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8182 · AQA GCSE

8182/11

Cognition and Behaviour

Psychology · June 2024 · Variant 1

Relative difficulty

Standard · 3.0/5

Analysis source: AQA

Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.

Relative difficulty

3.0 / 5

Total marks

200

Duration

210 min

Most tested topic

Research Methods & Evaluation

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

Total marks

200

Duration

210 min

Session difficulty

3.0 / 5

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

A highly balanced and specification-compliant examination cycle.

2

Paper 1 and Paper 2 each standardly assess exactly 25 marks per major specification chapter.

3

The paper heavily features research design, application scenarios, and key conceptual essays, maintaining a medium difficulty overall with several synoptic twists.

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

Knowledge and Understanding3
Application of2
Analysis and1

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Knowledge and UnderstandingKnowledge andUnderstandingApplication ofApplication ofAnalysis andAnalysis and
SkillWeightShare
  • Knowledge and Understanding

    Weight: 3100%
  • Application of

    Weight: 267%
  • Analysis and

    Weight: 133%

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 9

Approx. 79% of maximum mark

Level 8

Approx. 72% of maximum mark

Level 7

Approx. 65% of maximum mark

Level 6

Approx. 56% of maximum mark

Level 5

Approx. 46% of maximum mark

Level 4

Approx. 37% of maximum mark

Level 3

Approx. 27% of maximum mark

Level 2

Approx. 16% 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

DescribeFrequency: 8

State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.

EvaluateFrequency: 6

Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.

ExplainFrequency: 7

Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.

OutlineFrequency: 9

Match the expected response style for “Outline” questions.

CalculateFrequency: 2

Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.

IdentifyFrequency: 6

Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.

SketchFrequency: 3

Match the expected response style for “Sketch” questions.

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

Paper 1 Section A (10m / 5 marks

Min per mark: 2

Paper 1 Section B (26m / 25 marks

Min per mark: 1

Paper 1 Section C (26m / 25 marks

Min per mark: 1

Paper 2 Section A (26m / 25 marks

Min per mark: 1

Paper 2 Section B (26m / 25 marks

Min per mark: 1

Paper 2 Section C (26m / 25 marks

Min per mark: 1

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

Research methods (Cognition and behaviour)

25 marks this session

Memory (Cognition and behaviour)

25 marks this session

Development (Cognition and behaviour)

25 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

LowHigh
Topic
2022
2023
2024
Σ

Memory

25
25
50

Perception

25
25
50

Development

25
25
50

Research methods

25
25
50

Research methods (Cognition and behaviour)

25
25

Memory (Cognition and behaviour)

25
25

Development (Cognition and behaviour)

25
25

Social influence

25
25

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

Paper 1: Cognition and Behaviour:

100 marks105 min

Paper 2: Social Context and Behaviour:

100 marks105 min

Marks you can still earn

Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit

  • Failing to cover both conditions of the independent variable when writing an alternative hypothesis or when describing expected results in study designs.

Practise what examiners flagged

Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app

Self-diagnostic checklist

Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise

  • 1Message

    A highly balanced and specification-compliant examination cycle.

  • 2Message

    Paper 1 and Paper 2 each standardly assess exactly 25 marks per major specification chapter.

  • 3Message

    The paper heavily features research design, application scenarios, and key conceptual essays, maintaining a medium difficulty overall with several synoptic twists.

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2024 2024

Psychology

A highly balanced and specification-compliant examination cycle. Paper 1 and Paper 2 each standardly assess exactly 25 marks per major specification chapter. The paper heavily features research design, application scenarios, and key conceptual essays, maintaining a medium difficu

  • A highly balanced and specification-compliant examination cycle.

  • Paper 1 and Paper 2 each standardly assess exactly 25 marks per major specification chapter.

  • The paper heavily features research design, application scenarios, and key conceptual essays, maintaining a medium difficulty overall with several synoptic twists.

Total marks
200
Duration
210 min
Session difficulty
3.0 / 5

Session analysis

A highly balanced and specification-compliant examination cycle. Paper 1 and Paper 2 each standardly assess exactly 25 marks per major specification chapter. The paper heavily features research design, application scenarios, and key conceptual essays, maintaining a medium difficulty overall with several synoptic twists.

Updated Jun 14, 2026

Paper breakdown

Paper 1: Cognition and Behaviour:

100 marks105 min

Paper 2: Social Context and Behaviour:

100 marks105 min

Top chapters

Research methods (Cognition and behaviour)25 marks
Memory (Cognition and behaviour)25 marks
Development (Cognition and behaviour)25 marks

Exam structure insights

Marks by chapter

See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.

Memory25 marks
Perception25 marks
Development25 marks
Research methods25 marks
Social influence25 marks
Language, thought and communica25 marks
Brain and neuropsychology25 marks
Psychological problems25 marks

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

75% within easy or medium reach

65
85
50
Easy: 65 marksMedium: 85 marksHard: 50 marks

Command word frequency

Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.

Describe8 times
Evaluate6 times
Explain7 times
Outline9 times
Calculate2 times
Identify6 times
Sketch3 times

Question type mix

Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.

200Marks
  • Short Answer

    74·32·37%

  • Application / Scenario

    54·18·27%

  • Extended Writing

    (9-markers)

    36·4·18%

  • Mathematical / Practical

    28·5·14%

  • Multiple Choice

    8·7·4%

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

DifficultyRecurrence %Memory: Reconstruc…Social Influence: …Psychological Prob…Research Methods: …Brain & Neuropsych…

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

3.220223.5202332024

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

MarksMinutesMarks / min

Paper 1 Section A (

0.50 m/min
5
10

Paper 1 Section B (

0.96 m/min
25
26

Paper 1 Section C (

0.96 m/min
25
26

Paper 2 Section A (

0.96 m/min
25
26

Paper 2 Section B (

0.96 m/min
25
26

Paper 2 Section C (

0.96 m/min
25
26

Total marks

130

Total time

140 min

Avg pace

0.93

Cumulative marks ladder

The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.

0501001502009 estimated8 estimated7 estimated6 estimated5 estimated4 estimated3 estimated2 estimated1 estimatedU estimated716253650607588100116125138150166175185200

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Research Methods: Ethical Issues & Sampling Methods

90%

90%

Gregory's Constructivist Theory vs. Gibson's Direct Theory

85%

85%

Non-Verbal Communication: Darwin's Evolutionary Theory

82%

82%

Multi-Store Model of Memory (MSM) vs Working Memory Model (WMM)

78%

78%

Exam tips

Paper format

Duration
1h 45min
Total marks
100
Weighting
50%
Question types
Multiple Choice, Short Answer, Application / Scenario, Extended Writing, Practical / Sketch

Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.

8182/11 — AQA GCSE Psychology (June 2024) | Revui