Difficulty Verdict

The June 2022 papers are rated as a 3.5 out of 5 (Medium-Hard). While the essay prompts were generally accessible (e.g., Localisation of Function, Situational Variables in Obedience), the papers contained several demanding application and research methods components that separated top-tier candidates from the rest.

Where the Marks Are Won or Lost

  • The Rory Case Study (WMM): High-scoring candidates accurately mapped Rory's dual-task performance to the specific sub-systems of the Working Memory Model. They explained that his phone game utilized the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad (VSSP) while the conversation engaged the Phonological Loop. Asking him to describe his route to school (another visual task) caused cognitive overload in the VSSP, forcing him to drop the game. Weak responses merely listed the components of the WMM without this systematic application.
  • Research Methods Design (Paper 2, Q19): The 12-mark experimental design task was a major differentiator. Full marks required explicit justification of the chosen experimental design and self-report methods, alongside a concrete, practical control for a named extraneous variable.
  • Data Analysis & Conversion (Paper 3): The requirement to explain why mean scores alone do not support definitive conclusions (due to lack of baselines and standard deviations) was poorly handled by candidates who lacked statistical depth.

Examiner Pitfalls

A recurrent pitfall was generic evaluation. In the Paper 1 essay on Lorenz and Harlow, candidates often fell back on standard animal ethics critiques rather than focusing on the actual question instruction: what these studies tell us about human attachment. Similarly, in Paper 3's Social Sensitivity essay, many students simply listed ethical guidelines instead of addressing how researchers can actively manage and deal with the wider social implications of their findings.

Strategic Preparation Recommendations

To secure top grades, students must move beyond rote memorization of AO1 summaries. Mastery of statistical significance, data conversion (interval to nominal/ordinal), and experimental design justification is non-negotiable. Practicing past papers with a stopwatch is essential to ensure sufficient time remains to tackle the highly weighted 16-mark essays at the end of each section.