Paper structure exam tips

Exam tips

• Plan for long‑term retention

  Use spaced repetition and regular self‑testing throughout the year to build lasting knowledge.

  Linear exams test integrated understanding, so sustained study is more effective than last‑minute cramming.

• Plan a study timetable that aligns with the end-of-course exam schedule

  Create a long-term study plan that allocates time for each topic, reviews, and practice exams, ensuring steady progress toward the final assessment.

  A linear qualification requires sustained effort; a structured timetable helps maintain momentum and reduces last‑minute cramming.

• Time management for Paper 1

  Allocate 30 minutes to planning and 90 minutes to answering questions, ensuring you cover all sections and leave time for review.

  Effective time allocation helps students address the breadth of topics within the 2‑hour window and reduces the risk of rushing through questions.

• Use the 3-Step Model of Social Influence

  When answering questions, structure your response by first describing the type of influence (information, normative, compliance), then giving an example, and finally evaluating its effectiveness.

  This approach ensures coverage of key concepts, demonstrates understanding, and helps you allocate marks efficiently.

• Marking strategy for Section B

  Plan answers to cover all subtopics and allocate marks accordingly.

  Ensures you meet the 24‑mark requirement and demonstrate breadth of knowledge.

• Use the Specification as a Checklist

  Before writing, list the key points the specification demands for attachment: definition, theories, research methods, and implications.

  This ensures you cover all required content and helps you allocate marks efficiently.

• Use the PEEL Structure for Extended Answers

  Begin with a clear point, provide evidence, explain the relevance, and link back to the question.

  PEEL ensures answers are coherent, evidence‑based and directly address the assessment objective, helping to secure higher marks.

• Use the mark scheme to guide your answers

  Read the question carefully, identify the type, and structure your answer accordingly, ensuring you cover all required elements to maximise marks.

  Aligning your response with the mark scheme helps you allocate time and content to the aspects that carry the most marks.

• Time allocation strategy

  Allocate 30 minutes to Section A and 90 minutes to Section B, reviewing answers in the final 10 minutes.

  Paper 2’s structure and marking scheme require focused time management to maximise marks.

• Use precise terminology

  When answering, explicitly state whether you are referring to an approach, a theory, or a method, and give a brief definition to show understanding.

  This demonstrates depth of knowledge and helps the examiner see that you can distinguish between the different levels of explanation in psychology.