Practice Paper: AQA A Level Psychology
7182/03 (Paper 3)
Issues and options in psychology (all nine option topics included)
Question paper
Written by AcePapers
Independent practice paper written for revision. Not an official AQA paper and not
affiliated with or endorsed by AQA.
Time allowed: 2 hours Total: 96 marks
You will need
• A pen, a pencil, a ruler and a calculator.
Instructions
• Answer every question, writing your answers in the lined spaces. You may not
need all of the lines.
• Show your working in calculations.
• Section A: answer all questions (24 marks).
• Sections B, C and D: in each section, choose ONE topic and answer all the
questions on that topic only (24 marks each). Cross out any topic you do not
answer.
• You answer 96 marks in total. Allow about 30 minutes for each section.
• For multiple choice questions, put a cross in the ONE box you think is correct.
• The mark for each part is printed in brackets. Plan your time with it.
• All people, scenarios and data in this paper are invented. Names are fictional.
Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________
Practice Paper 7182/03 (Paper 3) – Question paper Written by AcePapers | Page 1
, Section A: Issues and debates in psychology Answer all questions in this
section.
01 Which statement describes alpha bias?
☐ A Research or theory that minimises or ignores differences between men and
women.
☐ B Research that uses only participants from one culture.
☐ C Research or theory that exaggerates differences between men and women.
☐ D Research that judges other cultures by the standards of one's own.
[1 mark]
02 Which statement is consistent with hard determinism?
☐ A All behaviour is caused by factors outside the person's control, so free will is
an illusion.
☐ B Behaviour has causes, but people can still make choices within limits.
☐ C People are entirely free to choose how they behave.
☐ D Only behaviour that is caused by genes is determined.
[1 mark]
03 Explain what is meant by soft determinism.
[2 marks]
04 Two psychologists are explaining why Hana has developed depression. One
says it is caused by low levels of serotonin in her brain. The other looks at her
recent redundancy, her negative thoughts about herself, her lack of family
support and her low serotonin, and how these interact.
Use your knowledge of holism and reductionism to explain the difference
between these two explanations.
[4 marks]
Practice Paper 7182/03 (Paper 3) – Question paper Written by AcePapers | Page 2
, 05 Discuss the nature–nurture debate in psychology. Refer to the interactionist
approach and use examples from topics you have studied.
[16 marks]
Practice Paper 7182/03 (Paper 3) – Question paper Written by AcePapers | Page 3
, Practice Paper 7182/03 (Paper 3) – Question paper Written by AcePapers | Page 4
7182/03 (Paper 3)
Issues and options in psychology (all nine option topics included)
Question paper
Written by AcePapers
Independent practice paper written for revision. Not an official AQA paper and not
affiliated with or endorsed by AQA.
Time allowed: 2 hours Total: 96 marks
You will need
• A pen, a pencil, a ruler and a calculator.
Instructions
• Answer every question, writing your answers in the lined spaces. You may not
need all of the lines.
• Show your working in calculations.
• Section A: answer all questions (24 marks).
• Sections B, C and D: in each section, choose ONE topic and answer all the
questions on that topic only (24 marks each). Cross out any topic you do not
answer.
• You answer 96 marks in total. Allow about 30 minutes for each section.
• For multiple choice questions, put a cross in the ONE box you think is correct.
• The mark for each part is printed in brackets. Plan your time with it.
• All people, scenarios and data in this paper are invented. Names are fictional.
Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________
Practice Paper 7182/03 (Paper 3) – Question paper Written by AcePapers | Page 1
, Section A: Issues and debates in psychology Answer all questions in this
section.
01 Which statement describes alpha bias?
☐ A Research or theory that minimises or ignores differences between men and
women.
☐ B Research that uses only participants from one culture.
☐ C Research or theory that exaggerates differences between men and women.
☐ D Research that judges other cultures by the standards of one's own.
[1 mark]
02 Which statement is consistent with hard determinism?
☐ A All behaviour is caused by factors outside the person's control, so free will is
an illusion.
☐ B Behaviour has causes, but people can still make choices within limits.
☐ C People are entirely free to choose how they behave.
☐ D Only behaviour that is caused by genes is determined.
[1 mark]
03 Explain what is meant by soft determinism.
[2 marks]
04 Two psychologists are explaining why Hana has developed depression. One
says it is caused by low levels of serotonin in her brain. The other looks at her
recent redundancy, her negative thoughts about herself, her lack of family
support and her low serotonin, and how these interact.
Use your knowledge of holism and reductionism to explain the difference
between these two explanations.
[4 marks]
Practice Paper 7182/03 (Paper 3) – Question paper Written by AcePapers | Page 2
, 05 Discuss the nature–nurture debate in psychology. Refer to the interactionist
approach and use examples from topics you have studied.
[16 marks]
Practice Paper 7182/03 (Paper 3) – Question paper Written by AcePapers | Page 3
, Practice Paper 7182/03 (Paper 3) – Question paper Written by AcePapers | Page 4
