Paper 3 (HL Only) Guidance (DP IB Psychology): Revision Note

Paper 3 (HL) only guidance

• Paper 3 is taken by HL Psychology students only

• You will be given 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete Paper 3

• Paper 3 is weighted at 30% for HL

• Paper 3 is worth 30 marks in total

Structure

• Paper 3 consists of:

  • Three compulsory short-answer questions (SAQs)

  • One compulsory extended-response question (ERQ)

• Research methods are assessed throughout Paper 3

• The exam includes:

  • Source 1 (usually a graph or table) used only for Question 1

  • A source booklet with 3–5 short research summaries (quantitative and qualitative)

• Each Paper 3 is built around a single claim, viewed through one HL extension and applied to a context.

• HL extensions:

  • Culture

  • Motivation

  • Technology

• Contexts:

  • Health and wellbeing

  • Human development

  • Human relationships

  • Learning and cognition

• E.g., Technology in education may negatively affect student mental health

  • The extension here is technology and the context is Health & Wellbeing

Short-answer questions (SAQs)

• Paper consists of three compulsory SAQs based on a claim and research sources

  • Question 1 is worth 3 marks

  • Questions 2 and 3 are worth 6 marks each

  • The SAQs are worth a total of 15 marks

• The examiners are looking for:

  • how well you interpret quantitative and qualitative data

  • how well you apply research methods to the claim being investigated

  • how well you analyse and evaluate the credibility of findings

Example questions

• Explain one issue that limits the interpretation of the data in source 1 [3 marks]

• Analyse the findings from source 2 and state a conclusion linked to the claim that the use of technology in education may have a negative effect on the mental health of students [6 marks]

• Discuss how the researcher could improve the credibility of the findings in source 3 [6 marks]

Extended-response question (ERQ)

• Paper 3 consists of one compulsory ERQ based on the claim and sources

  • The ERQ is worth 15 marks

• The examiners are looking for

  • how well you can critically evaluate and synthesise ideas

  • how well you can support your argument using your own knowledge plus at least three of Sources 2–5

  • a balanced essay structure that demonstrates clear reasoning and integration of evidence

Example question

• To what extent can we conclude that the use of technology in education may have a negative effect on the mental health of students? In your answer, use your own knowledge and at least three of sources 2–5 [15 marks]