IB Psychology: the syllabus, approaches, the IA and ERQ strategy
A guide to IB Psychology: the biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches, HL extensions, the experimental IA and how to structure extended response questions (ERQs).
IB Psychology is a group 3 subject that studies behaviour through three complementary approaches and a set of research methods. Its marks hinge on using well-chosen studies as evidence and structuring extended response questions (ERQs) tightly. Success in the Diploma Programme comes from evaluating studies, not just describing them. For one-to-one support see IB Psychology tutoring.
The three approaches
- Biological: how physiology, genetics and the brain shape behaviour.
- Cognitive: how mental processes such as memory and decision-making work, including the reliability of cognition.
- Sociocultural: how groups, culture and social context influence behaviour.
Research methodology and ethics run across all three, and HL adds extensions (for example the role of research in each approach) plus a dedicated HL topic on approaches to research.
HL vs SL
HL and SL share the three approaches and an option topic; HL studies the extensions in more depth and answers an additional paper on qualitative and quantitative research methods. HL therefore rewards a firm grasp of methodology and evaluation.
The Internal Assessment
The Psychology IA is a report on a simple experimental study that replicates part of an established piece of research. Marks come from a sound rationale, correct handling of the method and results, and a discussion that links findings back to the original study — not from an ambitious design. Keep the manipulation simple and the analysis clean.
ERQ strategy
- Answer the command term: "discuss", "evaluate" and "contrast" require different structures; plan to the verb.
- Use two or three well-known studies: depth of evaluation beats a long list of thinly described studies.
- Evaluate the research: methodological strengths and limitations, and links between findings and the claim, are where top-band marks sit.
- Signpost clearly: a short introduction defining the terms and a clear line through the essay protects the organisation marks.