How to Improve Performance on 16 Mark Questions (AQA A Level Psychology) : Revision Note
How can I improve my performance on AQA A Level Psychology 16-mark essay questions?
One way to boost your marks in an essay is to perfect your evaluation (AO3)
Think quality over quantity; it is better to cover fewer evaluation points in greater detail so that your points are effective. You can do this by:
Introducing the evaluation point
Elaborate in the following ways: give an example, cite research evidence to support your point, draw a comparison, or discuss the implications of research or applications to real-life
Link the point back to the question (what are the implications for the question?)
Examiners say that students usually forget to include this important part when evaluating
It is helpful to use some lead-in phrases to signpost the different elements of your evaluation, such as:
A strength/limitation is...
On the other hand...
Furthermore...
However...
In contrast...
This shows that...
This suggests that...
This implies that...
Worked Example
Here is an example of an effective evaluation point that could be included in a 16-mark question (or even a short-answer question) on the biological approach in psychology:
Introduce the evaluation point:
A strength of the biological approach is that it has practical applications in treatment
Elaborate:
A greater understanding of how imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain may cause disorders has led to effective treatments. For example, depression has been linked to low levels of serotonin, and as a result, SSRIs are commonly used to treat depression as they increase serotonin levels.
Link back to the question:
This is a strength, as it means that the biological approach doesn't just theorise about causes of behaviour but also provides effective, practical treatments for mental disorders such as depression.
Marking commentary:
This is an effective evaluation point as the strength is introduced, it is explained well as a specific example has been provided. The final sentence links back to the question as it explains why this is a strength of the biological approach.
Dos and Don'ts
Write in continuous prose rather than bullet points
Use appropriate key terms
Ensure that you know all of the studies specifically named on the specification
There is no need to write an introduction or conclusion if it doesn't go beyond the material presented in the body of the essay
You can include diagrams if it helps to explain your answer, e.g. models of memory
Don't be tempted to include your own opinion as psychology is evidence-based
There is no need to include the names of researchers for studies used as evaluation or wider knowledge, but ensure that you know and use the studies effectively
You are not assessed on your spelling and grammar, but your answer needs to be clear, coherent and focused
When evaluating, avoid using the phrase 'this proves that...' as nothing is proven in psychology!
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Examiners have suggested the following advice to help you improve your performance on extended writing questions:
Read the question carefully and focus on the specific wording used
Answer the question you have been presented with, not the one you hoped for
Take time to plan so that you can write an organised answer that is focused on the specific question
Use paragraphs to help with coherence and structure
Engage with the stem material by making links with theory/explanations
Elaborate on discussion/evaluation points by developing a line of argument, justifying points raised using evidence, and making use of counterarguments and alternative explanations
Link your evaluation points back to the question
Methodological evaluation should be specific to the study, not generic
E.g., a generic point is one that says 'the research is correlational so it doesn't show cause and effect'
It is better to contextualise the point by saying 'the research is correlational, so it doesn't show cause and effect between stress and illness. Although a relationship exists between these co-variables, it is difficult to conclude whether stress causes illness or the other way round, or if an intervening variables (e.g., poor diet) plays a role'
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