Edexcel GCSE Psychology sample questions and answers (1PS0)
Guide overview All 11 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
55 sample questions and answers
Taken from every topic of Edexcel GCSE Psychology, specification 1PS0. The full guide has 891.
Paper 1
Development
85 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Early brain development
Which structures develop from the hindbrain?
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The hindbrain develops into the cerebellum, the pons and the medulla. The pons and medulla form much of the brainstem. -
Early brain development
Which part of the forebrain is the last to mature?
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The pre-frontal cortex is the last area to mature. The pre-frontal cortex keeps developing into a person's twenties. -
Piaget's theory of cognitive development
What is equilibrium in Piaget's theory?
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Equilibrium is a state of mental balance in which existing schemas can explain new experiences. -
Piaget's theory of cognitive development
Describe the concrete operational stage.
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The concrete operational stage lasts from about seven to eleven years. Children can reason logically about real, physical objects but struggle with abstract ideas. -
Dweck's mindset theory and Willingham's learning theory
A pupil says, 'I'm just not a maths person.' Which mindset does the pupil show, and why?
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The pupil shows a fixed mindset. The pupil believes maths ability is inborn and cannot be improved.
Paper 1
Memory
81 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Information processing, duration and capacity
Define storage in memory.
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Storage is holding information in the memory system over time. -
Information processing, duration and capacity
What is the capacity of short-term memory?
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Short-term memory can hold about 7 ± 2 items at once. -
Retrograde and anterograde amnesia
Why are older memories often better preserved than recent ones in retrograde amnesia?
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Older memories have been stored in long-term memory for longer and are well consolidated. Recent memories may not have been fully consolidated when the damage occurred. -
Retrograde and anterograde amnesia
What caused Clive Wearing's amnesia?
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A viral infection of the brain, herpes encephalitis, damaged Clive Wearing's brain in 1985. -
Bartlett's theory of reconstructive memory
Give an example of a schema for a familiar event.
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A restaurant schema includes being seated, ordering from a menu, eating and paying the bill.
Paper 1
Psychological Problems
92 questions in the guide, across 6 subtopics. More from this topic
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Symptoms of depression and addiction
How does depression differ from ordinary sadness?
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Sadness is a short-lived reaction to a difficult event. Depression lasts for weeks or longer and disrupts everyday life. -
Symptoms of depression and addiction
How does addiction affect a person's other interests?
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A person with an addiction gives the substance higher priority than other activities and obligations. Hobbies, work and relationships can be neglected. -
Incidence and effects of mental health problems
How can depression affect the individual?
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Depression can make it hard to work, study or look after oneself. Depression can also damage relationships and physical health. -
Incidence and effects of mental health problems
Why is it important not to link mental illness with violence?
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The great majority of people with mental health problems are not violent. An unfair link adds to stigma and stops people seeking help. -
Explaining depression
What is Beck's negative triad?
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Beck's negative triad is a set of negative views about oneself, the world and the future. A person holding these views is likely to feel hopeless.
Paper 1
The Brain and Neuropsychology
68 questions in the guide, across 4 subtopics. More from this topic
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Lobes of the brain and the effects of damage
Where is the cerebellum found?
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The cerebellum sits at the back of the brain, below the occipital lobes. -
Lobes of the brain and the effects of damage
What is prosopagnosia?
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Prosopagnosia is an inability to recognise familiar faces, sometimes including one's own. Prosopagnosia is often called face blindness. -
Lateralisation and Sperry's split-brain study
How is lateralisation used to explain sex differences between males and females?
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Some researchers claim male brains are more lateralised than female brains. Women may use both hemispheres for language, which could explain differences in verbal skills. -
Lateralisation and Sperry's split-brain study
How did Sperry test the sense of touch in split-brain patients?
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Objects were placed in one hand behind a screen so the participant could not see them. Participants were asked to name the object or find it again by feel. -
Neurons, synapses and the central nervous system
Describe what happens when an electrical impulse reaches the end of a neuron.
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The impulse causes vesicles in the axon terminal to release neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters cross the synaptic gap to the next neuron.
Paper 1
Social Influence
78 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Conformity to majority influence
How might self-esteem affect conformity?
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People with low self-esteem are more likely to conform because they fear rejection and doubt their own judgement. Confident people with high self-esteem conform less. -
Conformity to majority influence
How does answering in private affect conformity?
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Conformity falls when people can give their answers privately rather than aloud in front of the group. Anonymity removes the fear of being judged by the majority. -
Obedience to authority
What evidence links the authoritarian personality to obedience?
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People with an authoritarian personality believe orders from those in charge should be followed without question. Obedient participants in Milgram's research scored higher on the F-scale, which measures authoritarianism. -
Obedience to authority
How does seeing others disobey affect obedience?
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Milgram found obedience fell to 10% when two confederate teachers refused to continue. Disobedient peers give a person the support and example needed to resist. -
Bystander intervention
Which personal factors make a bystander more likely to help?
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Bystanders with relevant skills, such as first aid, are more likely to help. Similarity to the victim, a good mood and high empathy also increase helping.
Paper 2
Criminal Psychology
64 questions in the guide, across 4 subtopics. More from this topic
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Operant conditioning and social learning explanations of crime
What are primary reinforcers?
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Primary reinforcers are rewards that satisfy basic biological needs, such as food, water and warmth. A person who steals food when hungry receives a primary reinforcer. -
Operant conditioning and social learning explanations of crime
What is modelling?
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Modelling is when a role model demonstrates a behaviour and an observer imitates it. A teenager may model an older brother's aggressive way of settling arguments. -
Eysenck's criminal personality theory
What is psychoticism?
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Psychoticism is a personality trait marked by being cold, aggressive and lacking in empathy. Eysenck linked psychoticism to higher levels of the hormone testosterone. -
Eysenck's criminal personality theory
What is a strength of Eysenck's theory of criminal personality?
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Eysenck's theory can be tested with a standardised questionnaire that gives objective scores. The theory combines biological factors with learning, so it is not one-sided. -
Punishment, recidivism and rehabilitation
Why does the threat of punishment not stop some people offending?
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The rewards of crime are usually immediate, while punishment is delayed and uncertain. An offender who is not caught is reinforced by each successful crime.
Paper 2
The Self
80 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Self-concept and influences on self-esteem
What did the rouge test show about the development of the self?
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Infants had red make-up put on their nose and were placed in front of a mirror. Most infants of about two years touched their own nose, but few younger than a year did. -
Self-concept and influences on self-esteem
What is incongruence in Rogers' theory?
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Incongruence is a large gap between a person's self-image and their ideal self. Incongruence leads to low self-esteem and anxiety. -
Erikson's identity stages and belief in free will
What are Erikson's final three stages?
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Intimacy versus isolation occurs in young adulthood, and generativity versus stagnation occurs in middle age. Ego integrity versus despair occurs in old age, when people look back on their lives. -
Erikson's identity stages and belief in free will
What did Baumeister (2008) argue about belief in free will?
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Baumeister argued that believing in free will helps people control their impulses and act morally. People who stop believing in free will may act more selfishly. -
Rogers' and Maslow's humanistic theory
How does the humanistic approach explain the development of self-esteem?
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Rogers argued that self-esteem develops from the positive regard a child receives from others. Unconditional positive regard leads to high self-esteem, while conditional positive regard can lower it.
Paper 2
Perception
63 questions in the guide, across 4 subtopics. More from this topic
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Depth cues, visual illusions and constancies
What is linear perspective?
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Linear perspective is the way parallel lines appear to converge as they stretch into the distance. Railway tracks seem to meet at the horizon, which signals depth. -
Depth cues, visual illusions and constancies
What is an ambiguous figure?
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An ambiguous figure is an image that can be seen in two different ways. The Necker cube flips between two orientations, and Rubin's vase can be seen as two faces. -
Gibson's direct theory and Gregory's constructivist theory
What is an affordance?
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An affordance is the possible use or action that an object offers. A chair affords sitting, and Gibson believed an affordance is seen directly without learning. -
Gibson's direct theory and Gregory's constructivist theory
How does prior knowledge affect perception, according to Gregory?
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Prior knowledge from past experience is used to interpret what is sensed. A partly hidden object can be recognised because the whole object is already familiar. -
Perceptual set
Describe Bruner and Minturn's (1955) study of expectation.
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Participants were shown an ambiguous figure that could be read as the letter B or the number 13. Participants shown it among letters reported a B. Participants shown it among numbers reported 13.
Paper 2
Sleep and Dreaming
66 questions in the guide, across 4 subtopics. More from this topic
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Sleep stages and the sleep cycle
Describe stage 2 of sleep.
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Stage 2 is a slightly deeper sleep in which heart rate and body temperature fall. Brain activity shows short bursts called sleep spindles. -
Sleep stages and the sleep cycle
What is the sleep cycle?
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The sleep cycle is the repeated progression through stages 1 to 4 and then REM sleep. The cycle repeats through the night. -
Influences on sleep and sleep disorders
What is a zeitgeber?
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A zeitgeber is an external cue that resets the body clock. Light is the most important zeitgeber for the sleep–wake cycle. -
Influences on sleep and sleep disorders
What are the symptoms of insomnia?
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Insomnia involves difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking too early. The person then feels tired and irritable, and struggles to concentrate during the day. -
Freud's theory of dreaming and activation synthesis theory
What is symbolisation in dreamwork?
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Symbolisation is the use of an object in a dream to stand for a hidden wish or person. Freud claimed a train entering a tunnel could symbolise sex.
Paper 2
Language, Thought and Communication
77 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Piaget and Vygotsky on language and thought
Give one weakness of Piaget's view of language and thought.
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Piaget may have underestimated the role of language and social interaction in developing thought. Vygotsky argued that language becomes a key tool for thinking. -
Piaget and Vygotsky on language and thought
What is egocentric speech, according to Vygotsky?
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Egocentric speech is a young child talking aloud to guide their own actions. Vygotsky saw egocentric speech as thinking out loud, typically between about three and seven years. -
Linguistic relativism and determinism
Why has Whorf's claim about the Hopi been criticised?
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Later research found that the Hopi language does have ways of expressing time. Whorf's evidence was based on limited contact with Hopi speakers. -
Linguistic relativism and determinism
Give one strength of linguistic relativism.
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Research on colour and on time shows that language can influence how people think. Relativism fits the evidence better than the strong claim of determinism. -
Human and animal communication
What is cultural transmission in language?
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Cultural transmission means language is passed on by learning from others rather than through genes. A child learns whichever language is spoken around them.
Paper 2
Research Methods
137 questions in the guide, across 8 subtopics. More from this topic
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Variables, hypotheses and controls
What is a participant variable? Give an example.
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A participant variable is a characteristic of the people taking part that could affect the DV. Examples include age, mood, intelligence and previous experience. -
Sampling methods
A school has 800 students: 480 girls and 320 boys. How many of each should a stratified sample of 40 contain?
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The sample should contain 24 girls and 16 boys. Girls make up 480 ÷ 800 = 60% of the school, and 60% of 40 is 24. -
Experiments and experimental designs
What is a natural experiment?
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A natural experiment studies an IV that varies naturally, without the researcher manipulating it. The researcher measures the effect of that naturally occurring IV on a DV. -
Interviews, questionnaires and types of data
Give one strength and one weakness of an unstructured interview.
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Unstructured interviews produce rich, detailed qualitative data from the participant's own point of view. Unstructured interviews are hard to replicate and analyse, and interviewer bias is more likely. -
Correlations, case studies and observations
What kinds of research are correlations suited to?
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Correlations suit research into whether two measured variables are linked, such as stress and illness. Correlations are useful where manipulating a variable would be impossible or unethical.
Edexcel GCSE Psychology Active Recall Guide
The other 836 questions, with the answers printed after each section.