IB Psychology explores how people think, feel and behave. It is part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP). The IB has introduced a new course, first taught in August 2025, with first exams in May 2027. This guide explains how the new course is organised, how it is assessed, what has changed and how to succeed. It is based on the official IB Psychology guide (first assessment 2027, updated December 2025) and the IB's Psychology subject brief.
Which course are you on?
- If your first IB Psychology exams are in May 2027 or later, you are studying the new course described in this guide.
- If you are sitting exams in November 2026, you are on the previous course, which has its last assessment in 2026. See our November 2026 exam schedule for your paper dates.
Key Takeaways
- The new course is built around concepts, content and contexts, with a focus on applying ideas rather than memorising studies (IB, 2024).
- Every student studies four contexts and completes four class practicals: an interview, an observation, a survey and an experiment.
- The internal assessment (IA) is now a research proposal of up to 2,200 words, and you do not carry out the study. It is worth 30% at Standard Level (SL) and 20% at Higher Level (HL).
- HL students study extensions on culture, motivation and technology, plus data analysis, assessed in a new Paper 3.
- SL students sit two papers. HL students sit three.
What Is IB Psychology About?
The IB describes psychology as "the scientific study of human and animal cognition and behaviour". Psychologists aim to describe, explain, predict and change behaviour. They do this by observing people, forming theories and testing them with evidence.
The IB says the goal of the course is not to create psychologists, but to promote psychological literacy. This includes understanding basic psychological principles and the research process, solving problems, acting ethically, thinking critically, communicating well and respecting diversity.
Psychology is a group 3 subject (individuals and societies) in the Diploma Programme. It is offered at SL and HL. No prior study of psychology is needed. The IB guide says the skills you need are developed during the course itself.
Course Structure: Concepts, Content and Contexts
The new course has three parts that are studied together, not separately. The IB explains them like this:
- Content gives you the terminology and theories of psychology.
- Concepts give you a framework for thinking about that content.
- Contexts are the real-world settings where you apply concepts and content.
| Concepts | Content | Contexts |
|---|---|---|
Bias Causality Change Measurement Perspective Responsibility | Biological approach Cognitive approach Sociocultural approach Research methodology | Health and well-being Human development Human relationships Learning and cognition |
Source: IB Psychology updates.
The Six Concepts
The six concepts are bias, causality, change, measurement, perspective and responsibility. They are new to the course. You use them to question research and claims. For example, you might ask how a study measured behaviour, or whether it really shows cause and effect.
The Content
The content covers the biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches to understanding behaviour, plus research methodology. In the previous course, this was called the "core". The content is not taught as a separate unit. Instead, you learn it through the four contexts.
The Four Contexts
All students, at both SL and HL, study four contexts. Each context is split into two or three topics, and each topic has a set of areas of study:
| Context | Topics | Examples of areas of study |
|---|---|---|
| Health and well-being | Mental health disorders (one or more of: major depressive disorder, eating disorders, PTSD, OCD or anxiety disorders) Health problems (one or more of: obesity, substance misuse or abuse, or social media addiction) Prevention and treatment | Biological explanations Cognitive models Cultural differences Environmental factors Stress and health Biological and psychological treatments |
| Human development | Models of development (one or more of: cognitive, social, moral or language development) Development of self | Brain development and neuroplasticity Stage theories and continuous models Theory of mind Attachment Peer influence Role of childhood experiences |
| Human relationships | Group behaviour Interpersonal relationships (social relationships or interpersonal conflict/aggression) | Acculturation Conformity Compliance techniques Social identity theory Chemical messengers Strategies for improving relationships |
| Learning and cognition | Thinking and learning Cognitive processes (one or more of: attention, memory, perception, thinking/decision-making or language) | Cognitive biases Classical and operant conditioning Dual processing theory Schema theory Cultural and environmental influences on cognition |
Source: IB Psychology guide, first assessment 2027 (updated December 2025).
In the previous course, these were options, and SL students chose one while HL students chose two. Now, every student studies all four. Health and well-being replaces abnormal psychology, and it now covers physical health as well as mental health.
💡 Learn how each part of the IB grading system affects your final Diploma score.
Class Practicals
You complete four class practicals, one using each research method. The IB recommends linking each method to a particular context, as shown below. Your school can change which context each practical is linked to, but all four methods must be used.
| Recommended context | Type of class practical | Minimum sample size |
|---|---|---|
| Health and well-being | Interview (structured, semi-structured or focus group) | One participant in an individual interview, or three to eight in one focus group |
| Human development | Observation (naturalistic or controlled, overt or covert, participant or non-participant) | One participant |
| Human relationships | Survey or questionnaire | 10 participants |
| Learning and cognition | Experiment (true or quasi-experiment) | Five participants (repeated measures design) Ten participants (independent measures design) |
Source: IB Psychology guide, first assessment 2027 (updated December 2025).
Class practicals normally take place in lessons, and your teacher may be the researcher while the class takes part. They must follow strict ethical rules:
- Participants must give written informed consent. Implied consent is not accepted.
- A practical must not cause anxiety, stress, pain or discomfort.
- Conformity and obedience studies are not allowed under any circumstances.
- Students should not interview each other on sensitive topics, such as mental health, bullying or self-harm.
The class practicals matter for your exams too. Paper 2 Section A asks four questions about them. The IB recommends writing a short record of each practical, covering the aim, procedure, sampling technique, findings and ethical considerations. This record is not assessed, but it is very useful revision for Paper 2 and your IA.
HL Extensions
HL students study four extensions:
- the role of culture in shaping human behaviour
- the role of motivation in shaping human behaviour
- the role of technology in shaping human behaviour
- data analysis and interpretation.
The IB guide says data analysis and interpretation should be studied by both SL and HL students. However, it is not assessed at SL. Only HL students are assessed on it, in Paper 3.
Teaching Hours
| Component | SL hours | HL hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concepts, content and contexts | ||
| Integrating concepts and content to understand the contexts | 100 | 100 |
| Class practicals (minimum of four) | 30 | 30 |
| HL extensions | ||
| The role of culture, motivation and technology | – | 45 |
| Data analysis and interpretation | – | 45 |
| Internal assessment | ||
| Research proposal | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 150 | 240 |
Source: IB Psychology subject brief, first assessment 2027.
What Has Changed From the Previous Course?
- The core is now called "content", and key theories and terms are integrated into each approach.
- The options have become four contexts, and every student studies all four.
- Abnormal psychology is now "health and well-being".
- Six concepts have been added to frame how you think about psychology.
- Four class practicals are required, one for each research method.
- The IA is now a research proposal instead of a simple experiment.
- The HL extensions are new. They cover culture, motivation and technology, plus data analysis.
- The exams have changed. Paper 2 now focuses on research, and HL Paper 3 now focuses on interpreting data.
The IB also says the new course gives more space to perspectives beyond Western psychology. This includes the voices of women and minorities, and indigenous psychologies.
Internal Assessment: The Research Proposal
The internal assessment (IA) is a research proposal, for both SL and HL students. You design a study to investigate a real-life problem affecting a population of interest, using one of the four research methods from your class practicals.
You do not carry out the study. Because the proposal is hypothetical, you can propose things that students could not normally do, such as a long-term (longitudinal) study. It must still meet ethical standards, as if an ethics committee had to approve it.
- Marks: 24
- Length: a written report of no more than 2,200 words. Examiners stop reading at the limit. References and appendices do not count.
- Recommended teaching time: 20 hours
- Weighting: 30% at SL and 20% at HL
- Marking: your teacher marks it, and the IB moderates the marks.
The Four Criteria
The proposal is structured around four criteria, each worth 6 marks:
| Criterion | Marks | What your proposal needs |
|---|---|---|
| A: Introduction | 6 | A focused aim A real-life problem and its impact on the population of interest The findings and conclusions of two pieces of relevant research |
| B: Research methodology | 6 | A justified choice of research method An explanation of the procedure (for example sampling technique, sample, design and setting) The ethical considerations and how to address them |
| C: Data collection | 6 | One data collection tool you create, such as a questionnaire, observation checklist or interview schedule An explanation of how you designed it Potential challenges when collecting data |
| D: Discussion | 6 | Potential findings and what they could mean for policy or practice How researcher bias may affect the investigation One additional method for investigating the same topic |
Source: IB Psychology guide, first assessment 2027 (updated December 2025).
A few rules are easy to miss:
- A survey, structured interview or controlled observation tool needs at least five items, and you must include a copy in an appendix.
- Animals are not allowed, and neither is ingestion (although self-reported diet is fine).
- Some topics must not be the focus of the IA. These include abuse, self-harm (including suicide), sexual content, serial killers and torture.
- Some sensitive topics that are not allowed in class practicals, such as mental health or body image, can be proposed in the IA.
Because the IA uses one of the four class practical methods, your class practicals are good preparation. Pay attention to how each method works, its strengths and its limits. Need help? See our IB internal assessment support.
💡 Check out these five key habits of high-achieving IB students.
External Assessment Overview
Standard Level (SL)
| Component | What it involves | Time | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Integration of the concepts, content and contexts (35 marks) | Section A: two compulsory short-answer questions from two of the three content areas Section B: two compulsory short-answer questions applying content to an unseen situation, each from one context Section C: two concept-based extended-response questions from different contexts (you answer one) | 1h 30m | 35% |
| Paper 2: Applying concepts and content to research contexts (35 marks) | Section A: four compulsory questions on your class practicals Section B: discussing an unseen research study with regard to two or more concepts | 1h 30m | 35% |
| Internal assessment: research proposal (24 marks) | A research proposal using one of the four class practical methods | 20 hours | 30% |
Higher Level (HL)
| Component | What it involves | Time | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (35 marks) | Same structure as SL Paper 1 | 1h 30m | 25% |
| Paper 2 (35 marks) | Same structure as SL Paper 2 | 1h 30m | 25% |
| Paper 3: Data analysis and interpretation (30 marks) | Four source-based questions on research with quantitative and qualitative findings, focused on one of the HL extensions | 1h 45m | 30% |
| Internal assessment: research proposal (24 marks) | A research proposal using one of the four class practical methods | 20 hours | 20% |
Source: IB Psychology subject brief, first assessment 2027.
In total, SL students sit 3 hours of exams (70% of the grade). HL students sit 4 hours 45 minutes (80%).
How the Marks Are Split
| Paper and section | What you do | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | ||
| Section A | Two short-answer questions on theories and terms from two of the three approaches, each with an example. No context is given, and details of research studies are not assessed | 8 |
| Section B | Two short-answer questions applying content to an unseen situation, each based on one context | 12 |
| Section C | One concept-based extended response, chosen from two questions on different contexts | 15 |
| Paper 2 | ||
| Section A, Question 1 | Knowledge and understanding of the research method used in a class practical | 4 |
| Section A, Question 2 | Applying a concept to a class practical | 4 |
| Section A, Question 3 | Comparing and contrasting research methods | 6 |
| Section A, Question 4 | Designing a study using a research method | 6 |
| Section B | Discussing an unseen research study, given in the source material, with reference to two or more concepts. The question names four or more concepts to choose from | 15 |
| Paper 3 (HL only) | ||
| Question 1 | Interpreting graphs: explaining one issue that limits how a source can be interpreted | 3 |
| Question 2 | Analysing the findings of one source and stating a conclusion | 6 |
| Question 3 | Research considerations: credibility, bias or transferability of a source | 6 |
| Question 4 | Using at least three sources and your own knowledge to discuss a claim | 15 |
Source: IB Psychology guide, first assessment 2027 (updated December 2025).
In Paper 2 Section A, the focus is on the research method, not on the context in which you did the practical. Paper 3 sources include both quantitative and qualitative research, and the data may be real or created for the exam.
What Do the Questions Look Like?
The IB's subject brief includes sample questions. Here are three examples:
- Paper 1, Section A: "Explain anchoring bias with reference to one example of human behaviour." (4 marks)
- Paper 2, Section A: "Explain the concept of bias in relation to your interview or focus group class practical." (4 marks)
- Paper 3 (HL): "To what extent can we conclude that the use of technology in education may have a negative effect on the mental health of students?" (15 marks)
Notice how the concepts (like bias) and your own class practicals appear directly in the questions.
Assessment Objectives
| Objective | What you need to show |
|---|---|
| AO1: Knowledge and understanding | Psychological concepts, contexts, theories, models and examples The biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches Research methodology |
| AO2: Application and analysis | Explaining and forming arguments with concepts and research Applying theories and models in different contexts HL: interpreting data from experimental and non-experimental research |
| AO3: Synthesis and evaluation | Evaluating theories and research Drawing conclusions from evidence Justifying a position and critiquing claims Discussing how concepts interact Designing a study HL: drawing conclusions about culture, motivation and technology |
Tips for Success in IB Psychology
We asked our IB tutors for their advice on succeeding in the new course:
- Think in concepts. For every study you learn, ask how it links to bias, causality, change, measurement, perspective and responsibility. Section C of Paper 1 and Section B of Paper 2 are both concept-based.
- Apply, do not just describe. The IB says the course focuses on applying ideas, not memorising studies. Practise using theories to explain new, unseen situations.
- Treat your class practicals as exam content. Keep clear notes on what you did, why and what you found, because Paper 2 asks you about them directly.
- Know all four research methods well. You need them for the class practicals, Paper 2 and your IA research proposal.
- Read claims critically. Practise evaluating research and everyday claims, for example a health claim you see on social media.
- HL students: practise reading data. Paper 3 is worth 30% at HL. Work with graphs, tables and qualitative findings regularly.
- Learn your command terms. Words like "explain", "evaluate" and "to what extent" tell you what each answer needs. See our guide to command terms for IB Psychology.
- Practise under timed conditions. Get used to answering full papers in 1 hour 30 minutes.
💡 Find out why past papers are the ultimate tool for IB exam preparation. Old-course papers are still useful for practising essay skills, but the question structure has changed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Studying from old-course notes without checking. The options, the old core and the experiment-based IA have all changed.
- Memorising studies without applying them. Questions ask you to apply knowledge to unseen situations and concepts.
- Ignoring the concepts. They appear directly in exam questions, especially in Paper 1 Section C and Paper 2 Section B.
- Forgetting about the class practicals. They are assessed in Paper 2, so record them carefully.
- Leaving the IA too late. A research proposal needs a clear population of interest and a well-justified method.
- Going over the word limit. Examiners stop reading at 2,200 words, so anything after that earns no marks.
- Choosing a banned IA topic. Check your topic with your teacher early. Some sensitive topics cannot be the focus of the IA.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the new IB Psychology course first examined?
The new course was first taught in August 2025, and its first exams are in May 2027. Students sitting exams in November 2026 are on the previous course.
Do I still have to run an experiment for the IA?
No. The IA is now a research proposal of up to 2,200 words. You design a study using one of the four class practical methods (interview, observation, survey or experiment), but you do not carry it out.
Are there still options in IB Psychology?
No. The options have been replaced by four contexts, and all students study all four.
What is the difference between SL and HL?
HL students study extensions on culture, motivation and technology, plus data analysis and interpretation. They also sit Paper 3. The IA is worth 30% at SL and 20% at HL.
How long are the exams?
SL students sit two papers of 1 hour 30 minutes each, a total of 3 hours. HL students also sit Paper 3 (1 hour 45 minutes), a total of 4 hours 45 minutes.
What are class practicals?
Class practicals are small research activities you carry out in class. There are four, one for each research method: interview, observation, survey and experiment. The IB recommends linking each one to a context. Paper 2 asks you questions about them.
Do I need to have studied psychology before?
No. The IB guide says no prior study of psychology, or of any particular subject, is expected.
Is data analysis taught at SL?
Yes. SL and HL students both study data analysis and interpretation, but only HL students are assessed on it, in Paper 3.
Get Support With IB Psychology
The new course rewards students who can apply concepts, evaluate research and design studies. Our experienced IB Psychology tutors can help you master each context, plan a strong research proposal and prepare for your exams, online wherever you are.
