IB Psychology Assessment Overview
A complete comparison of every assessment component — Papers 1, 2, 3, and the Internal Assessment — showing SL vs HL weightings, the skills each one demands, and where preparation overlaps.
Last reviewed: 28 April 2026
SL vs HL Weightings
HL students sit an additional paper (Paper 3) and their marks are distributed across more components, reducing the relative weight of each individual paper compared to SL.
| Component | Duration | Marks | SL % | HL % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (Sections A, B & C) | 1h 30 min | 35 marks | 35% | 25% |
| Paper 2 (Sections A & B) | 1h 30 min | 35 marks | 35% | 25% |
| Paper 3 (HL only) | 1h 45 min | 30 marks | — | 30% |
| Internal Assessment | Coursework | 24 marks | 30% | 20% |
SL — Breakdown
Note: SL total = 120% because IA is moderated separately. Exam papers = 80%.
HL — Breakdown
Note: HL total = 120% because IA is moderated separately. Exam papers = 100%.
Component Breakdown
Each component tests a distinct combination of skills. Understanding what each one demands helps you allocate revision time more strategically.
P1 — Section A
Section A
SL weight
~8% of final grade (SL)
HL weight
~5.7% of final grade (HL)
Marks
8 marks (2 × 4)
Core skill
Recall + Knowledge
Two 4-mark questions, each drawn from a different approach (biological, cognitive, or sociocultural — the IB selects which 2 of the 3 appear; students answer both). Each question asks you to describe or explain a theory, model, or concept, and requires an example that is either hypothetical or drawn from a study, clearly linked to the point being made. Strong preparation means memorising precise definitions, the mechanisms or explanations behind each concept, and having a ready example for each.
Prep strategy
Use the DMEL framework for every answer: Definition → Mechanism/Explanation → Example (hypothetical or study-based) → Link back to the question. Prepare this structure for every major theory, model, and concept in all three approaches.
P1 — Section B
Section B
SL weight
~12% of final grade (SL)
HL weight
~8.6% of final grade (HL)
Marks
12 marks (2 × 6)
Core skill
Application
Two 6-mark questions, each presenting a scenario or stimulus. You must apply a named concept or theory to the situation described. The skill is almost entirely application (AO2): no evaluation is required, but the link between theory and scenario must be explicit and accurate.
Prep strategy
Practise identifying which concept fits a given scenario. Write out the concept clearly, then show step-by-step how it explains the specific situation.
P1 — Section C
Section C
SL weight
~15% of final grade (SL)
HL weight
~10.7% of final grade (HL)
Marks
15 marks
Core skill
Evaluation + Depth
A 15-mark extended essay requiring deep engagement with a concept across multiple studies and theories. You must demonstrate knowledge (AO1), application to a context (AO2), and critical evaluation (AO3). This component demands the most background knowledge of any Paper 1 section — you need to know concepts, theories, and studies well enough to evaluate their strengths and limitations.
Prep strategy
Build a 'concept toolkit' for each major concept (bias, ethics, validity, reductionism). For each, know 2–3 studies, 2 evaluation points, and how the concept applies across approaches.
P2 — Section A
Section A
SL weight
~20% of final grade (SL)
HL weight
~14.3% of final grade (HL)
Marks
20 marks
Core skill
Recall + Application (known study)
Four structured questions about your own class practical. The first two questions are recall and application (AO1/AO2 — describe the study, apply a concept). Questions 3 and 4 require compare-and-contrast and study design skills. Because the study is your own, preparation is highly predictable.
Prep strategy
Know your class practical inside out: aim, procedure, results, and limitations. Practise all four question types using your own study as the source.
P2 — Section B
Section B
SL weight
~15% of final grade (SL)
HL weight
~10.7% of final grade (HL)
Marks
15 marks
Core skill
Evaluation + Breadth (unseen)
A 15-mark essay evaluating an unseen study using 2+ specified concepts (bias, causality, measurement, responsibility, perspective, change). Unlike P1C, you do not need deep background knowledge of theories — the study is provided. The skill is on-the-spot evaluation with breadth: applying multiple concepts to the same study clearly and critically.
Prep strategy
Master the six evaluation concepts. Practise applying each to unfamiliar studies. Focus on breadth — touching multiple concepts — rather than depth on one.
Paper 3 (HL only)
HL only
SL weight
—
HL weight
30%
Marks
30 marks
Core skill
Methodology + Statistical Validity
Four structured questions based on an unseen source-based study (with a resource booklet). Q1 (3 marks): identify a research method. Q2 (6 marks): analyse quantitative data. Q3 (6 marks): evaluate credibility or methodology. Q4 (15 marks): synthesise sources to evaluate a claim. This paper is unique: it tests your ability to read and critique sources you have never seen, drawing on knowledge of research methods, statistics, sampling, ethics, and validity.
Prep strategy
Revise all qualitative research methods (interviews, observations, case studies), validity types, sampling strategies, and ethical considerations. Practise reading short studies and identifying methodological strengths and weaknesses.
Internal Assessment
Internal Assessment
SL weight
30%
HL weight
20%
Marks
24 marks
Core skill
Research Design + Proposal Writing
A written research proposal (approx. 2,000–2,200 words) in a topic of interest. You must justify your design choices, describe your procedure, and discuss ethical considerations. Unlike all exam papers, the IA is completed over time and is teacher-marked and moderated by the IB. It rewards careful planning and precise academic writing rather than exam performance under pressure.
Prep strategy
Choose a topic that is well-researched, and has gaps in them. Write a clear, structured proposal covering: introduction (theory + aim), method (design, participants, procedure, ethics), and expected results. Cite correctly.
What Overlaps — and What Is Unique
Understanding the relationships between components helps you plan revision efficiently. Some skills are shared; others are genuinely component-specific.
P1 Section A ↔ P2 Section A — Recall and Application
Both sections reward memorisation and accurate application of concepts. The core preparation is the same: know your key studies, definitions, and findings. The difference is that P2A is based on your own class practical (highly predictable), while P1A spans all approaches and contexts (broader but still recall-heavy). Preparing P1A well means you already have the recall skills for P2A.
P1 Section C ↔ P2 Section B — Evaluation, but Different Demands
Both are 15-mark essays requiring evaluation (AO3), but they test it in fundamentally different ways. P1C (Concepts in Context) requires depth: you must bring in your own knowledge of theories, studies, and concepts to evaluate a psychological issue — the more background knowledge you have, the better. P2B (Unseen Study) requires breadth: the study is given to you, so you do not need prior knowledge of it. Instead, you apply multiple evaluation concepts (bias, causality, measurement, etc.) across the same study. P1C rewards preparation; P2B rewards analytical flexibility.
P2 Section B ↔ Paper 3 (HL) — Critiquing Unseen Studies
Both require evaluating an unseen study, but Paper 3 goes further: it focuses specifically on research methodology, validity of claims, and statistical reasoning. P2B asks you to evaluate using conceptual lenses (bias, causality, etc.); P3 asks you to evaluate using methodological lenses (sampling, validity threats, credibility). HL students who prepare P3 well will find their P2B evaluation becomes sharper and more precise.
Paper 3 (HL) ↔ IA — Research Methods Knowledge
Paper 3 and the IA share the deepest overlap of any two components. Both require strong knowledge of research design, ethics, validity, and methodology. The IA asks you to design a study; Paper 3 asks you to critique one. These are two sides of the same coin. HL students who complete their IA carefully will find Paper 3 significantly easier — and vice versa.
What Is Genuinely Unique to Each Component
P1 Section B
Pure application to a stimulus scenario — no evaluation required. The only component where AO2 is the sole focus.
P1 Section C
Depth of background knowledge: you must bring in your own theories, studies, and concepts. No other component rewards this as directly.
P2 Section A
The only component based entirely on your own class practical. Preparation is uniquely predictable.
Paper 3 (HL)
Statistical and methodological validity of claims. No other component tests quantitative reasoning or statistical literacy.
Internal Assessment
Academic proposal writing and research design from scratch. The only component completed over time rather than under exam conditions.
Assessment Objectives (AOs) Explained
IB Psychology has three Assessment Objectives. Every mark awarded in any component maps to one of these. Knowing which AO a question targets tells you exactly what the examiner is looking for.
Knowledge and Understanding
- A range of psychological concepts, content and contexts including theories, models and examples.
- Biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches to understanding human behaviour.
- Research methodology for understanding human behaviour.
Application and Analysis
- Explain and formulate arguments in response to a specific question or prompt using relevant/appropriate concepts and psychological research.
- Apply and analyse a range of psychological theories and models.
- Apply and analyse knowledge relevant to psychology in a variety of contexts.
- HL only: Interpret data to draw conclusions for experimental and non-experimental research.
Synthesis and Evaluation
- Evaluate psychological theories and research.
- Draw conclusions from different types of evidence.
- Justify a position and critique claims.
- Discuss how psychological concepts interact.
- Design a study to investigate a research question.
- HL only: Draw conclusions about the influence of culture, motivation and technology on human behaviour.
Source: IB Psychology Guide (first assessment 2027).