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A-Level Psychology 9990 Past Papers and Drilling: Research Methods and Planning
TUTORZONE ORIGINAL DRILLING MOCK · CAMBRIDGE A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY 9990
Written to the current Cambridge 2027 format: AS Level takes Paper 1 (1 h 30 min, 60 marks, 50% of AS / 25% of A Level) and Paper 2 Research Methods (1 h 30 min, 60 marks, 50% of AS / 25% of A Level); the A Level adds Papers 3 and 4 (25% each). This drilling mock demonstrates the full Paper 2 5-question structure (Section A 46 marks plus a 14-mark planning question, 60 marks) with answers and techniques.
How many papers are in A-Level Psychology 9990?
Direct answer: AS Level takes Paper 1 and Paper 2 (1 h 30 min, 60 marks each, 50% of AS each); the A Level adds Paper 3 and Paper 4 (60 marks each, 25% of A Level each).
Assessment at a glance (2027)
| Component | Content | Weighting | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (Approaches, Issues and Debates) | Section A 38 marks of core-study short answers, Section B 22 marks of extended response and essay | AS 50% / AL 25% | 1 h 30 min |
| Paper 2 (Research Methods, the paper drilled here) | Section A 46 marks on methods and scenarios, Section B a 14-mark planning question | AS 50% / AL 25% | 1 h 30 min |
| Paper 3 (Specialist Options) | A Level content: two specialist options of 30 marks each | AL 25% | 1 h 30 min |
| Paper 4 (Specialist Options: Application and Research Methods) | Section A two options of 18 marks each, Section B a 24-mark planning question | AL 25% | 1 h 30 min |
A-Level Psychology drilling technique: separate the independent variable (what the researcher manipulates) from the dependent variable (what is measured); mean, median and mode suit different data – use the mode for nominal data and the median when there are extreme values; percentages remove the effect of sample size. In the planning question, write a testable hypothesis first, operationalise the IV and DV, and finish by evaluating generalisability or ethics – that section alone is 14 marks.
How this paper was built
This is a TutorZone original drilling mock: the questions follow the Cambridge A-Level Psychology 9990 format and the answers are our own, not Cambridge past papers or marking references.
Every numeric answer was recomputed programmatically; the structure, marks and weightings come from the official 2027 syllabus.
The paper demonstrates the whole of Paper 2: Section A four short-answer and scenario questions worth 46 marks (descriptive statistics, percentages, observation ratios, the mode) plus a 14-mark planning question, 60 marks in total.
Pacing
| Section | Marks | Suggested time | What to do first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (Approaches, Issues and Debates) | AS 50% / AL 25% | about 5 min per short answer, 35 min for the essay | name the design before the findings |
| Paper 2 (Research Methods, the paper drilled here) | AS 50% / AL 25% | allow 25 min for the planning question | operationalise the IV and DV |
| Paper 3 (Specialist Options) | AL 25% | about 45 min per option | the essay splits into describe and evaluate |
| Paper 4 (Specialist Options: Application and Research Methods) | AL 25% | allow 30 min for the planning question | apply methods to an unseen scenario |
What is the structure of Paper 2?
Direct answer: Section A is 46 marks (general research methods, methods linked to a core study, plus three scenario short answers); Section B is a 14-mark planning question where you design a study and evaluate its generalisability or ethics.
Drilling (5 demonstrated, 60 marks)
The full Paper 2 structure: Section A 46 marks plus a 14-mark planning question.
Question 1 (12 marks)
A memory experiment records five reaction times in milliseconds: 320, 360, 340, 380, 400. (a) Find the mean; (b) find the median; (c) find the range; (d) can a mode be reported for this data set? Explain.
Question 2 (12 marks)
A study has 45 participants, of whom 27 answer a memory test correctly. (a) Find the percentage of correct answers; (b) explain why raw frequencies must be converted into percentages before two studies with different sample sizes are compared.
Question 3 (11 marks)
An observation study uses time sampling and records off-task behaviour in 7 of 20 intervals. (a) Find the percentage of intervals with the behaviour; (b) state two limitations of time sampling.
Question 4 (11 marks)
A questionnaire gives the scores 5, 6, 5, 7, 5, 8, 6. (a) Find the mode and its frequency; (b) state which type of data the mode describes best.
Question 5 (14 marks)
Planning question: design an experiment to test whether background music affects the amount recalled in a short-term memory task. State (a) the aim and a testable hypothesis; (b) the operationalised independent and dependent variables; (c) the design and sample; (d) the variables to control; (e) the data type and a suitable statistic; (f) one ethical consideration, and evaluate one weakness in the generalisability of your sample.
Which topics does this paper drill?
Direct answer: choosing between mean, median, range and mode, converting to percentages, time-sampling observation ratios, and a complete experiment planning question.
Answers and marks per question
Question 1
(a) Mean = (320 + 360 + 340 + 380 + 400) / 5 = 360 ms (4); (b) in order the values are 320, 340, 360, 380, 400, so the median is 360 ms (4); (c) range = 400 – 320 = 80 ms (2); (d) No – all five values are different, so no value occurs more often than the others (2).
Question 2
(a) 27 / 45 x 100 = 60% (6); (b) a percentage puts both results on the same base of 100, removing the effect of sample size – comparing 27 people with 18 people directly would wrongly suggest the first study did better, when 24 out of 30 is 80% (6).
Question 3
(a) 7 / 20 x 100 = 35% (5); (b) only the sampled intervals are observed so behaviour between intervals is missed, and observer subjectivity can reduce reliability (6, 3 marks each).
Question 4
(a) Mode = 5, occurring 3 times (6); (b) the mode suits nominal (categorical) data and frequency distributions, for example the most common answer or category (5).
Question 5
(a) Example hypothesis: the group with background music will recall fewer words than the group with no music (2); (b) IV = background music present or absent (specify the track and volume), DV = number of words correctly recalled out of 20 (4); (c) independent groups design to avoid practice effects, with for example 40 students of the same year group randomly allocated (4); (d) control the study time, word-list difficulty, room noise and time of testing (2); (e) ratio data (number of words recalled), so compare means with an independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U (1); (f) ethics: obtain informed consent and allow withdrawal at any time (1). Evaluation: using only students from one year group in one school limits the age and cultural range, so generalisability to the wider population is weak (2).
When should the median replace the mean?
Direct answer: use the median when the data contain extreme values or are clearly skewed, because it is not pulled by outliers; for nominal (categorical) data use the mode.
Where these marks are usually lost
| Mistake | What it looks like | What it costs | Instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confusing IV and DV | Treating the measured outcome as the IV | The design and hypothesis collapse | The IV is the condition the researcher manipulates |
| Mean used blindly | Reporting the mean with extreme values | The result is skewed | Report the median when there are outliers |
| No operationalisation | Writing only ‘memory’ | It cannot be tested | Write words recalled correctly out of 20 |
| Comparing raw frequencies | 27 people against 18 people | Sample size is ignored | Convert to percentages first |
How to use this paper
First drill: all 5 questions inside 90 minutes, keeping at least 25 minutes for the planning question.
Mark it: check the statistics, units and the six elements of the plan.
Second drill: redo three to seven days later, rewriting the planning question with its evaluation.
What should I do after drilling this paper?
Direct answer: log the questions where the IV and DV were confused or the variables were not operationalised; rewrite the planning question in three to seven days; then drill Paper 1 core-study questions and essays.
FAQ
Is this a Cambridge past paper?
No. The questions and answers are TutorZone originals, not Cambridge past papers or marking references.
How many papers are in A-Level Psychology 9990?
AS Level takes Papers 1 and 2 (60 marks and 1 h 30 min each, 50% of AS each); the A Level adds Papers 3 and 4 (60 marks each, 25% of A Level each).
How much of the course is research methods?
Half of the AS Level: Paper 2 is 60 marks – 46 in Section A and 14 in the Section B planning question.
Official references
| Resource | What to check |
|---|---|
| Cambridge A-Level Psychology 9990 page | Confirm the format, marks and weightings |
| Official 2027 syllabus (PDF) | Check the marks and assessment objectives for Papers 1-4 |
| https://www.tutorzone.com.hk/en-alevel-economics-9708-paper-1-mock-2027/ | A-Level Economics Paper 1 drilling mock |
| https://www.tutorzone.com.hk/en-alevel-business-9609-mock-2027/ | A-Level Business 9609 drilling mock |
Related: practice area · A-Level Psychology 9990 drilling guide (paper order and pacing) · A-Level Business 9609 drilling mock · A-Level Economics Paper 1 drilling mock
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