How DP Psychology Is Assessed: Revision Notes

Course note (legacy syllabus): This resource describes IB DP Psychology for first assessment 2019, now in its final teaching cycle (last examination session November 2026). A replacement course (first assessment 2027) restructures the subject substantially. A companion resource for the 2027 course does not yet exist on this site.

Condensed for quick recall of how the course is assessed. For the full subject overview, use the IB DP Psychology subject overview, and for a paper-by-paper exam-day plan see the exam preparation guide.

SL vs HL weightings

Component	SL	HL
Paper 1 (3 short-answer + 1 essay, core approaches)	50%	40%
Paper 2 (1 essay per option: 1 option at SL, 2 options at HL)	25%	20%
Paper 3 (HL only: 3 short-answer, research methodology)	—	20%
Internal assessment (experimental study)	25%	20%

External assessment: 75% (SL) / 80% (HL). Internal: 25% (SL) / 20% (HL).

The four options (Paper 2)

Abnormal · developmental · health · relationships psychology. Each applies the biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches to a specific applied area. SL students study one option and answer one essay question on it; HL students study two options, and Paper 2 requires one essay question from each of the two studied options — not a single essay covering one option only. Because option content roughly doubles in hours between SL (20) and HL (40), HL students should not assume their second option needs less preparation than the first — Paper 2 allocates equal time and marks to both.

The internal assessment

• Students design, carry out (usually in a small group), analyse and individually write up a simple experiment.
• Then evaluate it and suggest modifications.
• Externally moderated by IB examiners, not marked solely by your own teacher.

HL-only: Paper 3 and extra AOs

Paper 3 tests research methodology specifically. At HL, students are additionally expected to analyse qualitative/quantitative methods and evaluate research scenarios methodologically and ethically.

The internal assessment in more depth

The experimental study is graded against criteria covering: the theoretical framing and rationale for the chosen investigation (why this experiment tests this theory); appropriate design and methodology, including sampling and controlling relevant variables; accurate reporting and statistical treatment of results; and a critical discussion evaluating the study’s strengths, limitations, and ethical considerations. Although the experiment is usually conducted in a small group, the write-up, analysis and discussion must be entirely the student’s own individual work – a common and costly mistake is closely mirroring a group member’s write-up structure or wording, which risks being flagged during the external moderation process.

Command terms

Psychology’s own subject guide publishes its own command terms, used across all three papers – it is not a glossary shared with other individuals-and-societies subjects, each of which has its own list. As a study heuristic (not an official IB grouping), it can help to think of the terms in three loose tiers: outline, describe and explain for content-based recall and understanding; evaluate, discuss and contrast for questions requiring a reasoned judgement comparing theories or studies; to what extent for questions expecting a weighed, evidence-based conclusion. Paper 1’s essay is chosen from a choice of three – one per approach – and is answered from that single approach in depth; the skill it specifically rewards is evaluation (a genuine strength and limitation of the theory or study), not breadth across approaches, so blending in a second approach is not required and earns no separate credit here.

Why methodology is examined separately at HL

HL Paper 3’s dedicated focus on research methodology exists because HL students are expected to engage more deeply with how psychological knowledge is produced and evaluated – analysing the strengths and limitations of qualitative versus quantitative methods, and evaluating research scenarios for both methodological soundness and ethical considerations, as a distinct skill from applying content knowledge on Papers 1 and 2. Because this is content and skill genuinely separate from Papers 1-2’s focus on approaches and options, HL students should treat Paper 3 preparation as its own revision strand, not an extension of Paper 1/2 content revision.

How the four assessment objectives run through every component

Knowledge and comprehension, application and analysis, synthesis and evaluation, and selection and use of research skills are not confined to any single paper – they run through Papers 1, 2, 3 (where applicable) and the internal assessment alike, though the balance shifts by component. Paper 1’s short-answer questions lean more heavily on knowledge, comprehension and application; Paper 1’s essay and Paper 2 lean more on synthesis and evaluation; the IA specifically tests selection and use of research skills directly, through the design and conduct of an original study rather than through writing about research in the abstract.

Exam traps

• Revising all four options for Paper 2 instead of the single option your course actually covers.
• Treating the experimental study as purely a group task, when the write-up must be individual.
• HL students underpreparing Paper 3’s methodology focus, which is distinct from Papers 1-2’s content focus.

Self-test

1. What four assessment objectives run across all components?
2. What must be individually completed in the internal assessment, even though the experiment itself is usually a group activity?
3. Why is closely mirroring a group member’s IA write-up risky?
4. Which assessment objective does the IA test directly, that the written papers test only indirectly?
5. Name the four options examined in Paper 2, and how many does an HL student study?
6. What does HL Paper 3 specifically assess?

Answers: 1. Knowledge and comprehension of content; application and analysis of theories/research; synthesis and evaluation of research; selection and use of research skills. 2. The write-up and analysis. 3. Because the write-up, analysis and discussion must be entirely the student’s own individual work, and close similarity to a group member’s write-up risks being flagged during external moderation. 4. Selection and use of research skills — tested directly through designing and conducting an original study, rather than writing about research in the abstract. 5. Abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, psychology of human relationships — SL students study one, HL students study two. 6. Research methodology — three short-answer questions.

Official syllabus

International Baccalaureate Organization, Diploma Programme Subject Brief – Individuals and Societies: Psychology, first assessment 2019, published 2018 – the same source cited by the full syllabus guide and the subject overview.