Paper 1 A
 Answer all three SAQs
 One hour
 App.. 250 words
Paper 1B
 Choose one of the three
essays
 One hour
 App.. 800 words
Paper 2 SL
 Choose one essay from
three possibilities for each
option
Paper 2 HL
 Choose two essays, each
from different options
 Students will be expected to demonstrate the
following:
1 Knowledge and comprehension of:
 A specific content
 B key terms and concepts
 C psychological research methods
 D a range of appropriately identified
psychological theories and research studies
 E the biological, cognitive and sociocultural level
of analysis
 F one option (SL) and two options (HL)
2. Application and analysis
A demonstrate an ability to use examples of psychological
research and psychological concepts to formulate an
argument in response to a specific question
3 Synthesis and evaluation
A evaluate psychological theories and empirical studies
B discuss how biological, cognitive and sociocultural level of
analysis can be used to explain behaviour
C evaluate research methods used to investigate behaviour
4 Selection and use of skills appropriate to psychology
A write an organized response
 Have a look at the assessment details for
paper 1 B and paper 2 (SL + HL)
A: knowledge and comprehension
Total of 9 marks
B: Evidence of critical thinking: application,
analysis, synthesis, evaluation
Total of 9 marks
C: Organization
Total of 4 marks
The Introduction: introduce the essay
question and your line of argument
The main body: present information in a
clear and logical manner – build an answer
to the essay question
Each paragraph should contain an argument
and include relevant knowledge to support
it (maybe also counter-argument)
The conclusion: relate directly to the
question raised – your ultimate answer
based on your argument
Read the essay question very carefully
Identify command terms and content
(what are you suppose to do and with
what?)
Make an outline (e.g. mind-map) – spend
ten minutes planning – and you will have
50 minutes to write and check your
answer
Focus on the question
Clear structure
Apply critical thinking skills
You have to argue! ( persuasion)
Write for an audience
Your job is to convince by solid arguments and
evidence
Don’t let the reader be left to guess!
 Discuss the use of one research method (e.g.
experiments, case studies) in the cognitive
level of analysis. Use relevant research
studies in your response. [22 marks]
Now, with eight steps, create an outline
1. Step one: identify command terms
2. Step two: identify content
3. Step three: find one relevant research study
4. Step four: what argument?
5. Step five: consider the argument
6. Step six: make an outline
7. Step seven: write according to your outline
8. Step eight: read through your essay
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
identify command terms: discuss
identify content: one research method is the experimental
method
find one relevant research study: Loftus and Palmer (1974) on
the role of leading questions on recall (memory)
what argument? 1. Why the experimental method is used in the
cognitive level of analysis 2. possible reasons for using it in Loftus
and Palmer 3. Was it a good choice - evaluation
consider the argument: could other methods be used instead?
And why do they use the experimental method?
make an outline: structure of your essay
write according to your outline
read through your essay
 Introduction: explain why the experimental method is
used in the cognitive level of analysis and how this is
illustrated in Loftus and palmer (1974)
 Paragraph 1: The cognitive level of analysis – discuss
why the experimental method is used in some studies
 Paragraph 2: characteristics of the experimental
method, including strengths and limitations
 Paragraph 3: why the experimental method was used in
Loftus and Palmer (1974) rather than another method
 Paragraph 4: Briefly describe the study, focusing on the
experimental features to justify the use of the
experiment
 Paragraph 5: evaluation
 Conclusion: how the experimental method has proved
useful in research studies on memory, but it is
important to be aware of the limitations of the method,
especially when generalizing to real-life memory