refers to a closed skill, where the conditions do not change, such as taking a shot in tennis where players do not need to respond to an opponent's immediate actions. Similarly, a skill performed with minimal distractions suggests a serene environment conducive to focus, yet this again aligns more with closed skills. Finally, a skill requiring advance planning may apply to both open and closed skills but does not define the nature of the environment in which the skill is performed, making it less applicable to the essence of open skills.