Paper structure common mistakes

Common mistakes

• Misidentifying Section B

  Labeling Section B as Social or Cognitive psychology.

  Fix itSection B is specifically the biopsychology section and should be identified as such in all answers.

• Confusing Section Names

  Students often mix up the names of the Paper 2 sections, writing that Section C is about psychological approaches instead of research methods.

  Fix itUse the exact wording from the specification: Section C – Research Methods. Re‑check the paper outline before answering to avoid this error.

• Misunderstanding the length of short answer questions

  Assuming short answer requires a paragraph.

  Fix itShort answer questions are usually 1–2 sentences and carry 1 mark.

• Misjudging Paper 3’s weight

  Assuming Paper 3 is worth 50 % of the A‑level instead of 33.3 %.

  Fix itRemember that Paper 3 contributes one third of the total mark, not half.

• Treating Section A as optional

  Assuming students can skip Section A or that it is not essential for the final grade.

  Fix itSection A is compulsory and accounts for 24 marks; all candidates must answer its questions.

• Confusing correlation with causation

  Assuming that a correlation between attachment style and relationship satisfaction proves a causal link.

  Fix itExplain that correlation does not imply causation; experimental manipulation or longitudinal data are required to infer causality.

• Choosing more than one topic from Option 2

  Students sometimes attempt to answer questions on multiple topics from Option 2.

  Fix itOnly one topic may be selected; attempting to cover more than one will result in a loss of marks.

• Confusing aggression with violence

  Students often equate aggression with violence, ignoring non‑violent forms such as verbal or relational aggression.

  Fix itClarify that aggression includes a spectrum of behaviours, from verbal threats to physical harm, and that violence is only one manifestation.

• Assuming Paper 3 is identical to Paper 1

  Students often treat Paper 3 as a repetition of Paper 1, overlooking the inclusion of extended writing.

  Fix itReview the specification to confirm that Paper 3 contains all three question types and plan revision accordingly.