Understanding IB Psychology

As with all subjects at IBDP, Psychology presents its own unique challenges. IB Psychology is an academic discipline that requires both scientific understanding, and synthesise knowledge throughout the course. What’s more, students are expected to apply their knowledge in both experiments and analytical essays to further their understanding of the biological, cognitive and sociocultural factors that affect mental processes and behaviour. Over the two year IBDP course, candidates will learn about the development of Psychology as an academic discipline, the various prominent theoretical perspectives employed by psychologists, and how to conduct ethical and reliable experiments. It is the thorough understanding and application of these assessment objectives that leads to success for IBDP Psychology students.

The skills of IB Psychology

The IB Psychology course requires learners to use and develop a variety of skills throughout the two years. From understanding theory, to the conduct of research, and writing essays, students are expected to have mastered these skills by the end of the course. This is a large task for any student, particularly in a busy IBDP curriculum. Therefore, it is essential that those studying IB Psychology maintain a steady and consistent pace of work throughout the course in order to meet the expectations of these rigorous exams. Being aware of the syllabus and the knowledge requirements of IB Psychology is essential, and we always recommend that IBDP students keep a copy of the course guide for their reference throughout the course. This makes it easier for them to identify areas for improvement, and where progress needs to be made.

The path to success in IB Psychology

IB Psychology is unique in its challenges in that it requires students to have a solid foundation in both scientific reasoning and the essay and evaluative skills required in humanities subjects. IBDP candidates often struggle with the notion that both are a necessary part of success in the subject, and underestimate the importance of one or the other aspect. This is why IB Psychology students in particular are encouraged to develop their self-awareness of their strengths and weaknesses, and the maturity to fill in any gaps in their knowledge or skill set. It is rarely the content of the course itself that causes issues, but rather the difficulties in data analysis and structuring scientific reports in the given examination time that can lead to difficulties. This means that learners often require more help with developing their ability to answer the essay questions in Paper 1. Of course, the psychological concepts themselves are also important, but our experience tells us that it tends to be the interdisciplinary skills that cause problems for IBDP Psychology students.

Effective support in IB Psychology

When it comes to supporting young learners in IB Psychology, our goal is to ensure the mastery of the skills required for success in the IBDP. At BartyED, we are aware of how the skills cross over between subjects, meaning that effective and targeted support in one area will have benefits in other subjects. Our team of expert tutors are well equipped to teach both the content and skills required for success in IB Psychology. Get in touch with us via phone at (+852) 2882 1017 or email us at enquiries@bartyed.com to find out more about how we can guide you to success in IBDP Psychology.