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100+ Free IB Psychology HL Practice Questions

Pass your International Baccalaureate Psychology Higher Level exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Steele and Aronson (1995) found that highlighting race before a difficult verbal test reduced African American participants' scores. This finding is interpreted as:

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Key Facts: IB Psychology HL Exam

1-7

IB grading scale

IBO Diploma Programme

240 hours

Recommended HL teaching time

IB Psychology subject guide

5 hours

Total written exam time (Papers 1+2+3)

IB Psychology subject guide

20%

Internal Assessment weighting

IB Psychology subject guide

3 approaches

Biological, cognitive, sociocultural

IB Psychology subject guide

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

IB Psychology HL is the 240-hour Higher Level option in IB Diploma Group 3. Three approaches (biological, cognitive, sociocultural) plus HL extensions and two options are assessed by three exam papers (5h total) and a 20% IA experimental study, graded 1-7.

Sample IB Psychology HL Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your IB Psychology HL exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of Maguire's (2000) findings best supports neuroplasticity in the human brain?
A.London taxi drivers had a larger posterior hippocampus than controls
B.Patient H.M. could not form new long-term memories after surgery
C.Phineas Gage's personality changed after a frontal lobe injury
D.Wernicke's area is responsible for language comprehension
Explanation: Maguire's MRI study found that London taxi drivers, who memorise the city layout, had more posterior hippocampal grey matter than controls — and volume correlated with years of driving. This demonstrates structural neuroplasticity in response to environmental demands.
2Antonova et al. (2011) gave scopolamine to participants in a virtual reality 'Arena' task. What was the main finding?
A.Scopolamine reduced hippocampal activation and impaired spatial memory
B.Scopolamine increased dopamine release and improved memory
C.Scopolamine had no effect because the blood-brain barrier blocked it
D.Scopolamine only affected female participants
Explanation: Scopolamine is a muscarinic acetylcholine antagonist. Antonova found that participants given scopolamine showed reduced hippocampal activation on fMRI and were less able to form spatial memories in the Arena task, supporting the role of acetylcholine in spatial memory encoding.
3Which HL biological extension topic does Newcomer et al. (1999) most directly illustrate?
A.Hormones (cortisol) and behaviour — declarative memory impairment under stress doses
B.Pheromones and partner choice
C.Genetics and intelligence concordance
D.Neuroplasticity following environmental enrichment
Explanation: Newcomer gave participants cortisol at low, high (stress-equivalent) or placebo doses across 4 days and tested verbal declarative memory. The high-cortisol group recalled significantly less, demonstrating that elevated cortisol impairs hippocampal-dependent memory.
4In Kosfeld et al.'s (2005) trust game, what effect did intranasal oxytocin have on investors?
A.Investors transferred significantly more money to the trustee than placebo participants
B.Investors became more risk-averse and transferred less money
C.Investors transferred the same amount but felt more anxious
D.Investors only trusted same-sex trustees
Explanation: Kosfeld found that participants given a nasal spray of oxytocin made larger monetary transfers to trustees in an economic trust game than placebo controls — but not in a risk task without a human partner. This supports a role for oxytocin in interpersonal trust specifically.
5Ditzen et al. (2009) administered intranasal oxytocin to couples discussing marital conflict. What did the study find?
A.Couples receiving oxytocin showed more positive communication behaviour and lower cortisol
B.Oxytocin caused couples to argue more aggressively
C.Oxytocin had no behavioural effect during conflict
D.Only women's cortisol levels were affected
Explanation: Compared with placebo, couples given intranasal oxytocin showed more positive communication behaviour during a conflict discussion and lower salivary cortisol afterwards. This supports a stress-buffering and pro-social role for oxytocin in close relationships.
6Dabbs et al. (1995) measured salivary testosterone in 692 male prison inmates. What was the main result?
A.Higher-testosterone inmates had more violent crimes and rule violations
B.Testosterone was unrelated to crime category
C.Higher testosterone was linked to lower aggression
D.Testosterone correlated with intelligence, not aggression
Explanation: Inmates with higher salivary testosterone were over-represented among those convicted of personal/violent crimes and showed more prison rule violations than low-testosterone inmates. The correlational design cannot establish causation but supports a testosterone-aggression link.
7Wedekind's (1995) 't-shirt' study is most often cited as evidence for which HL biological topic?
A.Pheromones / MHC compatibility and partner choice
B.Cortisol-induced memory loss
C.Heritability of schizophrenia
D.Epigenetic inheritance of trauma
Explanation: Wedekind asked women to rate the odour of t-shirts worn by men and found that women preferred odours of men whose major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes were dissimilar to their own — interpreted as evidence for MHC-based mate choice and putative human pheromonal signalling.
8Why is human pheromonal communication considered scientifically controversial?
A.No human vomeronasal organ has been confirmed as functional and putative compounds (AND, EST) show inconsistent effects
B.Humans definitely lack any olfactory system
C.All studies confirm a strong pheromone effect — there is no controversy
D.Pheromones only work in females, never in males
Explanation: The accessory (vomeronasal) organ used by many mammals to detect pheromones is vestigial in adult humans, and candidate compounds such as androstadienone (AND) and estratetraenol (EST) have produced mixed and often non-replicated behavioural effects, leaving the concept contested.
9Twin studies of schizophrenia typically report which approximate monozygotic concordance rate?
A.About 40-50%
B.About 10%
C.About 90%
D.Exactly 100%
Explanation: Meta-analyses (e.g., Gottesman) place monozygotic twin concordance for schizophrenia at roughly 40-50%, versus around 10-15% in dizygotic twins. The shortfall from 100% in identical twins shows that environmental factors also contribute and that schizophrenia is not purely genetic.
10What does a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) actually do?
A.Scans the whole genome for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) statistically linked to a trait or disorder
B.Sequences only the mitochondrial genome of one twin pair
C.Edits genes using CRISPR-Cas9 in living patients
D.Measures the heritability of a behaviour using adoption designs only
Explanation: GWAS compares millions of single-nucleotide polymorphisms across thousands of cases and controls to identify SNPs whose frequency differs significantly between groups, suggesting genetic loci associated with the trait. Individual SNP effects are usually small.

About the IB Psychology HL Exam

IB Psychology Higher Level is the Group 3 (Individuals and Societies) systematic study of behaviour and mental processes, built around three approaches — biological, cognitive and sociocultural — and supported by research methods and ethical considerations. HL extends the SL course with three HL extension topics for each approach (hormones/pheromones/genetics; digital technology and cognition; globalisation and behaviour), a second option studied in depth, and an additional Paper 3 on qualitative research methods. Assessment is via Paper 1 (2h SAQ + extended-response essays on the three approaches plus HL extensions, 35%), Paper 2 (2h essays across two options, 25%), Paper 3 (1h SAQ on an unseen qualitative study, 20% — HL only) and an Internal Assessment experimental study (20%).

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

5 hours total (Paper 1: 2h, Paper 2: 2h, Paper 3: 1h)

Passing Score

Grade 4 standard pass on 1-7 scale; final grade combines three papers (80%) and the Internal Assessment (20%)

Exam Fee

Set by school; IB subject registration fees typically USD 119 per subject (International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO))

IB Psychology HL Exam Content Outline

Paper 1 (35%)

Biological approach to behaviour + HL extension

Brain and behaviour (localisation, neuroplasticity Maguire 2000 taxi drivers, neurotransmitters and behaviour Antonova 2011 scopolamine); hormones and behaviour at HL — cortisol and stress (Newcomer 1999), oxytocin and trust/bonding (Kosfeld 2005 trust game, Ditzen 2009 marital conflict), testosterone and aggression (Dabbs 1995); pheromones and behaviour controversy (MHC and partner choice — Wedekind 1995 t-shirt study, putative human pheromones AND/EST evidence); genetics and behaviour at HL — concordance rates in twin studies for schizophrenia/depression/intelligence, GWAS, epigenetics (Caspi 2003 5-HTT and depression)

Paper 1 (35%)

Cognitive approach to behaviour + HL extension

Multi-store model (Glanzer and Cunitz 1966), working memory model (Baddeley and Hitch 1974), schema theory (Bartlett 1932 War of the Ghosts), thinking and decision-making (dual-process theory — Kahneman System 1/System 2, anchoring), reconstructive memory and reliability (Loftus and Palmer 1974, misinformation effect), emotion and cognition (flashbulb memories — Brown and Kulik 1977, Sharot 2007 9/11 amygdala); HL digital technology and cognitive processes — social media and attention, multitasking and memory (Sparrow 2011 Google effect), positive and negative effects of modern tech on cognition, gaming and cognitive development, methods used to study cognition with tech

Paper 1 (35%)

Sociocultural approach to behaviour + HL extension

Social identity theory (Tajfel 1971 minimal group paradigm), social cognitive theory (Bandura 1961 Bobo doll), stereotype formation and effects (Steele and Aronson 1995 stereotype threat); culture and behaviour, cultural dimensions in cross-cultural research (Hofstede — individualism/collectivism, power distance), enculturation, emic vs etic approaches (Berry); HL globalisation and behaviour — acculturation using Berry's 4-fold model (integration, assimilation, separation, marginalisation), effects of globalisation on identity, gender and attitudes, influence of globalisation on individual behaviour through media, role of social media in globalised behaviour

Paper 2 (25%)

Options (one studied in depth at HL)

One option studied — Abnormal Psychology (factors influencing diagnosis, etiology of disorders such as major depressive disorder, treatments — biological, cognitive (CBT), sociocultural — and assessing effectiveness; prevalence rates), Developmental Psychology (Piaget stages and critiques, Vygotsky ZPD and scaffolding, attachment Bowlby/Ainsworth Strange Situation, identity formation Erikson and Marcia, gender development), Health Psychology (determinants of health, stress models — Lazarus and Folkman, health problems such as obesity/addiction, health promotion), or Human Relationships (formation/maintenance/end of relationships, group dynamics, prejudice and discrimination)

Paper 3 (20%)

Qualitative research methods (HL only)

Qualitative methods — semi-structured interviews, focus groups, naturalistic observation (overt/covert, participant/non-participant), case studies; qualitative data analysis — inductive thematic analysis, coding; quality criteria — credibility (instead of validity), transferability (instead of generalisability), dependability (instead of reliability), confirmability (instead of objectivity); reflexivity (personal and epistemological); researcher bias and triangulation (method/data/researcher/theory); sampling — purposive, theoretical, snowball; ethical considerations — informed consent, anonymity/confidentiality, debriefing, withdrawal in qualitative research

IA (20%)

Internal Assessment

Experimental study: students conduct a simple experimental replication of a published study, write a 1,800-2,200 word report assessed against criteria for introduction, exposition, analysis and evaluation. Worth 20% of the final grade for both SL and HL Psychology

How to Pass the IB Psychology HL Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade 4 standard pass on 1-7 scale; final grade combines three papers (80%) and the Internal Assessment (20%)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 5 hours total (Paper 1: 2h, Paper 2: 2h, Paper 3: 1h)
  • Exam fee: Set by school; IB subject registration fees typically USD 119 per subject

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

IB Psychology HL Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorise 2-3 key studies per topic with aim/method/results/conclusion — Paper 1 and Paper 2 essays demand named study evidence, not generalisations
2Learn the HL extension topics (hormones/pheromones/genetics, digital tech and cognition, globalisation) — they generate dedicated essay prompts on Paper 1
3Practice the PEEL paragraph structure (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) and embed critical thinking (cultural bias, reductionism, ethics, methodology) inside every paragraph
4Drill Paper 3 qualitative-methods vocabulary — credibility/transferability/dependability/confirmability replace validity/generalisability/reliability/objectivity
5Use past papers from the current syllabus (May 2019 onwards) and time-box: 22-minute SAQs and 45-minute ERQs map to Paper 1 marks

Frequently Asked Questions

How is IB Psychology HL different from IB Psychology SL?

HL has 240 teaching hours versus 150 for SL. HL adds an HL extension topic to each of the three approaches (hormones/pheromones/genetics for biological; digital technology and cognition for cognitive; globalisation for sociocultural), studies one option in depth (vs essentially the same option content at SL), and adds Paper 3 — a 1-hour exam on an unseen qualitative research methods case study. SL skips Paper 3.

What are the exam papers in IB Psychology HL?

Paper 1 (2 hours, 35%) covers the three approaches plus HL extensions with short-answer questions and one extended-response essay. Paper 2 (2 hours, 25%) is two extended-response essays on one studied option. Paper 3 (1 hour, 20%) is HL-only and asks three short-answer questions on an unseen qualitative research study. The Internal Assessment experimental study is the remaining 20%.

What are the three approaches in IB Psychology?

The three approaches are biological (brain, hormones, genetics), cognitive (memory, thinking, decision-making, reliability of cognition, emotion and cognition) and sociocultural (social identity theory, social cognitive theory, stereotypes, culture). HL students additionally cover one HL extension topic per approach: hormones/pheromones/genetics, digital technology and cognition, and globalisation and behaviour.

How is IB Psychology HL graded?

Each subject is graded on a 1-7 scale, with 7 the highest. A 4 is generally considered a pass. Grades are determined by combining marks from Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 and the Internal Assessment against grade boundaries set after each session. Top university psychology programmes typically expect a 6 or 7 in HL Psychology.

What is Paper 3 in IB Psychology HL?

Paper 3 is a 1-hour HL-only exam (20% of the grade) presenting an unseen qualitative research case study (about 800 words). Students answer three short-answer questions assessing knowledge of qualitative methods, sampling, ethics, credibility, generalisability and reflexivity. SL students do not sit Paper 3.