Overall Exam Verdict
The October/November 2024 series for AS Level Psychology (9990/13 and 9990/23) presents a highly balanced yet technically demanding assessment. Paper 13 focuses heavily on precise recall of procedural details and comparative evaluations, while Paper 23 tests rigorous experimental design and contextualised research methods. Scoring highly in this series requires more than memorised facts; it demands the ability to apply methodological principles directly to novel scenarios and evaluate core studies using named issues like ethics.
Where the Marks are Won or Lost
A significant portion of the total marks resides in high-tariff questions across both papers. In Paper 13, the 8-mark comparative question (Q9b comparing Fagen et al. and Bandura et al.) and the 10-mark evaluation essay on Piliavin et al. (Q10) dictate the grade boundaries. Candidates who fail to explicitly address the named issue of ethics in the evaluation of Piliavin are severely capped at a maximum of level 2 (4 marks). In Paper 23, the 14-mark interview design suite (Q10a/b) acts as the primary differentiator, where candidates must address all four compulsory methodological design features to access the top bands.
Key Examiner Pitfalls & Mistakes to Avoid
- Result vs. Conclusion Confusion: In Paper 13, Question 1c, many candidates provide numerical data or specific findings instead of a generalized conclusion. A conclusion must reflect a broader psychological takeaway rather than a raw percentage.
- Generic Methodology Explanations: In Paper 23, generic statements such as "interviews have social desirability bias" are insufficient. Explanations must be tightly tethered to the scenario, such as explaining how a participant might falsify their response to food, vehicle, or mobile phone advertisements.
- Failing to Follow Formatting Constraints: For Paper 23 Question 10a, the rubric explicitly warns against describing sampling techniques or ethical issues. Candidates who write about these forfeit valuable planning time without gaining marks.
Preparation and Revision Strategy
To prepare for future series, candidates should adopt a structured approach to evaluation and planning. First, maintain a checklist of the four mandatory features of self-reports (format of questions, illustrative examples, scoring/interpretation, and interview format) to tackle the design questions. Second, practice drawing and fully labelling statistical graphs, ensuring units (such as \(\text{hours}\) or \(\text{minutes}\)) are always explicitly present on both axes to avoid losing easy marks.