I.B. Psych Exam Review
Exam outline HL
• Overall exam weight – 80%
• Day 1 – May 6th pm
– 2 hrs. Paper 1 – 35%
• Day 2 – May 7th am
– 2 hrs. Paper 2 – 25%
– 1 hr. Paper 3 – 20%
Day 1 – May 6th pm
2 hrs. Paper 1
Section A: Three responses from the biological level of analysis, the
cognitive level of analysis, and the socio-cultural level of analysis.
• 3 answers – 3 questions – no selection possible
• 8 mark rubric applied
• Focus on knowledge and understanding of research, no critical
thinking emphasis
• One 1 big paragraph required
Section B: ONE answer from selection of THREE questions drawn
from each of the THREE levels.
• 22 mark rubric applied
• Focus on knowledge and understanding of research BUT with a
requirement for critical thinking and organization
• Multiple paragraphs required
Paper 1 - Section A
The purpose of this section is to assess students’ knowledge and
understanding of all three levels of analysis.
Students are required to answer three short-answer questions, one on the
syllabus content of each level of analysis.
Assessment objective 1 (knowledge and comprehension) and 2 (application
and analysis) command terms will be used in section A questions, students
could be required to:
• analyse
• apply
• define
• describe
• distinguish
• explain
• outline
• state.
The maximum mark for section A is 24. 3 questions, no selection, 8 marks
each
Part A Rubric
Paper 1 – Section B
Section B
The purpose of this section is to assess students’ knowledge and
understanding of the levels of analysis.
Theoretical and/or empirical support is required in all answers.
Students are required to answer one out of a choice of three essay
questions drawn from the learning outcomes of the levels of analysis.
In order to access the full range of marks available in the assessment
criteria, all questions in section B of paper 1 will include an
assessment objective 3 command term (synthesis and evaluation).
Within a question, assessment objective 1 and 2 command terms may
also be used.
• Each question is worth 22 marks.
• The maximum mark for section B is 22.
A Knowledge and comprehension
Marks
0
Level descriptor
The answer does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1–3
The answer demonstrates limited knowledge and understanding that is of marginal relevance to the question.
Little or no psychological research is used in the response.
4–6
The answer demonstrates limited knowledge and understanding relevant to the question or uses relevant
psychological research to limited effect in the response.
7–9
The answer demonstrates detailed, accurate knowledge and understanding relevant to the question, and
uses relevant psychological research effectively in support of the response.
B Evidence of critical thinking: application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation
Marks
0
Level descriptor
The answer does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1–3
The answer goes beyond description but evidence of critical thinking is not linked to the requirements of the
question.
4–6
The answer offers appropriate but limited evidence of critical thinking or offers evidence of critical thinking
that is only implicitly linked to the requirements of the question.
7–9
The answer integrates relevant and explicit evidence of critical thinking in response to the question.
C Organization
Marks
0
Level descriptor
The answer does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1–2
The answer is organized or focused on the question. However, this is not sustained throughout the response.
3–4
The answer is well organized, well developed and focused on the question.
Part B
Rubric
Day 2 – May 7th am
2 hrs. Paper 2
• Drawn from the options portion of the course:
Abnormal Psychology and Psychology of Relationships
• TWO answers from DIFFERENT sections, each section
has THREE options from which you can pick one.
• You will not recognize the questions on the exam from
the other optional units.
• 22 mark rubric is applied
• The focus is – again - on critical thinking, which means
critically using the studies and forming a balanced
argument. This presupposed accurate knowledge and
understanding
A Knowledge and comprehension
Marks
0
Level descriptor
The answer does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1–3
The answer demonstrates limited knowledge and understanding that is of marginal relevance to the question.
Little or no psychological research is used in the response.
4–6
The answer demonstrates limited knowledge and understanding relevant to the question or uses relevant
psychological research to limited effect in the response.
7–9
The answer demonstrates detailed, accurate knowledge and understanding relevant to the question, and
uses relevant psychological research effectively in support of the response.
B Evidence of critical thinking: application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation
Marks
0
Level descriptor
The answer does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1–3
The answer goes beyond description but evidence of critical thinking is not linked to the requirements of the
question.
4–6
The answer offers appropriate but limited evidence of critical thinking or offers evidence of critical thinking
that is only implicitly linked to the requirements of the question.
7–9
The answer integrates relevant and explicit evidence of critical thinking in response to the question.
C Organization
Marks
0
Level descriptor
The answer does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1–2
The answer is organized or focused on the question. However, this is not sustained throughout the response.
3–4
The answer is well organized, well developed and focused on the question.
Day 2 – May 7th am
1 hr. Paper 3
• Based on the qualitative research methods
part of the course.
• You must answer THREE questions. No choice
is offered here.
• You must ACTIVELY READ a section describing
a study or an excerpt of a study.
• Simple rubric of 10 is applied to each response
– low-medium-high scoring
I.B. Paper 3 Markbands
0 – the answer does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below
1–3
There is an attempt to answer the question, but knowledge and understanding is limited,
often inaccurate, or of marginal relevance to the stimulus material. The response makes no
direct reference to the stimulus material or relies too heavily on quotations from the text.
4–7
The question is partially answered. Knowledge and understanding is accurate but limited.
Either the command term is not effectively addressed or the response is not sufficiently
explicit in answering the question. The response makes limited use of the stimulus material.
8 – 10
The question is answered in a focused and effective manner and meets the demands of the
command term. The answer is supported by appropriate and accurate knowledge and
understanding of qualitative research methodology. The response demonstrates a critical
understanding of qualitative research methodology applied to the stimulus material.
Checklist format – top markband
• The question is answered in a focused and
effective manner
• Meets the demands of the command term.
• Supported by appropriate and accurate
knowledge and understanding of qualitative
research methodology.
• Critical understanding of qualitative research
methodology
• Applied to the stimulus material.
Key points of focus:
• Strengths and weaknesses of each research
method (and sub method)
• Inductive content analysis
• Ethical considerations
• Critical thinking – critical thinking – critical
thinking!
How to begin this section:
• Outline the aims, methods and conclusions
• Identify and criticize the participants and the
sampling method used
• Emotional reasoning – examine your feelings
about the research and findings – do you
agree with them? Find ways to justify your
feelings about the research..
For the entire exam…
You must remember to focus on the particular
areas we studied.
• There are a number of different ways each of
these questions can be answered but ONY
ONE way we have studied.
– Eg. Cognitive process – memory
– psychological disorders? Affective – depression,
anxiety – phobias, eating disorders.