Psychology at BGS from 2025

Content

IB Psychology is about to change to a new specification. Early indications are that it will be an interactive, hands-on sort of course with the emphasis on research and applications. Details are yet to be confirmed, but we’re expecting the following content:

Health and well-being

• This includes focusing on mental health and general health conditions

Human development

• This includes how the brain develops, how thinking changes, and how culture shapes us

Human relationships

• This includes personal relationships, intergroup interactions, and communication

Learning and cognition

• This includes how the brain changes when we learn, different thinking systems, and biases in thinking

All of the above will be considered from different perspectives - biological, cognitive and sociocultural - and with an eye on the different research methods that psychologists employ to investigate behaviour.

Higher Level students will also look at these topics through what the IB calls ‘lenses’: culture, technology and motivation. While all students will study research methods and data collection, HL students will be separately assessed on their ability to interpret data from psychological research.

Internal assessment (coursework)

All students will put together a detailed research proposal, describing an investigation they would like to conduct and analysing their idea to identify potential limitations. This will be worth 30% for SL students and 20% for HL students.

Class practicals

These are built into the new course, meaning that you will conduct at least four studies in class, using four different research methods, from planning through to analysis and evaluation.

Assessment

The remainder of the course not covered by the internal assessment will be assessed by exam: two for SL students, three for HL students. You will be tested on your knowledge of basic psychological content, and your understanding of the subject will be assessed through questions that require you to apply your knowledge to specific contexts.

Higher level students have a separate data interpretation paper.

Further information can be found here

Subject Requirements

Students must achieve the school’s entry requirements for the Sixth Form. The high level of written assessment and Science content means students should have at least a grade 6 in English Language and in Double Science. Please note that having a GCSE in Psychology is not required to study IB Psychology.