GRE Psychology Subject Test practice exam
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2025/2026 Q&A
1. Which type of research design allows for the strongest conclusions about
cause-and-effect relationships?
A) Correlational study
B) Experimental study
C) Case study
D) Longitudinal study
Rationale: Experimental studies manipulate an independent variable and
control extraneous variables, allowing causal inferences.
2. In classical conditioning, the conditioned response is:
A) Naturally occurring response to a stimulus
B) Learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
C) Response that occurs without reinforcement
D) The reinforcement given after a response
Rationale: A conditioned response is learned through repeated pairing of a
neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus.
3. Which part of the neuron receives incoming signals?
A) Axon
B) Terminal buttons
C) Dendrites
D) Myelin sheath
Rationale: Dendrites contain receptors that receive chemical signals from other
neurons.
4. Piaget’s stage characterized by abstract reasoning is:
,A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Rationale: Formal operational stage (around 12 years and up) involves abstract
and hypothetical reasoning.
5. The “Big Five” personality trait that involves being organized, responsible,
and dependable is:
A) Openness
B) Extraversion
C) Agreeableness
D) Conscientiousness
Rationale: Conscientiousness reflects self-discipline, organization, and goal-
directed behavior.
6. According to Bandura, learning by observing others is called:
A) Classical conditioning
B) Operant conditioning
C) Observational learning
D) Insight learning
Rationale: Observational learning occurs when individuals imitate behaviors
observed in models.
7. The tendency to perceive a stimulus in a way that is consistent with past
experience is called:
A) Top-down processing
B) Perceptual set
C) Bottom-up processing
D) Sensory adaptation
Rationale: Perceptual set biases perception based on expectations and prior
experience.
, 8. Which type of memory has the largest capacity but shortest duration?
A) Short-term memory
B) Long-term memory
C) Sensory memory
D) Working memory
Rationale: Sensory memory briefly holds large amounts of sensory input before
it decays.
9. In Erikson’s psychosocial theory, the challenge of adolescence is:
A) Trust vs. mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. shame
C) Initiative vs. guilt
D) Identity vs. role confusion
Rationale: Adolescents explore personal identity, leading to either identity
achievement or confusion.
10. The tendency to overestimate the likelihood of events that easily come to
mind is:
A) Representativeness heuristic
B) Availability heuristic
C) Anchoring bias
D) Confirmation bias
Rationale: Availability heuristic is a mental shortcut based on immediate
examples or vivid memories.
11. Damage to Broca’s area primarily affects:
A) Speech production
B) Language comprehension
C) Memory formation
D) Emotional regulation
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2025/2026 Q&A
1. Which type of research design allows for the strongest conclusions about
cause-and-effect relationships?
A) Correlational study
B) Experimental study
C) Case study
D) Longitudinal study
Rationale: Experimental studies manipulate an independent variable and
control extraneous variables, allowing causal inferences.
2. In classical conditioning, the conditioned response is:
A) Naturally occurring response to a stimulus
B) Learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
C) Response that occurs without reinforcement
D) The reinforcement given after a response
Rationale: A conditioned response is learned through repeated pairing of a
neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus.
3. Which part of the neuron receives incoming signals?
A) Axon
B) Terminal buttons
C) Dendrites
D) Myelin sheath
Rationale: Dendrites contain receptors that receive chemical signals from other
neurons.
4. Piaget’s stage characterized by abstract reasoning is:
,A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Rationale: Formal operational stage (around 12 years and up) involves abstract
and hypothetical reasoning.
5. The “Big Five” personality trait that involves being organized, responsible,
and dependable is:
A) Openness
B) Extraversion
C) Agreeableness
D) Conscientiousness
Rationale: Conscientiousness reflects self-discipline, organization, and goal-
directed behavior.
6. According to Bandura, learning by observing others is called:
A) Classical conditioning
B) Operant conditioning
C) Observational learning
D) Insight learning
Rationale: Observational learning occurs when individuals imitate behaviors
observed in models.
7. The tendency to perceive a stimulus in a way that is consistent with past
experience is called:
A) Top-down processing
B) Perceptual set
C) Bottom-up processing
D) Sensory adaptation
Rationale: Perceptual set biases perception based on expectations and prior
experience.
, 8. Which type of memory has the largest capacity but shortest duration?
A) Short-term memory
B) Long-term memory
C) Sensory memory
D) Working memory
Rationale: Sensory memory briefly holds large amounts of sensory input before
it decays.
9. In Erikson’s psychosocial theory, the challenge of adolescence is:
A) Trust vs. mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. shame
C) Initiative vs. guilt
D) Identity vs. role confusion
Rationale: Adolescents explore personal identity, leading to either identity
achievement or confusion.
10. The tendency to overestimate the likelihood of events that easily come to
mind is:
A) Representativeness heuristic
B) Availability heuristic
C) Anchoring bias
D) Confirmation bias
Rationale: Availability heuristic is a mental shortcut based on immediate
examples or vivid memories.
11. Damage to Broca’s area primarily affects:
A) Speech production
B) Language comprehension
C) Memory formation
D) Emotional regulation
