University of Amsterdam (UvA) Psychology
Selection Exam 2026 Mock Test Questions &
Answers | Admission Preparation & Practice
Guide
University of Amsterdam (UvA) Psychology Selection Exam 2026
Mock Test — 200 Questions | Full Practice Guide
• How to use this guide: Work through each question independently before
checking the highlighted correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE — active recall
dramatically improves retention and exam readiness.
• Features: 200 curriculum-aligned MCQs across all UvA Psychology exam domains
— Research Methods & Statistics, Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology,
Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Personality
Theory — each with five options and an evidence-based EXPERT RATIONALE.
SECTION 1: RESEARCH METHODS & STATISTICS
1. A researcher randomly assigns participants to either a treatment or control
group. What type of study is this?
A) Correlational study
B) Case study
C) Naturalistic observation
D) Randomized controlled experiment
Correct Answer: D) Randomized controlled experiment
EXPERT RATIONALE: Random assignment to conditions is the defining feature of a
true experiment, allowing causal conclusions by controlling for confounding variables.
E) Longitudinal study
,2. Which measure of central tendency is most resistant to extreme outliers?
A) Mean
B) Mode
C) Range
D) Median
Correct Answer: D) Median
EXPERT RATIONALE: The median, being the middle value, is not affected by extreme
scores unlike the mean, making it more robust when data are skewed.
E) Standard deviation
3. A study finds r = –0.82 between stress and academic performance. What
does this indicate?
A) Stress causes poor academic performance
B) There is no relationship between the variables
C) Academic performance causes stress
D) There is a strong negative correlation between stress and academic
performance
Correct Answer: D) There is a strong negative correlation between stress
and academic performance
EXPERT RATIONALE: A correlation of –0.82 indicates a strong inverse relationship.
Correlation does not imply causation, so no directional cause can be concluded.
E) There is a weak positive correlation
4. What does a p-value of 0.03 mean in hypothesis testing?
,A) There is a 3% chance the hypothesis is true
B) There is a 97% chance the results are meaningful
C) The effect size is large
D) There is a 3% probability of obtaining these results if the null hypothesis is
true
Correct Answer: D) There is a 3% probability of obtaining these results if
the null hypothesis is true
EXPERT RATIONALE: The p-value represents the probability of observing data at
least as extreme as the obtained results, assuming the null hypothesis is correct.
E) The study should be repeated
5. Which of the following best describes internal validity?
A) The extent to which findings can be generalized to other populations
B) Whether the study measures what it claims to measure
C) The consistency of results across repeated measurements
D) The degree to which a study accurately establishes a causal relationship
between variables
Correct Answer: D) The degree to which a study accurately establishes a
causal relationship between variables
EXPERT RATIONALE: Internal validity concerns whether observed effects are due to
the manipulation and not confounding variables — it is about causal accuracy within
the study.
E) The reliability of the measurement instrument
6. A researcher studies the same group of children from age 5 to age 18. This is
a:
, A) Cross-sectional study
B) Case study
C) Retrospective study
D) Longitudinal study
Correct Answer: D) Longitudinal study
EXPERT RATIONALE: Longitudinal studies follow the same participants over an
extended time period, allowing observation of developmental changes within individuals.
E) Cohort comparison study
7. What is a Type I error?
A) Accepting the null hypothesis when it is false
B) Failing to reject a false null hypothesis
C) Reporting incorrect effect sizes
D) Rejecting a true null hypothesis
Correct Answer: D) Rejecting a true null hypothesis EXPERT RATIONALE: A
Type I error is a false positive — concluding there is an effect when there is none. Its
probability is controlled by the significance level (α).
E) Using the wrong statistical test
8. What is a Type II error?
A) Rejecting a true null hypothesis
B) Overestimating effect size
C) Using an inappropriate sample
D) Failing to reject a false null hypothesis
Selection Exam 2026 Mock Test Questions &
Answers | Admission Preparation & Practice
Guide
University of Amsterdam (UvA) Psychology Selection Exam 2026
Mock Test — 200 Questions | Full Practice Guide
• How to use this guide: Work through each question independently before
checking the highlighted correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE — active recall
dramatically improves retention and exam readiness.
• Features: 200 curriculum-aligned MCQs across all UvA Psychology exam domains
— Research Methods & Statistics, Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology,
Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Personality
Theory — each with five options and an evidence-based EXPERT RATIONALE.
SECTION 1: RESEARCH METHODS & STATISTICS
1. A researcher randomly assigns participants to either a treatment or control
group. What type of study is this?
A) Correlational study
B) Case study
C) Naturalistic observation
D) Randomized controlled experiment
Correct Answer: D) Randomized controlled experiment
EXPERT RATIONALE: Random assignment to conditions is the defining feature of a
true experiment, allowing causal conclusions by controlling for confounding variables.
E) Longitudinal study
,2. Which measure of central tendency is most resistant to extreme outliers?
A) Mean
B) Mode
C) Range
D) Median
Correct Answer: D) Median
EXPERT RATIONALE: The median, being the middle value, is not affected by extreme
scores unlike the mean, making it more robust when data are skewed.
E) Standard deviation
3. A study finds r = –0.82 between stress and academic performance. What
does this indicate?
A) Stress causes poor academic performance
B) There is no relationship between the variables
C) Academic performance causes stress
D) There is a strong negative correlation between stress and academic
performance
Correct Answer: D) There is a strong negative correlation between stress
and academic performance
EXPERT RATIONALE: A correlation of –0.82 indicates a strong inverse relationship.
Correlation does not imply causation, so no directional cause can be concluded.
E) There is a weak positive correlation
4. What does a p-value of 0.03 mean in hypothesis testing?
,A) There is a 3% chance the hypothesis is true
B) There is a 97% chance the results are meaningful
C) The effect size is large
D) There is a 3% probability of obtaining these results if the null hypothesis is
true
Correct Answer: D) There is a 3% probability of obtaining these results if
the null hypothesis is true
EXPERT RATIONALE: The p-value represents the probability of observing data at
least as extreme as the obtained results, assuming the null hypothesis is correct.
E) The study should be repeated
5. Which of the following best describes internal validity?
A) The extent to which findings can be generalized to other populations
B) Whether the study measures what it claims to measure
C) The consistency of results across repeated measurements
D) The degree to which a study accurately establishes a causal relationship
between variables
Correct Answer: D) The degree to which a study accurately establishes a
causal relationship between variables
EXPERT RATIONALE: Internal validity concerns whether observed effects are due to
the manipulation and not confounding variables — it is about causal accuracy within
the study.
E) The reliability of the measurement instrument
6. A researcher studies the same group of children from age 5 to age 18. This is
a:
, A) Cross-sectional study
B) Case study
C) Retrospective study
D) Longitudinal study
Correct Answer: D) Longitudinal study
EXPERT RATIONALE: Longitudinal studies follow the same participants over an
extended time period, allowing observation of developmental changes within individuals.
E) Cohort comparison study
7. What is a Type I error?
A) Accepting the null hypothesis when it is false
B) Failing to reject a false null hypothesis
C) Reporting incorrect effect sizes
D) Rejecting a true null hypothesis
Correct Answer: D) Rejecting a true null hypothesis EXPERT RATIONALE: A
Type I error is a false positive — concluding there is an effect when there is none. Its
probability is controlled by the significance level (α).
E) Using the wrong statistical test
8. What is a Type II error?
A) Rejecting a true null hypothesis
B) Overestimating effect size
C) Using an inappropriate sample
D) Failing to reject a false null hypothesis
