Content knowledge is king in IB Psychology. It’s the foundation upon which all other critical and conceptual thinking skills are built. In this post, I put this idea to the test by writing one essay that could address six different concepts. The purpose of this post is not to encourage rote memorisation of entire essays , but rather to show …
ChatGPT is a dirty rotten liar…see for yourself
If you’re a student using ChatGPT for other AI for your research paper, please read this carefully – it could save your bacon. If you’re a teacher struggling to convince your students of the perils of AI-driven research, this post might help. A few weeks ago I was writing about cultural differences in morality. I spent hours trying to find …
Beware the Booby Traps in Class Practicals
Sometimes I feel like a little kid running excitedly across a field towards a fancy new playground when I’m planning for this new course. Other times I feel like the field’s littered with landmines. A false step and I might blow up my leg, or in class I might miss something that has big ramifications down the line for students. …
The Triple Cheeseburger Essay – IB Psychology
On the surface it seems like the new essays in IB Psych, Paper 1, Section C, are completely different to the old essays. Now there’s content linked with concepts and put into contexts and there’s no need for studies or critical thinking. However, scratch a little deeper and you’ll see nothing’s really changed. In this post I’ll explain my triple …
The T-REX SAQ
The first two questions in IB Psychology Paper One (new syllabus) are designed to be “quick wins.” They’re 4 mark SAQs that can be answered in about 250 words. I want to keep things simple so students go into exams with confidence. I also love a good acronym. So here’s my T-REX SAQ structure that can answer any SAQ. Don’t believe me? …
MUST READ: IB Psych IAs are now marked differently
The first rule of IB examining is don’t talk about IB examining. I have broken this rule before by sharing valuable information with everyone (on the IB platform) and was kicked off marking. Watch video. I’ve waited patiently to see if the shocking change in the IB’s marking of IAs was reported in this year’s subject reports. It was so …
All SAQs in just 22 Studies
While creating the flashcard set for IB Psychology students I had to make sure that there would be enough studies for each topic in the course. This took some meticulous planning. Here’s what I found out… There are a total of 41 topics for the Paper 1 SAQs (see them all here). If we include the 6 possible combinations of research …
Over 2200 words? 5 tips to help
It’s a great problem to have, but it’s still a problem. Hard-working students lament over having to cut out aspects of their IA to get under the 2200 words. But there’s always the fear that you’ll lose something important and that will cost you marks. Here’s 5 ways you can reduce your word count without losing marks. Firstly, remember that …
Example SAQ – How agonists affect behaviour
The “additional terms” that have been added to Paper 1 SAQs in IB Psychology can be a nuisance. However, there are ways to address the potential questions without adding too much content to your course. This post shows you an example SAQ that uses Passamonti et al.’s study on neurotransmission for a potential answer on agonists and behaviour. An agonist …
The best topics for Paper 2
The IB Psychology guide is a little, shall we say, clunky. One benefit of the clunkiness of the guide is that we can exploit some of the oversights to our advantage. For example, there’s guaranteed one exam question per topic in Paper 2. This means you only need to study one topic per option (SL write one essay on one …
Exam Topics in IB Psychology Paper Two – Overview
The most important thing to know when studying for the IB Psychology exams are the topics. The IB Guide published by the IB has these listed. Unfortunately, the guide is a bit confusing in its layout and it’s not easy to see quickly and easily what the topics are. That’s why I put them in this post. Download the following …
How to study for Paper 2 in IB Psychology
Revising or Paper 2 in IB Psych can be challenging because it’s not always clear what the questions will be. Unlike the Paper 1 topics, Paper 2 topics are bit more ambiguous. However, the same requirements as Paper 1 essays are still needed. This means we can approach studying for Paper 2 in a similar way as Paper 1, we …
Exam Topics in IB Psychology Paper One
The most important thing to know when studying for the IB Psychology exams are the topics. The IB Guide published by the IB has these listed. Unfortunately, the guide is a bit confusing in its layout and it’s not easy to see quickly and easily waht the topics are. That’s why I put them in this post. Download the following …
How to study for Paper 1 in IB Psychology3 Steps to Prepare for Section B: Essays
In yesterday’s post, I explained 7 simple steps for studying for Paper 1, Section A (SAQs) in IB Psychology. Now it’s time to look at how we can use that foundation to prepare for Section B – the essays. Studying for Paper 1 in IB Psychology is simple, but it’s not easy. Make sure you start your revision a few …
How to study for Paper 1 in IB Psychology7 Simple Steps to Prepare for Section A: SAQs
One of the most common questions I get asked is, “How should I study for the IB Psychology exams?” Unfortunately, it’s also one of the hardest questions to answer. In this post, I’ll do my best to plan out some really simple steps that might help for Paper 1. We’ll start easy and get harder so no matter what your …
Paper 3 Practice: Sleep and Happiness
The best way to prepare for Paper 3 is to do lots of practice. The study below is designed to replicate what you will see on Paper 3. Read more: Paper 3 Practice: Smartphones and Sleep Quality Paper 3 Practice: Individualism and Happiness in a Japanese Workplace Paper 3 Practice: Trauma and the September 11 Attacks Paper 3 Practice: Observation …
Paper 3 Practice: Smartphones and Sleep Quality
The best way to prepare for Paper 3 is to do lots of practice. The study below is designed to replicate what you will see on Paper 3. Read more: Paper 3 Practice: Individualism and Happiness in a Japanese Workplace Paper 3 Practice: Trauma and the September 11 Attacks Paper 3 Practice: Observation of Hospitals IB Psychology HL Paper 3 …
Paper 3 Practice: Individualism and Happiness in a Japanese Workplace
The best way to prepare for Paper 3 is to do lots of practice. The study below is designed to replicate what you will see on Paper 3. Read more: Paper 3 Practice: Trauma and the September 11 Attacks Practice Paper 3: Observation of Hospitals Paper 3: Guided Answer Paper Three Questions 1a,b,c: Details IB Psychology HL Paper 3 Practice …
Feeling stressed? Here’s how you can cope.
It’s a stressful time for everyone. The latest news that the IB has cancelled exams will be causing massive amounts of stress for many students (and teachers). Here are some ways you can cope. Stress is caused by things happening to us (stressors) and how we think about those things (appraisals). In psychology jargon, we call this top-down or bottom-up …
Exams Cancelled – May 2020And why the IB made the right decision
I understand that a lot of teachers and students will be incredibly disappointed by this announcement, perhaps even angry, especially if you’re living in a country that is relatively unaffected by the coronavirus. It’s natural to question the IB’s announcement and perhaps even be angry. Heck, I’m the first to raise issues with a number of policies and practices rolled …
Paper 3 Practice: Trauma and the September 11 Attacks
The best way to prepare for Paper 3 is to do lots of practice. The study below is designed to replicate what you will see on Paper 3. Read more: Practice Paper 3: Observation of Hospitals Paper 3: Guided Answer Paper Three Questions 1a,b,c: Details IB Psychology HL Paper 3 Practice The stimulus material below is based on a qualitative …
IB Psych Key Terms Quiz – THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH
You can prepare for IB Psychology by asking three simple questions: What is…? How does…? …but…? The first question tests your knowledge, the second tests your deeper understanding of the topic and the third tests your critical thinking. The following quiz is designed to test your ability to answer the first question. (Scroll down for the answers) Read More Understanding IB …
Describe vs. Explain: Is there a difference?Understanding command terms with REAL examples of exam answers
Describe and Explain mean different things. Obviously. But when they’re used in short answer questions in IB Psychology, do they really require different answers? In this post I’ll put forward my argument for my the command terms in SAQs are irrelevant and how a generic structure can be used to score top marks. Those of you who have read my posts …
Exam Tip: Etiologies of Abnormal PsychologyTips for writing excellent essays in Paper 2
As my students are preparing for an essay test this week on the topic “Etiology of Abnormal Psychology,” I thought I would share some advice on how to write good essays. The advice gets more specific and complex and the post goes on, so if nothing else I’d strongly recommend following tips 1 and 2. The etiology of abnormal psychology …
Exam Answer: Localization Short Answer QuestionAn example SAQ following a simple 7-step format
Recently I wrote a post about how to write better short answer responses (SAQs) in 7 simple steps for IB Psych’ Paper 1 and this video explains the same. But the only reason I am able to explain these frameworks with confidence is because I’ve written 100s of examples. Here’s one I’ll share with you. The example SAQ below is …