How To Approach IB Psychology Paper 3 With Confidence
Paper 3 is a Higher Level (HL) only exam in IB Psychology that tests your understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods through an unseen research stimulus. You will have one hour to answer a three-part Question 1 (9 marks), Question 2 on ethics (6 marks), and Question 3 on credibility, bias, or generalisability (9 marks) (revisiondojo.com). To perform well, you need clear structure, method knowledge, and fast analysis.
1. Know the Structure Inside & Out
Paper 3 always follows the same layout:
- Question 1 (3 sub‑questions, 3 marks each): Identify method, describe sampling, suggest alternatives
- Question 2 (6 marks): Ethics—applied or reporting aspects
- Question 3 (9 marks): Evaluate credibility, generalizability or bias of the study scenario
RevisionDojo's Comprehensive IB Psychology Guide includes annotated instructions and example answers specifically for Paper 3-style questions (revisiondojo.com).
2. Strengthen Research Methods Knowledge
Ensure you know both quantitative and qualitative research methods:
- Lab vs field experiments, interviews, focus groups
- Sampling types: random, stratified, convenience
- Research strengths/limitations
RevisionDojo offers flashcards, quizzes, and structured summaries through their Paper 3 Practice Tool to help you categorize and recall methods quickly ( ).
