Centre number Candidate number INTERNATIONAL AS
Surname PSYCHOLOGY
Forename(s)
Candidate signature
PS01
I declare this is my own work.
Unit 1 Introductory Topics in Psychology
INTERNATIONAL AS Mark scheme
PSYCHOLOGY June 2026
Version: 1.0 Final
Unit 1 Introductory Topics in Psychology
Friday 15 May 2026 08:00 UK Time Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have: For Examiner’s Use
• a calculator, which you are expected to use where appropriate. Section Mark
A
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen. B
• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page. C
• Answer all questions.
TOTAL
• You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write outside
the box around each page or on blank pages.
• All working must be shown.
• If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s).
• Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not
want to be marked.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 90.
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MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PSYCHOLOGY – PS01 – JUNE 2026
Do not write
outside the
Section A: Memory box
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
0 1 According to the multi-store model of memory, the sensory register, short-term and
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
long-term memory all differ in relation to their capacity, coding and duration.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
State the capacity, coding and duration of the sensory register.
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
[3 marks]
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
Capacity
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
Coding
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
Duration
paper.
0 2 Outline the working memory model.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from
[3 marks]
0 3 Amir is completing an essay for his biology homework. His mother asks him a
question. Amir stops completing his biology homework and asks his mother to repeat
what she said. Later that day, Amir is able to paint a picture while having a
conversation with his mother at the same time.
Use your knowledge of the working memory model to explain Amir’s experiences.
[3 marks]
information
OxfordAQA retains the on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for OxfordAQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for
their own internal use, llowing important exception: OxfordAQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is
acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre.
OxfordAQA International Examinations and its licensors. All rights reserved.
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MARK SCHEME – INTERNATIONAL AS PSYCHOLOGY – PS01 – JUNE 2026
Do not write
outside the
0 4 Evaluate the working memory model. box
[6 marks]
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Extra space
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
Turn over for the next question
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
Turn over ►
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