The blog would find you in high spirit to ace your IBDP Psychology Paper 1 with the perfect 7. As an IBDP psychology expert let me try and make steps easy for you to score to your highest potentiality.
In this blog we would run through the overview of Paper 1, the two sections A and B, how short answer questions (SAQs) play a key role in securing your marks, how to handle the essay, knowing the approaches and key terms, what are the common mistakes you are prone to make, and what are the recommendations I would suggest for you to improve the grades.
Contents
How to study for IBDP Psychology Paper 1. 1
IBDP Psychology Paper 1 Sec A and Sec B.. 1
Minimum score for HL and SL to get a perfect 7 in Paper1. 1
The areas of the programme and examination in which candidates faced difficulty. 2
Tips to score a 7 in DP Paper 1 Psychology for HL and SL.. 2
Overview
The total paper of 49 marks for SL and HL, is distributed into two sections-section A and section B. It’s a two-hour paper based on the three core approaches
IBDP Psychology Paper 1 Sec A and Sec B
Sec A has 3 short answer questions (SAQs), 9 marks each of 300-400 words.
Sec B is an essay type question of 22 marks chosen out of 3 options. Your essay should be 900-1000 words.
Minimum score for HL and SL to get a perfect 7 in Paper1
At least a 31 out of 49 will help you, as HL students, to score a 7 in DP Psychology Paper 1.
As an SL candidate you require a minimum of 35 out of 49 to score a 7 in DP Psychology Paper 1.
The areas of the programme and examination in which candidates faced difficulty
Students often lose focus on the understanding of the command terms, instead use unnecessary. In section B often there is a tendency to make your essay descriptive with relevant theories and not evaluative. Many candidates do not outline the principles with proper description. Frequently, in section B students focus on the case studies repetitively and superficially than the method of analysis.
Tips to score a 7 in DP Paper 1 Psychology for HL and SL
Master the vocabulary to be used in psychology like validity, reliability, credibility, experiment, and correlation.
It’s an easy calculation. In HL you need to crack each of the 3 SAQs with 7 marks each. That straight away leaves for 10 out of 22 to be attained in essay, which is very much possible. In SL you need to get a minimum of 7 for each of the 3 SAQs. So, you have to score a minimum of 14 points out of 22. And, that’s easy and attainable.
Be clear about the three approaches to handle the SAQs- the biological approach, the sociocultural, and the cognitive. Each approach has many topics.
Remember that for each SAQ, you need to find the approach and explain each approach with relevant topics. Identify the examples on each topic. Avoid using outdated examples, rather use the updated recent examples which connect with the topics. In fact, a subject report analysis of 2014 with 2015 shows a healthier score set in 2015, for the use of modern research.
Directly answer the question in the first sentence of the response.
Recognize the studies you will connect with each topic.
Explain the studies with relevant key terms, concepts, and definitions.
Understand what each approach means. The biological approach is an examination of the impact of biological factors on psychological behaviours. The cognitive approach examines how behaviours like decision-making can be affected by cognition. Also, it explores the factors affecting the cognition. The sociocultural approach examines how the sociocultural factors affect the behaviour.
List the topics on every approach, which are probable. Simulations or models serve as the examples of each topic.
Each of the 3 compulsory questions is based on each of the 3 approaches. So, you need to learn all the 3 approaches for the SAQs.
Never use unnecessary evaluation to overshadow the precision of the command terms. The command terms ‘understanding, describing and applying’ require you to create key questions on causation or correlation between the independent (IV) and dependent variables. This takes you from the assessment objective 1 (AO1) to 2 (AO2).
A deeper analysis needs you to answer your key questions, taking you to AO3 and AO4 with the command term ‘evaluate’ your key questions with claims and counter claims with proper justification based on evidences.
In section B you are to choose either of the approaches to answer an essay question out of 3 options. Instead of learning all the 3 approaches, focus on your favourite one unlike the SAQs. The questions are either ‘evaluate’ or ‘to what extent’ or ‘describe’ or ‘contrast’ types.
For the HL students there is an additional extension in one, two or three essays compared to SL. The biological approach extension topic comes from animal research, the cognitive approach is from technology, and the socio-cultural extension topic is from globalization.
Note that each approach has its own pros and cons. Biological approach based questions are common, though comprehensive. Cognitive approach has lesser number of topics; however, it is tricky as it involves factors affecting cognition like emotional interference. The sociocultural approach has a pretty good coverage with slightly lesser number of topics as compared to the biological approach.
Once you select the approach look into the befitting studies with examples. Use key terms, concepts, and definitions. For your essay in sec B, remember to analyse and critically evaluate. Always ask yourself, “How and why am I using this research?” The word ‘critical’ has a lot of significance, where you have to cite claims and counter claims in favour and against a study, thus striking a balance.
For section B also, never use old research which does not conform to the standards of modern research.
Always remember to link your studies to the key question, both for section A and B with justifiable empirical evidences.
Why and when to take online classes IBDP Psychology?
Expert guides in online resource centres facilitate you with the exam tips to ace your exam with a perfect 7. Online classes are preferred which cater students from across the world. Not only you get to compare your level on a global standard, you also get the experts who have years’ of experience in grooming the students worldwide. Also, you get the flexibility in approach by the expert IB tutors with a global mind set. Always remember that IB assessments are very detailed and getting well-versed with command terms is very important part of the whole process from the first day of your journey. Improvements in the grades can only be attained if you follow a step-by-step process of assessing yourself.
