New syllabus, first assessed May 2027 — three approaches framed by concepts & contexts. HL adds Paper 3 (data analysis).
At SL, Paper 1 is worth 35%, Paper 2 is worth 35% and the internal assessment (a research proposal) is worth 30%. At HL, Paper 1 is 25%, Paper 2 is 25%, Paper 3 (data analysis) is 30% and the IA is 20%. External exams make up 70% at SL and 80% at HL.
HL students sit an additional exam, Paper 3, which focuses on data analysis and interpretation of research, and study the approaches in greater depth. SL students take only Papers 1 and 2 plus the internal assessment.
The course is framed around three approaches to behaviour — biological, cognitive and sociocultural — applied across four contexts: health, human relationships, learning and cognition, and human development.
An ERQ (extended response question) is a 22-mark essay assessed against five criteria. It is one of the highest-value question types in the exam — our examiner guide breaks down the structure paragraph by paragraph.
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