Sample IB Psychology Course Outline (for first exams May 2027)

Travis DixonCurriculum, IB Psychology

This is the simplest and most logical way I can see planning this new course. Feedback and questions are welcomed.

This is a sample course outline that shows how you can cover everything in a logical order. The units are from this textbook. 

Sample IB Psychology Course Outline – HL Only

This is a Two Year HL course mapped onto a Northern hemisphere timetable (from St Maur, Japan’s schedule). 

YEAR ONE

Semester One (65 lessons)

Focus: Knowing the basics, including the biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches in the contexts of relationships and cognition.

  • Introduction (5 lessons)
    • What is psychology?
  • Criminology, cults and couples (30) 
    • The biological and sociocultural approaches in the study of human relationships (Chapters 1-3)
  • Memory and Manipulation (25)
    • The cognitive approach in learning and cognition (Chapters 4-5)

Summative Assessments: Guided and independent practice of SAQs and A-SAQS (Paper 1, A and B).

Semester Two (60 lessons)

Focus: Reinforce basics and introduce simple research methods. Complete the first draft of the IA. 

  • Depression and Addiction (25)
    • The approaches in the context of health and well-being (Chapters 6-7)
  • Class practicals and research methods I (12)
    • Experiments, questionnaires and interviews, plus an introduction to evaluating research (Chapter 10)*
  • Internal Assessment (15) – First Draft 
    • Experiments are recommended for the IA (Chapter 11)

Summative Assessment: Independent practice of SAQs and A-SAQs. Guided practice of Paper 2 (A) and Paper 1 essays. IA first draft

YEAR TWO

Semester One (65 lessons)

Focus: Finish the content and go in-depth into research methods and develop deeper conceptual understanding. Review approaches.

  • Morality and Personality (20)
    • A study of developmental psychology (Chapters 8-9)
  • Class practicals and research methods II (10) 
    • Observations plus how to evaluate research using concepts (Chapter 10)
  • HL Extensions: Technology, Culture and Motivation (30)
    • Reviews the approach content through the themes of technology, culture and motivation.
      • The approach content is far more important for exams than these HL topics – so this is a fun way to review for Paper 1.

Summative Assessments: Paper 1 SAQs and A-SAQs. Paper 2 (A and B).

Semester Two (50 lessons)

Focus: Finish the IA, prepare for exams, including covering content for Paper 3. 

  • IA Final Draft (10) 
    • Students submit final draft of the IA
  • Mock Exam Revision (15)
    • Students prepare for mocks in February. These cover P1 and P2.
  • Research Methods and Paper 3 (20) 
    • Covers the “data analysis and interpretation” content, as well as reviewing research methods for Paper 3.
  • IB Exam Revision – Remaining Time

Summative Assessments: IA Final Draft, Mock Exam (P1 and P2), Paper 3 mock,

 

*NB: The chapters here are slightly different to an early preview of the textbook – don’t fear – it’s all there.

Travis’ IB Psychology Course Outline – SL/HL Combined

This is a Two Year SL/HL combined course with whole blocks of time devoted to HL content only in Year 2. 

YEAR ONE

Semester One (65 lessons)

Focus: Knowing the basics, including the biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches in the contexts of relationships and cognition.

  • Introduction (5 lessons)
    • What is psychology?
  • Criminology, cults and couples (30) 
    • The biological and sociocultural approaches in the study of human relationships (Chapters 1-3)
  • Memory and Manipulation (25)
    • The cognitive approach in learning and cognition (Chapters 4-5)

Summative Assessments: Guided and independent practice of SAQs and A-SAQS (Paper 1, A and B).

Semester Two (60 lessons)

Focus: Reinforce basics and introduce simple research methods. Complete the first draft of the IA. 

  • Depression and Addiction (25)
    • The approaches in the context of health and well-being (Chapters 6-7)
  • Class practicals and research methods I (12)
    • Experiments, questionnaires and interviews, plus an introduction to evaluating research (Chapter 10)*
  • Internal Assessment (15) – First Draft 
    • Experiments are recommended for the IA (Chapter 11)

Summative Assessment: Independent practice of SAQs and A-SAQs. Guided practice of Paper 2 (A) and Paper 1 essays. IA first draft

YEAR TWO

Semester One (65 lessons)

Focus: Finish the content and go in-depth into research methods and develop deeper conceptual understanding. Review approaches.

  • Morality and Personality (20)
    • A study of developmental psychology (Chapters 8-9)
  • Class practicals and research methods II (10) 
    • Observations plus how to evaluate research using concepts (Chapter 10)
  • HL Extensions: Technology, Culture and Motivation (30) (HL Only)
    • Reviews the approach content through the themes of technology, culture and motivation. (Chapters 12-14)
      • The approach content is far more important for exams than these HL topics – so this is a fun way to review for Paper 1.

Summative Assessments: Paper 1 SAQs and A-SAQs. Paper 2 (A and B).

Semester Two (50 lessons)

Focus: Finish the IA, prepare for exams, including covering content for Paper 3. 

  • IA Final Draft (10) 
    • Students submit final draft of the IA
  • Mock Exam Revision (15)
    • Students prepare for mocks in February. These cover P1 and P2.
  • Research Methods and Paper 3 (20) (HL Only) 
    • Covers the “data analysis and interpretation” content, as well as reviewing research methods for Paper 3. (Chapter 15)
  • IB Exam Revision – Remaining Time

Summative Assessments: IA Final Draft, Mock Exam (P1 and P2), Paper 3 mock,

*NB: The chapters here are slightly different to an early preview of the textbook – don’t fear – it’s all there.

What if I have weekly HL only classes? I would recommend going through the content as planned above and then just start with the HL extension topics for your HL only lessons. I have tried to tie in the HL extensions with the context topics as much as possible so it will be logical. For example, in technology I’ve got video games and aggression and linked it to social learning theory, which would work in nicely with criminology at the start of the course. Once you finish the HL topics, start working through the Research methods for Paper 3 unit (Chapter 15). The timing above might be off, but it’s impossible for me to plan out a course for every different school schedule.

The Rationale

  • Start easy: Student’s have two years to develop the skills they need for the exams. Begin with the basics like how to write SAQs. Master this before moving in to essays. You could even wait until Year 2 before even mentioning concepts.
  • Spread the fun: Research methods like stats and interpretation is not as interesting as other topics, leaving this to the end and spreading out the more engaging content keeps kids engaged throughout the course. It also means the more challenging HL Paper 3 content is done last so they’re most ready for it.
  • Teach Psychology THEN Exams: I try not to talk about exam preparation strategies through the course – I just focus on teaching psychology. However, in that last semester in the last year is when we really focus on exam preparation. This is when students can pick their favourite three contexts for the exams and really knuckle down.
  • How is there so much time? The above course has loads of built in time for assessment. This is by design. HL course has loads of extra time, because we don’t need all 90 hours allocated for research methods and the extension topics. This time is better spent on revision and elsewhere in the course.
  • Will I cover everything? The benefit of writing my books lesson-by-lesson is that I have to make sure that I’ve crunched the numbers and made sure everything will fit. If you have a different schedule than above, which is likely, you may need to make some adjustments but as long as your school has given you 150 SL and 240 HL hours you’ll cover everything and have a great course.