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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can set and evaluate effective goals using the SMART target method.

      Key learning points

      1. Goal setting is an important strategy for increasing motivation and focus and the opportunity to assess progress.
      2. SMART targets help set specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound goals.
      3. SMART targets should be evaluated for their effectiveness and adjusted where necessary.

      Keywords

      • Specific - a goal should be relevant to the sport or activity or component of fitness aiming to be improved

      • Measurable - being clear about what is going to be achieved with a quantitative measure

      • Achievable - ensuring a goal is challenging, yet possible

      • Realistic - ensuring a goal is within the person's capabilities

      • Time-bound - stating when a goal will be achieved by

      Common misconception

      It is common to see variants on the SMART acronym, for example R = recorded, from other exam boards or sources. Some sources may extend the acronym to SMARTER.

      Ensure it is understood that with the Edexcel exam board, SMART only ever refers to Specific, Measurable, Achieveable, Realistic and Time-bound.

      Teacher tip

      Prior to delivering the slide deck pupils could discuss their experience and understanding of goal setting and share their opinions on its value.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these terms are commonly used when you set yourself something you want to achieve?

      Correct answer: goal setting
      dream setting
      idea setting
      Correct answer: target setting

      Q2.
      Goals should...

      be never-ending
      Correct answer: have an end point
      always be completed in a week

      Q3.
      Which of these acronyms is often associated with target setting?

      SHAPE
      SCARE
      Correct answer: SMART
      SCOUT

      Q4.
      These are key words associated with goal setting. Match the word to its definition.

      Correct Answer:motivation,reason(s) for acting in a particular way

      reason(s) for acting in a particular way

      Correct Answer:persistence,continuing something despite opposition or difficulty

      continuing something despite opposition or difficulty

      Correct Answer:focus,something you pay particular attention to

      something you pay particular attention to

      Correct Answer:progress,developing towards an improved condition

      developing towards an improved condition

      Q5.
      If you set yourself a goal which is too difficult, what is likely to happen?

      you will want to persist with it
      Correct answer: you will lose motivation
      you will want to make it even more difficult
      you will feel good about it

      Q6.
      Regularly reviewing your goals allows you to make necessary as you progress.

      Correct Answer: adjustments, changes, adaptations, alterations

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      The SMART acronym stands for ...

      Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
      Specific, Measurable, Agreeable, Realistic, Time-bound
      Correct answer: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound
      Specific, Motivating, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound
      Special, Motivating, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound

      Q2.
      Which of the SMART criteria is this target missing: "I want to be able to complete a black run on the snowboard without falling over once"

      Correct Answer: time-bound, time bound

      Q3.
      If a target is not specific, what might the impact be?

      Correct answer: lack of focus
      lack of peristence
      lack of opportunity to assess progress
      lack of motivation

      Q4.
      Which of these could be suitable to use when making a target measurable?

      Correct answer: distance
      Correct answer: time
      Correct answer: percentage success
      Correct answer: goals

      Q5.
      Put each of these in the correct order to match with the SMART acronym.

      1 - a goal should be relevant to the sport/activity/component of fitness
      2 - being clear about what is going to be achieved with a quantitative measure
      3 - ensuring a goal is challenging, yet possible
      4 - ensuring a goal is within the person's capabilities
      5 - stating when a goal will be achieved by

      Q6.
      Which of the SMART criteria is missing from this target: "I want to improve my first serve percentage by 10%."

      specific
      measurable
      achievable
      realistic
      Correct answer: time-bound

      To help you plan your 11 physical education lesson on: Goal Setting, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...