Edexcel International A Level Psychology
Edexcel International A Level Psychology Cognitive Psychology Exam Questions
Free Edexcel International A Level Psychology exam questions for Cognitive Psychology, with a mark scheme for every pack. Covers the multi-store and working memory models, types of long-term memory, reconstructive memory, experimental design and Bartlett (1932).
Cognitive Psychology exam questions
1 question pack of real past exam questions, each with its mark scheme. Do not stop after a few: answer as many as you can without notes, then mark every answer with the mark scheme. The more questions you do, the more quickly you will spot how examiners ask about each idea.
StemUp mark scheme flashcards
A-Level Psychology Flashcards for 2027 Onwards
Every answer is written in mark scheme wording, so you learn exactly what examiners give marks for. Then test yourself with the questions on this page.
£15.99View flashcards
About Edexcel International A Level Psychology Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology in Edexcel International A Level Psychology is studied in Unit 1, Social and Cognitive Psychology. It focuses on how memory works: the multi-store model, the working memory model, types of long-term memory, and reconstructive memory and schemas. Methods content is based on experiments and experimental design, including variables, controls, designs and hypotheses, with descriptive statistics. The classic study is Bartlett (1932), War of the Ghosts, and contemporary research includes Schmolck et al. (2002), a study of semantic knowledge in patient HM. You also complete a practical research exercise on memory. Examiners often ask you to compare models and design or evaluate experiments.
What you need to know
- Multi-store model Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) proposed sensory register, short-term memory and long-term memory, with attention moving information into STM and rehearsal moving it into LTM.
- Working memory model Baddeley and Hitch (1974) divided short-term memory into the central executive, phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad, later adding the episodic buffer.
- Types of long-term memory Tulving distinguished episodic memory (personal experiences) from semantic memory (facts and knowledge); procedural memory stores skills.
- Reconstructive memory Bartlett argued memory is reconstructed using schemas rather than replayed. In War of the Ghosts, British participants shortened the Native American folk tale and changed unfamiliar details, such as canoes becoming boats.
- Case of HM After surgery removing parts of his medial temporal lobes, HM could not form new long-term memories but had intact short-term memory; Schmolck et al. (2002) studied his semantic knowledge.
- Experimental methods Laboratory and field experiments, IV and DV, operationalisation, extraneous variables, experimental designs (independent groups, repeated measures, matched pairs), hypotheses, and measures of central tendency and dispersion.
Common mistakes in Cognitive Psychology
- Describing Bartlett's study as a controlled lab experiment; it lacked standardised instructions and controls.
- Saying HM had no memory at all; his short-term and procedural memory were largely intact.
- Confusing the phonological loop with the visuo-spatial sketchpad.
- Writing hypotheses that do not operationalise the IV and DV.
- Treating repeated measures as removing all participant variables without mentioning order effects.
Try three Cognitive Psychology exam-style questions
1. Outline Bartlett's (1932) War of the Ghosts study. (4 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
British participants read an unfamiliar Native American folk tale; they reproduced it from memory several times (repeated reproduction) or passed it on to others (serial reproduction); the story became shorter and more conventional; unfamiliar details were changed to fit their own cultural schemas, showing memory is reconstructive.
2. Explain one strength and one weakness of the working memory model. (4 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Strength: dual-task studies show people can do a verbal and a visual task at the same time better than two verbal tasks; supporting separate components; Weakness: the central executive is vague and its capacity is hard to measure; so the model is difficult to test fully.
3. Explain what is meant by an independent groups design and give one disadvantage. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Different participants take part in each condition of the experiment; disadvantage: participant variables such as memory ability may differ between groups; which could affect the DV and reduce validity.
Cognitive Psychology FAQs
What does Edexcel International A Level Psychology Cognitive psychology cover?
It covers the multi-store model, the working memory model, types of long-term memory, reconstructive memory, experiments and experimental design, Bartlett (1932) and contemporary studies such as Schmolck et al. (2002).
Which unit is Cognitive psychology examined in?
Cognitive psychology is examined in Unit 1, Social and Cognitive Psychology.
How do I revise Cognitive psychology effectively?
Draw both memory models from memory, learn the classic and contemporary studies in detail, and practise designing a short memory experiment with operationalised variables and controls.
