I.B. Psych Exam Review

Exam outline HL Overall exam weight – 80% Day 1 – May 6th pm 2 hrs. Paper 1 – 35% Day 2 – May 7th am 2 hrs. Paper 2 – 25% 1 hr. Paper 3 – 20%

Day 1 – May 6th pm 2 hrs. Paper 1 Section A: Three responses from the biological level of analysis, the cognitive level of analysis, and the socio-cultural level of analysis. 3 answers – 3 questions – no selection possible 8 mark rubric applied Focus on knowledge and understanding of research, no critical thinking emphasis One 1 big paragraph required Section B: ONE answer from selection of THREE questions drawn from each of the THREE levels. 22 mark rubric applied Focus on knowledge and understanding of research BUT with a requirement for critical thinking and organization Multiple paragraphs required

Paper 1 - Section A The purpose of this section is to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of all three levels of analysis. Students are required to answer three short-answer questions, one on the syllabus content of each level of analysis. Assessment objective 1 (knowledge and comprehension) and 2 (application and analysis) command terms will be used in section A questions, students could be required to: • analyse • apply • define • describe • distinguish • explain • outline • state. The maximum mark for section A is 24. 3 questions, no selection, 8 marks each

Part A Rubric

Paper 1 – Section B Section B The purpose of this section is to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the levels of analysis. Theoretical and/or empirical support is required in all answers. Students are required to answer one out of a choice of three essay questions drawn from the learning outcomes of the levels of analysis. In order to access the full range of marks available in the assessment criteria, all questions in section B of paper 1 will include an assessment objective 3 command term (synthesis and evaluation). Within a question, assessment objective 1 and 2 command terms may also be used. Each question is worth 22 marks. The maximum mark for section B is 22.

Part B Rubric

Day 2 – May 7th am 2 hrs. Paper 2 Drawn from the options portion of the course: Abnormal Psychology and Psychology of Relationships TWO answers from DIFFERENT sections, each section has THREE options from which you can pick one. You will not recognize the questions on the exam from the other optional units. 22 mark rubric is applied The focus is – again - on critical thinking, which means critically using the studies and forming a balanced argument. This presupposed accurate knowledge and understanding

Day 2 – May 7th am 1 hr. Paper 3 Based on the qualitative research methods part of the course. You must answer THREE questions. No choice is offered here. You must ACTIVELY READ a section describing a study or an excerpt of a study. Simple rubric of 10 is applied to each response – low-medium-high scoring

I.B. Paper 3 Markbands 0 – the answer does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below 1 – 3 There is an attempt to answer the question, but knowledge and understanding is limited, often inaccurate, or of marginal relevance to the stimulus material. The response makes no direct reference to the stimulus material or relies too heavily on quotations from the text. 4 – 7 The question is partially answered. Knowledge and understanding is accurate but limited. Either the command term is not effectively addressed or the response is not sufficiently explicit in answering the question. The response makes limited use of the stimulus material. 8 – 10 The question is answered in a focused and effective manner and meets the demands of the command term. The answer is supported by appropriate and accurate knowledge and understanding of qualitative research methodology. The response demonstrates a critical understanding of qualitative research methodology applied to the stimulus material.

Checklist format – top markband The question is answered in a focused and effective manner Meets the demands of the command term. Supported by appropriate and accurate knowledge and understanding of qualitative research methodology. Critical understanding of qualitative research methodology Applied to the stimulus material.

Key points of focus: Strengths and weaknesses of each research method (and sub method) Inductive content analysis Ethical considerations Critical thinking – critical thinking – critical thinking!

How to begin this section: Outline the aims, methods and conclusions Identify and criticize the participants and the sampling method used Emotional reasoning – examine your feelings about the research and findings – do you agree with them? Find ways to justify your feelings about the research..

For the entire exam… You must remember to focus on the particular areas we studied. There are a number of different ways each of these questions can be answered but ONY ONE way we have studied. Eg. Cognitive process – memory psychological disorders? Affective – depression, anxiety – phobias, eating disorders.