9685 · Oxford AQA International A Level
9685/11
Paper 1
Psychology · 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Oxford AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
360
360 min
Research Methods and Experimental Design
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
360
Duration
360 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The January 2023 series presents a robust and well-balanced challenge across all four units.
It maintains a high standard of assessment, demanding rigorous evaluation (AO3) alongside precise clinical and practical applications (AO2).
While the multiple-choice and short-answer questions provide an accessible entry point for students, the 12-mark and 20-mark essay questions require deep conceptual command, clear structuring, and sophisticated critical thinking to reach the top level of response.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Knowledge
Weight: 5100%RetAO2
Weight: 480%Contextual Application
Weight: 360%ApAO3
Weight: 240%Analysis & Evaluation
Weight: 120%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level A*
Approx. 90% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 80% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 70% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 60% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 50% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 40% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Match the expected response style for “Outline” questions.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
No data available in official reports
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Research methods 1
30 marks this session
Research methods 2
30 marks this session
Psychopathology
30 marks this session
Cognitive development
30 marks this session
Schizophrenia
30 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Schizophrenia
Cognitive development
Memory
Research methods 1
Research methods 2
Social psychology
Issues and debates in psychology
Psychopathology
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Unit 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (PS01): Unit 2: Biopsychology, Development and Research Methods 1 (PS02): Unit 3: Advanced Topics and Research Methods 2 (PS03): Unit 4: Approaches and Application (PS04):
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Research methods 1
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiResearch methods 2
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiPsychopathology
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiCognitive development
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSchizophrenia
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The January 2023 series presents a robust and well-balanced challenge across all four units.
- 2Message
It maintains a high standard of assessment, demanding rigorous evaluation (AO3) alongside precise clinical and practical applications (AO2).
- 3Message
While the multiple-choice and short-answer questions provide an accessible entry point for students, the 12-mark and 20-mark essay questions require deep conceptual command, clear structuring, and sophisticated critical thinking to reach the top level of response.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2023 2023
Psychology
The January 2023 series presents a robust and well-balanced challenge across all four units. It maintains a high standard of assessment, demanding rigorous evaluation (AO3) alongside precise clinical and practical applications (AO2). While the multiple-choice and short-answer que
The January 2023 series presents a robust and well-balanced challenge across all four units.
It maintains a high standard of assessment, demanding rigorous evaluation (AO3) alongside precise clinical and practical applications (AO2).
While the multiple-choice and short-answer questions provide an accessible entry point for students, the 12-mark and 20-mark essay questions require deep conceptual command, clear structuring, and sophisticated critical thinking to reach the top level of response.
- Total marks
- 360
- Duration
- 360 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The January 2023 series presents a robust and well-balanced challenge across all four units. It maintains a high standard of assessment, demanding rigorous evaluation (AO3) alongside precise clinical and practical applications (AO2). While the multiple-choice and short-answer questions provide an accessible entry point for students, the 12-mark and 20-mark essay questions require deep conceptual command, clear structuring, and sophisticated critical thinking to reach the top level of response.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Unit 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (PS01): Unit 2: Biopsychology, Development and Research Methods 1 (PS02): Unit 3: Advanced Topics and Research Methods 2 (PS03): Unit 4: Approaches and Application (PS04):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
64% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Essay Questions
(20 Marks)
180·9·50%
Short Answer
(AO1 / AO2)
111·39·31%
Extended Response
(12 Marks)
60·5·17%
Multiple Choice / Selection
9·6·3%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Multi-Store Model of Memory (MSM)
5%5%
Vygotsky's Socio-Cultural Theory of Cognitive Development
4%4%
Fight or Flight Response and Synaptic Transmission
4%4%
Overall Difficulty Verdict
The January 2023 series presents a robust and well-balanced challenge across all four units. It maintains a high standard of assessment, demanding rigorous evaluation (AO3) alongside precise clinical and practical applications (AO2). While the multiple-choice and short-answer questions provide an accessible entry point for students, the 12-mark and 20-mark essay questions require deep conceptual command, clear structuring, and sophisticated critical thinking to reach the top level of response.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Generic Application: Examiners noted that in scenario-based questions (such as applying Ellis's ABC model to Nish's exam failure or analyzing Leo's social learning), candidates frequently write about the theory in a vacuum. You must explicitly tie the terms (e.g., Activating event, Beliefs, Consequences) directly to the specific details in the text.
- Confusing Core Concepts: A major pitfall is confusing negative reinforcement with punishment in operant conditioning questions. Remember that negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to strengthen a desired behaviour, while punishment aims to eliminate a behaviour.
- Incomplete Graphing requirements: For the Unit 2 scattergram, many students lost process marks due to a lack of fully operationalised titles (which must explicitly state both co-variables, e.g., 'quality of sleep score' and 'hours of smartphone use') or by swapping the axes.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.