A Level
Psychology
Exam
Preparation
16 mark essay
plans
Issues & Debates
A Level Psychology Exam Preparation 16 mark essay plans Issues & Debates
, Creating essay plans during your revision will help you to prepare for 16 mark
answers. If you can remember the basic framework for each essay this will allow
you to write out a plan before attempting the answer in the exam.
List 6 points that you could mention in your AO1. Then choose 4 evaluation
points that you would PEEL in the exam.
For example:
Describe and evaluate the behavioural explanation for phobias
AO1 Classical conditioning – learning through association
AO1 For example, UCS – loud noise, UCR – fear, NS – White rat
AO1 UCS is paired with the NS so NS becomes a conditioned stimulus
AO1 CR (fear) now occurs in response to CS (white rat)
AO1 This is reinforced through operant conditioning – avoidance AO3 Bagby –
woman with phobia of running water from feet stuck in rocks near waterfall
AO3 Di Gallo - 20 per cent of people experiencing traumatic car accidents
developed a phobia of travelling in cars, especially travelling at speed AO3
Mowrer – rats + buzzer – fear maintained through avoidance AO3
Environmental determinism – suggests we are a product of our experiences and
takes a ‘mechanistic’ view of behaviour, therefore ignoring free will
However, you must always read the question carefully. Whilst these plans will
give you a framework to work from, the question may require you to adapt the
information slightly or shape it to answer the question.
For example, there is a specimen question ‘Discuss the contribution of
behaviourist psychologists such as Pavlov and Skinner to our understanding of
human behaviour’. Here, the answer would need to be shaped to discuss what
behaviourism has taught us and how useful it is for humans.
Therefore, these plans will be good preparation but you will need to think
carefully about what the question is asking you and adapt your answer
accordingly.
A Level Psychology Exam Preparation 16 mark essay plans Issues & Debates
Psychology
Exam
Preparation
16 mark essay
plans
Issues & Debates
A Level Psychology Exam Preparation 16 mark essay plans Issues & Debates
, Creating essay plans during your revision will help you to prepare for 16 mark
answers. If you can remember the basic framework for each essay this will allow
you to write out a plan before attempting the answer in the exam.
List 6 points that you could mention in your AO1. Then choose 4 evaluation
points that you would PEEL in the exam.
For example:
Describe and evaluate the behavioural explanation for phobias
AO1 Classical conditioning – learning through association
AO1 For example, UCS – loud noise, UCR – fear, NS – White rat
AO1 UCS is paired with the NS so NS becomes a conditioned stimulus
AO1 CR (fear) now occurs in response to CS (white rat)
AO1 This is reinforced through operant conditioning – avoidance AO3 Bagby –
woman with phobia of running water from feet stuck in rocks near waterfall
AO3 Di Gallo - 20 per cent of people experiencing traumatic car accidents
developed a phobia of travelling in cars, especially travelling at speed AO3
Mowrer – rats + buzzer – fear maintained through avoidance AO3
Environmental determinism – suggests we are a product of our experiences and
takes a ‘mechanistic’ view of behaviour, therefore ignoring free will
However, you must always read the question carefully. Whilst these plans will
give you a framework to work from, the question may require you to adapt the
information slightly or shape it to answer the question.
For example, there is a specimen question ‘Discuss the contribution of
behaviourist psychologists such as Pavlov and Skinner to our understanding of
human behaviour’. Here, the answer would need to be shaped to discuss what
behaviourism has taught us and how useful it is for humans.
Therefore, these plans will be good preparation but you will need to think
carefully about what the question is asking you and adapt your answer
accordingly.
A Level Psychology Exam Preparation 16 mark essay plans Issues & Debates
