100+ Free IB Psychology SL Practice Questions
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The amygdala is most strongly linked to processing which type of emotion?
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Key Facts: IB Psychology SL Exam
50%
Paper 1 weighting (approaches)
IB Psychology subject guide
25%
Internal Assessment weighting
IB Psychology subject guide
150 hours
Recommended teaching time at SL
IB Psychology SL guide
100
Free practice questions here
OpenExamPrep
IB Psychology SL is assessed by Paper 1 (3 SAQs + 1 essay across biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches, 2 hours, 50%), Paper 2 (1 essay from a chosen option, 1 hour, 25%) and an Internal Assessment replication of a published study (25%). Students must support every approach with named studies, research methods and ethical considerations.
Sample IB Psychology SL Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your IB Psychology SL exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which brain area is most associated with speech production, where damage causes non-fluent, effortful speech?
2The famous patient HM, studied by Milner (1957), had which structure removed bilaterally to treat epilepsy?
3Maguire et al. (2000) used MRI to show that London taxi drivers had a larger ______ compared with controls.
4Which of the following best illustrates neuroplasticity?
5Which neurotransmitter is most strongly implicated in reward, motivation and the action of stimulant drugs?
6Which hormone, released by the adrenal cortex, is most associated with the body's chronic stress response?
7Oxytocin is most associated with which behaviour?
8Which technique uses radioactive tracers to map metabolic activity in the brain?
9fMRI measures brain activity by detecting changes in:
10Which type of neuron carries impulses from sensory receptors towards the central nervous system?
About the IB Psychology SL Exam
IB Diploma Psychology Standard Level is a Group 3 (Individuals and Societies) course that studies behaviour through three core approaches — biological, cognitive and sociocultural — together with research methods, ethics, and one chosen option (Abnormal, Developmental, Health, or Human Relationships psychology). Assessment combines Paper 1 (short-answer questions plus one essay across the three approaches), Paper 2 (one essay on the chosen option) and an Internal Assessment replication study.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Paper 1: 2 hours, Paper 2: 1 hour, plus Internal Assessment
Passing Score
Grade 4 commonly used as a pass; grades 1-7 awarded (7 highest)
Exam Fee
School-set entry fee (varies by school and country) (International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO))
IB Psychology SL Exam Content Outline
Biological approach to behaviour
Localisation of brain function (motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, Broca's area for speech production, Wernicke's area for comprehension, hippocampus for memory consolidation, amygdala for fear); HM case study (Milner 1957), Maguire 2000 London taxi drivers, Draganski 2004 neuroplasticity; neurons (sensory, motor, relay), synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, GABA); hormones (cortisol, adrenaline, oxytocin, testosterone); genetics, twin and adoption studies; evolutionary explanations; animal research ethics; brain imaging (CT, MRI, fMRI, PET)
Cognitive approach to behaviour
Multi-Store Model (Atkinson & Shiffrin 1968: sensory, STM 7+/-2 chunks for 18 seconds, unlimited LTM), Working Memory Model (Baddeley & Hitch 1974 with central executive, phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, episodic buffer added 2000); LTM types (episodic, semantic, procedural); schema theory (Bartlett 1932 War of the Ghosts); reconstructive memory and eyewitness testimony (Loftus & Palmer 1974 leading questions, Loftus 1979 weapon focus, Geiselman cognitive interview); dual processing theory (Kahneman System 1 vs System 2); cognitive biases (confirmation, anchoring, availability, representativeness); emotion and cognition (Brown & Kulik 1977 flashbulb memory)
Sociocultural approach to behaviour
Social Identity Theory (Tajfel 1979: social categorisation, identification, comparison; minimal group paradigm); conformity (Asch 1951 line task, normative vs informational influence); obedience (Milgram 1963 65% to 450V, agentic state, legitimate authority); bystander effect (Latane & Darley 1968 diffusion of responsibility); social learning theory (Bandura 1961 Bobo doll, vicarious reinforcement); Hofstede cultural dimensions (individualism vs collectivism, power distance, masculinity vs femininity); culture and behaviour (Berry 1967); acculturation and enculturation; stereotypes (formation, confirmation bias, self-fulfilling prophecy, stereotype threat — Steele & Aronson 1995)
Research methods, ethics and one option
Experimental designs (true, quasi, natural, lab vs field, IV/DV/EV/CV/confounding), correlational studies, case studies, observation (naturalistic vs structured, covert vs overt, participant vs non-participant), interviews and questionnaires, quantitative vs qualitative data, sampling (random, opportunity, volunteer, snowball, stratified, systematic, quota), reliability (test-retest, inter-rater), validity (internal, external, construct, ecological), triangulation, BPS-style ethics (informed consent, deception, debriefing, right to withdraw, protection from harm, confidentiality), animal ethics. One option in depth — e.g. Abnormal Psychology: definitions of abnormality (statistical infrequency, deviation from social norms, failure to function adequately, deviation from ideal mental health), DSM-5-TR vs ICD-11, depression (Beck negative triad), anxiety, OCD, treatments (SSRIs, CBT, mindfulness)
How to Pass the IB Psychology SL Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Grade 4 commonly used as a pass; grades 1-7 awarded (7 highest)
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Paper 1: 2 hours, Paper 2: 1 hour, plus Internal Assessment
- Exam fee: School-set entry fee (varies by school and country)
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 SL Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How is IB Psychology SL assessed?
IB Psychology SL is assessed by Paper 1 (3 short-answer questions plus 1 essay across biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches, 2 hours, 50% of the grade), Paper 2 (1 essay on a chosen option, 1 hour, 25%), and an Internal Assessment replication of a published experimental study (25%).
What are the three approaches in IB Psychology?
IB Psychology is built around three approaches to understanding behaviour: the biological approach (brain, neurotransmitters, hormones, genetics), the cognitive approach (memory models, schema, thinking and decision-making) and the sociocultural approach (social identity, conformity, obedience, cultural dimensions).
What is the difference between IB Psychology SL and HL?
HL covers everything in SL plus three HL extensions (one for each approach) and a second option for Paper 2, with longer papers and the addition of Paper 3 on qualitative research methods. SL is 150 teaching hours, HL is 240 hours.
Which option should I choose for Paper 2?
SL students study one of four options for Paper 2: Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Health Psychology, or the Psychology of Human Relationships. Teachers usually pick the option as a class because it shapes lessons and the IA topic.