Free Practice Questions for National 5 Psychology
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Key Facts: National 5 Psychology Exam
A-D
Grading scale (no award below D)
Qualifications Scotland
70 + 30
Question paper marks plus assignment
N5 Psychology Course Specification
2 hours
Question paper duration
Qualifications Scotland
100
Free practice questions here
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Qualifications Scotland National 5 Psychology is assessed through one 2-hour written question paper (70 marks, 70% of the award) plus a 30-mark assignment. The three main course areas — Research Methods, Individual Behaviour, and Social Behaviour — are graded A-D on the 2026 specification.
Sample National 5 Psychology Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the National 5 Psychology exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1In a psychological experiment, the variable that is deliberately manipulated by the researcher is called the:
2The factor that is measured by a researcher to see the effect of the manipulated condition is known as the:
3Which of the following best describes an extraneous variable?
4A clear, precise, and testable statement predicting the relationship between variables is called a:
5Data expressed in numerical form, such as test scores or reaction times, is known as:
6Information gathered through open-ended questions describing participants' personal thoughts or feelings is called:
7Which ethical guideline requires participants to agree to take part in research after being informed of its nature and purpose?
8Selecting participants based on who is available and willing to take part at the time of the study is called:
9In research methodology, a random sample is defined as a sampling technique where:
10In a set of data scores, the value that occurs most frequently is called the:
About the National 5 Psychology Exam
National 5 Psychology (course code C863 75) is a Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 5 qualification offered by Qualifications Scotland. The course covers Research Methods, Individual Behaviour (Sleep, Dreams, and Memory), and Social Behaviour (Conformity, Obedience, Prejudice, and Discrimination), assessed through a 2-hour question paper worth 70 marks plus an externally marked assignment worth 30 marks.
Exam sponsor: Qualifications Scotland (formerly SQA). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
Question paper 2 hours; the assignment is written up separately
Passing Score
Graded A-D, with No Award below D. Notional grade boundaries are 50% of the total course assessment marks for a C, 70% for an A and 85% for an upper A; final boundaries are set each year at awarding meetings after marking.
Exam / Certification Fees
No candidate fee is published by Qualifications Scotland: entry fees are invoiced to the presenting centre, so school and college candidates in Scotland are not charged. Private candidates must arrange an approved presenting centre, which sets its own charge.
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Research Methods
Aims, hypotheses, experimental design (independent/repeated measures, lab/field), variables (IV, DV, extraneous), sampling techniques, ethical guidelines (consent, deception, harm, debriefing), data analysis (qualitative vs quantitative, descriptive statistics)
Individual Behaviour
Sleep and dreams (restoration theory, REM/NREM, Freud wish fulfillment, insomnia) and Memory (Multi-Store Model, Atkinson-Shiffrin sensory/STM/LTM, Loftus & Palmer eye-witness testimony)
Social Behaviour
Conformity & obedience (Asch line experiment, Milgram shock study, Zimbardo prison experiment, factors affecting conformity/obedience) and Prejudice & discrimination (causes, Social Identity Theory, Realistic Conflict Theory, reduction strategies)
Preparing for the National 5 Psychology Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Graded A-D, with No Award below D. Notional grade boundaries are 50% of the total course assessment marks for a C, 70% for an A and 85% for an upper A; final boundaries are set each year at awarding meetings after marking.
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: Question paper 2 hours; the assignment is written up separately
- Exam / certification fees: No candidate fee is published by Qualifications Scotland: entry fees are invoiced to the presenting centre, so school and college candidates in Scotland are not charged. Private candidates must arrange an approved presenting centre, which sets its own charge. Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
National 5 Psychology: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
Who awards National 5 Psychology?
National 5 Psychology is awarded by Qualifications Scotland, the public body that replaced the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) on 1 February 2026. The course code is C863 75.
How is National 5 Psychology assessed?
Assessment is by one external question paper of 70 marks lasting 2 hours, made up of four sections (two worth 20 marks and two worth 15 marks), plus a 30-mark externally marked assignment of 800-1200 words completed in school.
What grades are available at National 5?
National 5 courses are graded A, B, C, or D. A and B are the highest awards, C is the standard pass at SCQF level 5, and D is the minimum award. No award is given below D.
What topics are covered in National 5 Psychology?
Three mandatory units/areas: Research Methods (designs, variables, ethics, sampling, data), Individual Behaviour (sleep, dreams, insomnia, Multi-Store Model, Loftus & Palmer), and Social Behaviour (Asch, Milgram, Zimbardo, conformity, obedience, prejudice, and discrimination).