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100+ Free IGCSE Psychology Practice Questions

Pass your Cambridge IGCSE Psychology (0266) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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The Necker cube is a classic example of which kind of perceptual phenomenon?

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Key Facts: IGCSE Psychology Exam

A*-G

Grading scale

Cambridge International

2 papers

Assessment route (60 marks each)

Cambridge 0266 syllabus

2027

First examination of new 0266 syllabus

Cambridge International

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

Cambridge IGCSE 0266 Psychology runs on the new 2027-2029 syllabus, first examined from 2027. Assessment is two 1 hour 30 minute written papers (60 marks each) covering five psychological approaches, research methods and applied psychology. Grades A*-G are awarded.

Sample IGCSE Psychology Practice Questions

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

1Who proposed the Multi-Store Model of memory in 1968?
A.Atkinson and Shiffrin
B.Baddeley and Hitch
C.Loftus and Palmer
D.Craik and Lockhart
Explanation: Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) proposed the Multi-Store Model with three stores: sensory register, short-term memory and long-term memory. Information passes through them via attention and rehearsal.
2According to Miller (1956), the capacity of short-term memory is approximately:
A.7 plus or minus 2 chunks
B.5 plus or minus 1 chunks
C.10 plus or minus 3 chunks
D.Unlimited
Explanation: Miller's 'magic number' concept holds that STM has a capacity of about 7 plus or minus 2 chunks of information. Chunking can effectively increase the amount stored.
3Which component of Baddeley's Working Memory Model is responsible for processing visual and spatial information?
A.Visuospatial sketchpad
B.Phonological loop
C.Central executive
D.Episodic buffer
Explanation: The visuospatial sketchpad stores and manipulates visual and spatial information (the inner eye). The phonological loop handles auditory information.
4Episodic, semantic and procedural memory are types of:
A.Long-term memory
B.Short-term memory
C.Sensory memory
D.Working memory
Explanation: Tulving distinguished three types of long-term memory: episodic (personal events), semantic (facts and knowledge) and procedural (skills and how-to knowledge).
5In Loftus and Palmer's (1974) study, participants who heard the verb 'smashed' estimated a higher speed than those who heard:
A.Contacted
B.Crashed
C.Bumped
D.Collided
Explanation: The five verbs ranged from 'contacted' (lowest mean speed 31.8 mph) to 'smashed' (highest 40.5 mph). This showed leading questions influence eyewitness memory.
6The 'weapon focus' effect describes how a weapon present during a crime:
A.Reduces witness accuracy for peripheral details
B.Improves overall recall
C.Has no effect on memory
D.Only affects long-term memory
Explanation: Weapon focus is when the presence of a weapon narrows attention onto the weapon itself, reducing accurate recall of the perpetrator's face and other peripheral details.
7Which forgetting theory states that new information disrupts older memories?
A.Retroactive interference
B.Proactive interference
C.Decay theory
D.Cue-dependent forgetting
Explanation: Retroactive interference is when newer learning interferes with older memories (e.g. learning a new phone number disrupts recall of the old one). Proactive is the reverse.
8Context-dependent forgetting and state-dependent forgetting are both examples of:
A.Cue-dependent forgetting
B.Decay
C.Interference
D.Displacement
Explanation: Cue-dependent forgetting occurs when retrieval cues present at encoding are absent at recall. Context (external) and state (internal) are two types of these cues.
9The cognitive interview was developed by:
A.Geiselman et al.
B.Loftus and Palmer
C.Baddeley and Hitch
D.Atkinson and Shiffrin
Explanation: Geiselman and colleagues developed the cognitive interview in the 1980s. It uses context reinstatement, report everything, change perspective and recall in reverse order to improve recall.
10A schema is best defined as:
A.A mental framework for organising information
B.A type of long-term memory
C.A method of rehearsal
D.A perceptual illusion
Explanation: A schema is a cognitive framework that helps organise and interpret information based on prior experience. Schemas can lead to bias and distorted memory.

About the IGCSE Psychology Exam

Cambridge IGCSE Psychology (0266) is the international upper-secondary qualification in Psychology. The 2027-2029 syllabus is the first examined version of this new specification, structured around three sections: Psychological themes (cognitive, social, biological, developmental and individual differences approaches), Research methods, and Application of psychology. Candidates take two written papers covering core studies, theories, methodology and real-world applications.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Paper 1: 1 hr 30 min; Paper 2: 1 hr 30 min

Passing Score

Grade C or above for higher-tier pass; A*-G grading scale

Exam Fee

£60-£140 per subject (school-set entry fee, varies by centre) (Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE))

IGCSE Psychology Exam Content Outline

20%

Cognitive approach

Multi-Store Model (Atkinson & Shiffrin), Working Memory Model (Baddeley), LTM types, forgetting, eyewitness testimony (Loftus & Palmer), perception (Gibson, Gregory), schema theory, attention (Broadbent)

20%

Social approach

Conformity (Asch, Sherif), obedience (Milgram), Stanford Prison Experiment (Zimbardo), bystander effect (Latane & Darley), prejudice (Sherif Robbers Cave, Tajfel social identity), prosocial behaviour

20%

Biological approach

CNS and PNS, autonomic nervous system, brain lobes, localisation (Broca, Wernicke), neurons and synaptic transmission, endocrine system, sleep cycle, Selye's general adaptation syndrome

15%

Developmental approach

Piaget's four stages, Bowlby monotropy and maternal deprivation, Ainsworth Strange Situation, Harlow rhesus monkey studies, Schaffer & Emerson, Van Ijzendoorn, Vygotsky's ZPD and scaffolding

10%

Individual differences

Four definitions of abnormality (including Jahoda), phobias/depression/OCD, behavioural/cognitive/biological explanations (Pavlov, Skinner, Bandura, Beck, Ellis), treatments (CBT, systematic desensitisation, SSRIs)

10%

Research methods

Experimental design (independent/repeated/matched), variables, sampling techniques, BPS ethical guidelines, descriptive statistics, reliability, validity, observation, case studies, questionnaires

5%

Application of psychology

Criminal psychology (offender profiling FBI top-down vs UK bottom-up), environmental, sport, consumer and health psychology applications

How to Pass the IGCSE Psychology Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade C or above for higher-tier pass; A*-G grading scale
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Paper 1: 1 hr 30 min; Paper 2: 1 hr 30 min
  • Exam fee: £60-£140 per subject (school-set entry fee, varies by centre)

Keys to Passing

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

IGCSE Psychology Study Tips from Top Performers

1Learn classic studies in detail (Milgram 1963, Asch 1951, Loftus & Palmer 1974, Harlow 1958, Bandura Bobo doll) — examiners reward aim, procedure, findings and conclusion in extended-response questions
2Memorise the BPS ethical guidelines (informed consent, deception, debriefing, right to withdraw, protection from harm, confidentiality) — Paper 2 always includes an ethics question
3Practise evaluating studies using GRAVE (Generalisability, Reliability, Application, Validity, Ethics) — this framework works for almost any 6-mark evaluation question
4For research methods, master the difference between IV, DV, EV and CV, and be able to write operationalised hypotheses (directional vs non-directional vs null)

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the new Cambridge IGCSE Psychology 0266 syllabus first examined?

The new Cambridge IGCSE Psychology (0266) syllabus is first examined from 2027. Students starting the two-year course in 2025 will be the first cohort to sit the new specification, so 2026 is an excellent year for early prep and content learning.

How is IGCSE Psychology 0266 assessed?

Candidates take two written papers. Paper 1 covers Psychological themes (the five approaches) and Paper 2 covers Research methods and Application of psychology. Each paper is 1 hour 30 minutes long and worth 60 marks.

What grading scale does IGCSE Psychology use?

Cambridge IGCSE uses the A*-G scale. A* is the highest grade and G is the minimum pass. A grade C is usually considered the higher-tier pass for sixth-form and university entry.

What are the five approaches covered in IGCSE Psychology?

The five core psychological approaches are: cognitive (memory, perception), social (conformity, obedience), biological (brain, hormones), developmental (Piaget, attachment) and individual differences (abnormality, mental disorders). Each approach has named theorists and classic studies.