AQA GCSE Psychology 2027 Predicted Practice Paper — Paper 1

Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided. You must write down all the stages in your working.

Section A

Memory. Answer all questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-A1 (1 mark)

  In the multi-store model of memory, information is first held in the sensory register. Which feature best describes the capacity and duration of the sensory register?

  A. Very limited capacity and a long duration of many yearsB. Very large capacity and a very short duration of a fraction of a secondC. Limited to about 7 items and a duration of around 18 secondsD. Unlimited capacity and a permanent, lifelong duration

  (Total for Question SECTION-A1 is 1 mark)
• 2

  Question SECTION-A2 (1 mark)

  According to Baddeley and Hitch's working memory model, which component acts as the attentional control system that directs information to the other subsystems?

  A. The phonological loopB. The visuo-spatial sketchpadC. The central executiveD. The episodic buffer

  (Total for Question SECTION-A2 is 1 mark)
• 3

  Question SECTION-A3 (4 marks)

  A teacher gives her class a list of 20 unrelated words to read once, then immediately asks them to recall as many as possible in any order. Most pupils remember the first few words and the last few words better than those in the middle. Identify this effect and briefly explain, using the multi-store model, why the first and last words are better recalled.

  (Total for Question SECTION-A3 is 4 marks)
• 4

  Question SECTION-A4 (7 marks)

  Explain what is meant by 'interference' as an explanation of forgetting, and distinguish between proactive and retroactive interference using an original example of each.

  (Total for Question SECTION-A4 is 7 marks)
• 5

  Question SECTION-A5 (12 marks)

  Describe and evaluate the multi-store model of memory. In your answer, refer to the structure of the model and to at least one strength and one limitation supported by evidence.

  (Total for Question SECTION-A5 is 12 marks)

Section B

Perception. Answer all questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-B1 (1 mark)

  Which of the following is a monocular depth cue (a cue that requires only one eye)?

  A. Retinal disparityB. ConvergenceC. Relative sizeD. Stereopsis

  (Total for Question SECTION-B1 is 1 mark)
• 2

  Question SECTION-B2 (1 mark)

  According to Gregory's constructivist theory, perception is best described as which of the following?

  A. A direct, bottom-up process using only information in the sensory dataB. A top-down process in which the brain makes inferences using past experience and expectationC. A purely innate process present from birth requiring no learningD. A process determined entirely by the physical intensity of the stimulus

  (Total for Question SECTION-B2 is 1 mark)
• 3

  Question SECTION-B3 (4 marks)

  A researcher shows participants the Muller-Lyer illusion, in which two lines of equal length appear unequal because of arrowheads pointing inwards or outwards. Using the concept of size constancy, explain why the line with outward-pointing (fins-out) arrowheads is usually judged to be longer.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B3 is 4 marks)
• 4

  Question SECTION-B4 (7 marks)

  Explain how motivation and expectation can each act as a factor affecting perception. Use one original example for each factor to support your answer.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B4 is 7 marks)
• 5

  Question SECTION-B5 (12 marks)

  Discuss Gibson's direct theory of perception. In your answer, describe the key features of the theory and evaluate it, including at least one strength and one limitation.

  (Total for Question SECTION-B5 is 12 marks)

Section C

Development. Answer all questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-C1 (1 mark)

  In Piaget's stages of cognitive development, at which stage does a child typically develop object permanence?

  A. Sensorimotor stageB. Pre-operational stageC. Concrete operational stageD. Formal operational stage

  (Total for Question SECTION-C1 is 1 mark)
• 2

  Question SECTION-C2 (1 mark)

  Which term describes a child's inability, during the pre-operational stage, to see a situation from another person's point of view?

  A. ConservationB. EgocentrismC. AssimilationD. Reversibility

  (Total for Question SECTION-C2 is 1 mark)
• 3

  Question SECTION-C3 (4 marks)

  A nursery worker pours water from a short, wide glass into a tall, thin glass while a 4-year-old watches. The child then says the tall glass 'has more' water even though nothing was added or taken away. Identify the ability the child is lacking and explain, using Piaget's theory, why children at this stage make this error.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C3 is 4 marks)
• 4

  Question SECTION-C4 (7 marks)

  Explain how the concepts of assimilation and accommodation allow a schema to develop. Use one original example to illustrate your answer.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C4 is 7 marks)
• 5

  Question SECTION-C5 (12 marks)

  Describe and evaluate Piaget's theory of cognitive development. In your answer, refer to the stages of development and to at least one strength and one limitation supported by evidence or research.

  (Total for Question SECTION-C5 is 12 marks)

Section D

Research methods. Answer all questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-D1 (1 mark)

  A researcher wants to select a sample from a population of 600 students by putting every name into a hat and drawing out 40 names. Which sampling method is this?

  A. Opportunity samplingB. Systematic samplingC. Random samplingD. Stratified sampling

  (Total for Question SECTION-D1 is 1 mark)
• 2

  Question SECTION-D2 (2 marks)

  A student calculates the mean, median, mode and range for the following seven memory-test scores (out of 20): 8, 12, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20. Calculate the mean of these seven scores, giving your answer to one decimal place.

  Your answer

  (Total for Question SECTION-D2 is 2 marks)
• 3

  Question SECTION-D3 (4 marks)

  A psychologist measures the number of hours 50 pupils sleep each night and their score out of 20 on a memory test. The results show that pupils who sleep more tend to score higher. State what type of correlation this describes, and explain why the psychologist cannot conclude that more sleep causes better memory scores.

  (Total for Question SECTION-D3 is 4 marks)
• 4

  Question SECTION-D4 (7 marks)

  A researcher plans a study in which participants complete a stressful problem-solving task. Explain how the researcher could deal with the ethical issues of informed consent and the right to withdraw. Refer to both issues in your answer.

  (Total for Question SECTION-D4 is 7 marks)
• 5

  Question SECTION-D5 (11 marks)

  A psychologist observes how many times children share a toy during a 10-minute free-play session, recording each child once. Explain one strength and one limitation of using a structured observation with a behavioural categories tally to collect these data.

  (Total for Question SECTION-D5 is 11 marks)