Current syllabus · first assessment 2027

IB · Psychology · HL

IB Psychology HL

Study IB Psychology HL through concepts, research contexts and the study of human behaviour.

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Subject overview

IB Psychology HL at a glance

Follow the live knowledge tree through concepts, content, contexts and learning objectives.

4
syllabus units
13
mapped topics
7
study tools

What you study in IB Psychology HL

Study behaviour and mental processes through integrated biological, cognitive and sociocultural perspectives.

Use the syllabus map to move from a context or concept to Concepts, Mastery or Question Bank.

Explore the IB Psychology HL syllabus

Follow the live knowledge tree through concepts, content, contexts and learning objectives.

IB Psychology HL exam skills

Practise the command terms, data handling and extended reasoning used across IB assessment.

  • Follow command termsMatch the depth and structure of the response to the exact instruction.
  • Use data as evidenceRead units and uncertainty, identify patterns and support conclusions with values.
  • Build mark-efficient explanationsLink cause, evidence and subject vocabulary without repeating the prompt.

SourceCurrent IB subject guide and assessment objectives.

Know the exam

IB Psychology HL assessment

The HL course combines external examinations with a research proposal.

Paper / componentQuestionsTime% of grade
Paper 1See the current paper specification35 marksIntegrating concepts, content and contexts.1 hour 30 minutes25%
Paper 2See the current paper specification35 marksApplying concepts and content to research contexts.1 hour 30 minutes25%
Paper 3See the current paper specification30 marksData analysis and interpretation of research data.1 hour 45 minutes30%
Research proposalSee the current paper specification24 marksProposal using one of four class-practical research methods.20 hours20%

You design a research proposal to investigate a population of interest using one of four class-practical research methods.

This page follows the IB Psychology course with first assessment in 2027.

Paper 3 assesses analysis and interpretation of research data and contributes 30% of the HL grade.

Use the syllabus tree to connect biological, cognitive and sociocultural perspectives with concepts, contexts and research methods.