Sample IB Psychology Course Outline (for first exams May 2027)

Travis DixonCurriculum, IB Psychology

This is a sample course outline that shows how you can cover everything in a logical order. The units are from this textbook.  Sample IB Psychology Course Outline – HL Only This is a Two Year HL course mapped onto a Northern hemisphere timetable (from St Maur, Japan’s schedule).  YEAR ONE Semester One (65 lessons) Focus: Knowing the basics, including …

How to get 7s in Paper One?
Build a course on content, not concepts.

Travis DixonCurriculum, IB Psychology, Revision and Exam Preparation, Teaching Ideas, Themantics

If you’re struggling to build your course on concepts, this post will explain why. About 12 years ago I realised how irrelevant command terms were for IB Psych exams. I lamented over lost time and energy spent focusing on these, at the expense of better things, like content. Since then I’ve tried to show you all what I learned. I …

Example Essay: “Strategies used to measure theory of mind.”

Travis DixonDevelopmental Psychology, Example Exam Answers, IB Psychology

The following is an example essay I wrote for the new curriculum. It answers the (problematic) question on the specimen paper. I’ve included a commentary along the side of this which shows my thinking about how to approach these new essays. In a nutshell, I haven’t changed a thing – students need to explain the topic, explain research and think …

Seriously?

Travis DixonCurriculum, IB Psychology, Teaching Ideas

In the new IB Psych curriculum we’ve been given 45 hours to teach “data analysis and interpretation.” No thanks. I’ll have a hard enough time staying awake in that let alone my students. Here’s a workaround that will give you 20 extra hours in your course.  IB Psychology curriculums are convoluted and complicated beasts. Luckily, they’re filled with loopholes we …

The T-REX SAQ

Travis DixonAssessment (IB), Example Exam Answers, IB Psychology

The first two questions in IB Psychology Paper One (new syllabus) are designed to be “quick wins.” They’re 4 mark SAQs that can be answered in about 250 words. I want to keep things simple so students go into exams with confidence. I also love a good acronym. So here’s my T-REX SAQ structure that can answer any SAQ. Don’t believe me? …

How to answer Paper 3, Question 1 (a, b & c)

Travis DixonIB Psychology, Revision and Exam Preparation

The following has been adapted from our textbook “IB Psychology: A Revision Guide.” (Now available as an online textbook). All HL students should score 100% (9/9) for the first questions in Paper 3 because it’s so easy. But most don’t because they make basic mistakes. Let’s look at the best and simplest way to answer these three questions. We know …