H167/02 Mark Scheme June 2025
AS-Level OCR 2025 Psychology Paper 2 Mark Scheme
GCE
Psychology
H167/02: Psychological themes through core studies
AS Level
Mark Scheme for June 2025
MARKING INSTRUCTIONS
PREPARATION FOR MARKING
RM Assessor
1. Make sure that you have accessed and completed the relevant training packages for on-screen marking: RM Assessor Online Training: OCR
Essential Guide to Marking.
2. Make sure that you have read and understood the mark scheme and the question paper for this unit. These are available in RM Assessor
3. Log-in to RM Assessor and mark the required number of practice responses (“scripts”) and the required number of standardisation responses.
2
,H167/02 Mark Scheme June 2025
MARKING
1. Mark strictly to the mark scheme.
2. Marks awarded must relate directly to the marking criteria.
3. The schedule of dates is very important. It is essential that you meet the scoris 50% and 100% (traditional 40% Batch 1 and 100% Batch 2)
deadlines. If you experience problems, you must contact your Team Leader (Supervisor) without delay.
4. If you are in any doubt about applying the mark scheme, consult your Team Leader by telephone or the scoris messaging system, or by email.
5. Crossed Out Responses
Where a candidate has crossed out a response and provided a clear alternative then the crossed out response is not marked. Where no alternative
response has been provided, examiners may give candidates the benefit of the doubt and mark the crossed out response where legible.
Rubric Error Responses – Optional Questions
Where candidates have a choice of question across a whole paper or a whole section and have provided more answers than required, then all responses
are marked and the highest mark allowable within the rubric is given. Enter a mark for each question answered into RM assessor, which will select the
highest mark from those awarded. (The underlying assumption is that the candidate has penalised themselves by attempting more questions than
necessary in the time allowed.)
Multiple Choice Question Responses
When a multiple choice question has only a single, correct response and a candidate provides two responses (even if one of these responses is correct),
then no mark should be awarded (as it is not possible to determine which was the first response selected by the candidate).
When a question requires candidates to select more than one option/multiple options, then local marking arrangements need to ensure consistency of
approach.
3
,H167/02 Mark Scheme June 2025
Contradictory Responses
When a candidate provides contradictory responses, then no mark should be awarded, even if one of the answers is correct.
Short Answer Questions (requiring only a list by way of a response, usually worth only one mark per response)
Where candidates are required to provide a set number of short answer responses then only the set number of responses should be marked. The
response space should be marked from left to right on each line and then line by line until the required number of responses have been considered. The
remaining responses should not then be marked. Examiners will have to apply judgement as to whether a ‘second response’ on a line is a development
of the ‘first response’, rather than a separate, discrete response. (The underlying assumption is that the candidate is attempting to hedge their bets and
therefore getting undue benefit rather than engaging with the question and giving the most relevant/correct responses.)
Short Answer Questions (requiring a more developed response, worth two or more marks)
If the candidates are required to provide a description of, say, three items or factors and four items or factors are provided, then mark on a similar basis
– that is downwards (as it is unlikely in this situation that a candidate will provide more than one response in each section of the response space.)
Longer Answer Questions (requiring a developed response)
Where candidates have provided two (or more) responses to a medium or high tariff question which only required a single (developed) response and not
crossed out the first response, then only the first response should be marked. Examiners will need to apply professional judgement as to whether the
second (or a subsequent) response is a ‘new start’ or simply a poorly expressed continuation of the first response.
6. Always check the pages (and additional objects if present) at the end of the response in case any answers have been continued there. If the candidate
has continued an answer there then add a tick to confirm that the work has been seen.
7. There is a NR (No Response) option. Award NR (No Response):
- if there is nothing written at all in the answer space
- OR if there is a comment which does not in any way relate to the question (e.g., ‘can’t do’, ‘don’t know’)
- OR if there is a mark (e.g., a dash, a question mark) which is not an attempt at the question.
Note: Award 0 marks – for an attempt that earns no credit (including copying out the question).
8. The scoris comments box is used by your team leader to explain the marking of the practice responses. Please refer to these comments when
checking your practice responses. Do not use the comments box for any other reason.
If you have any questions or comments for your team leader, use the phone, the scoris messaging system, or e-mail.
4
, H167/02 Mark Scheme June 2025
9. Assistant Examiners will send a brief report on the performance of candidates to their Team Leader (Supervisor) via email by the end of the marking
period. The report should contain notes on particular strengths displayed as well as common errors or weaknesses. Constructive criticism of the
question paper/mark scheme is also appreciated.
10. For answers marked by levels of response: Not applicable in F501
a. To determine the level – start at the highest level and work down until you reach the level that matches the answer
b. To determine the mark within the level, consider the following:
Descriptor Award mark
On the borderline of this level and the one below At bottom of level
Just enough achievement on balance for this Above bottom and either below middle or at middle of level (depending on number of marks
level available)
Meets the criteria but with some slight Above middle and either below top of level or at middle of level (depending on number of marks
inconsistency available)
Consistently meets the criteria for this level At top of level
5
AS-Level OCR 2025 Psychology Paper 2 Mark Scheme
GCE
Psychology
H167/02: Psychological themes through core studies
AS Level
Mark Scheme for June 2025
MARKING INSTRUCTIONS
PREPARATION FOR MARKING
RM Assessor
1. Make sure that you have accessed and completed the relevant training packages for on-screen marking: RM Assessor Online Training: OCR
Essential Guide to Marking.
2. Make sure that you have read and understood the mark scheme and the question paper for this unit. These are available in RM Assessor
3. Log-in to RM Assessor and mark the required number of practice responses (“scripts”) and the required number of standardisation responses.
2
,H167/02 Mark Scheme June 2025
MARKING
1. Mark strictly to the mark scheme.
2. Marks awarded must relate directly to the marking criteria.
3. The schedule of dates is very important. It is essential that you meet the scoris 50% and 100% (traditional 40% Batch 1 and 100% Batch 2)
deadlines. If you experience problems, you must contact your Team Leader (Supervisor) without delay.
4. If you are in any doubt about applying the mark scheme, consult your Team Leader by telephone or the scoris messaging system, or by email.
5. Crossed Out Responses
Where a candidate has crossed out a response and provided a clear alternative then the crossed out response is not marked. Where no alternative
response has been provided, examiners may give candidates the benefit of the doubt and mark the crossed out response where legible.
Rubric Error Responses – Optional Questions
Where candidates have a choice of question across a whole paper or a whole section and have provided more answers than required, then all responses
are marked and the highest mark allowable within the rubric is given. Enter a mark for each question answered into RM assessor, which will select the
highest mark from those awarded. (The underlying assumption is that the candidate has penalised themselves by attempting more questions than
necessary in the time allowed.)
Multiple Choice Question Responses
When a multiple choice question has only a single, correct response and a candidate provides two responses (even if one of these responses is correct),
then no mark should be awarded (as it is not possible to determine which was the first response selected by the candidate).
When a question requires candidates to select more than one option/multiple options, then local marking arrangements need to ensure consistency of
approach.
3
,H167/02 Mark Scheme June 2025
Contradictory Responses
When a candidate provides contradictory responses, then no mark should be awarded, even if one of the answers is correct.
Short Answer Questions (requiring only a list by way of a response, usually worth only one mark per response)
Where candidates are required to provide a set number of short answer responses then only the set number of responses should be marked. The
response space should be marked from left to right on each line and then line by line until the required number of responses have been considered. The
remaining responses should not then be marked. Examiners will have to apply judgement as to whether a ‘second response’ on a line is a development
of the ‘first response’, rather than a separate, discrete response. (The underlying assumption is that the candidate is attempting to hedge their bets and
therefore getting undue benefit rather than engaging with the question and giving the most relevant/correct responses.)
Short Answer Questions (requiring a more developed response, worth two or more marks)
If the candidates are required to provide a description of, say, three items or factors and four items or factors are provided, then mark on a similar basis
– that is downwards (as it is unlikely in this situation that a candidate will provide more than one response in each section of the response space.)
Longer Answer Questions (requiring a developed response)
Where candidates have provided two (or more) responses to a medium or high tariff question which only required a single (developed) response and not
crossed out the first response, then only the first response should be marked. Examiners will need to apply professional judgement as to whether the
second (or a subsequent) response is a ‘new start’ or simply a poorly expressed continuation of the first response.
6. Always check the pages (and additional objects if present) at the end of the response in case any answers have been continued there. If the candidate
has continued an answer there then add a tick to confirm that the work has been seen.
7. There is a NR (No Response) option. Award NR (No Response):
- if there is nothing written at all in the answer space
- OR if there is a comment which does not in any way relate to the question (e.g., ‘can’t do’, ‘don’t know’)
- OR if there is a mark (e.g., a dash, a question mark) which is not an attempt at the question.
Note: Award 0 marks – for an attempt that earns no credit (including copying out the question).
8. The scoris comments box is used by your team leader to explain the marking of the practice responses. Please refer to these comments when
checking your practice responses. Do not use the comments box for any other reason.
If you have any questions or comments for your team leader, use the phone, the scoris messaging system, or e-mail.
4
, H167/02 Mark Scheme June 2025
9. Assistant Examiners will send a brief report on the performance of candidates to their Team Leader (Supervisor) via email by the end of the marking
period. The report should contain notes on particular strengths displayed as well as common errors or weaknesses. Constructive criticism of the
question paper/mark scheme is also appreciated.
10. For answers marked by levels of response: Not applicable in F501
a. To determine the level – start at the highest level and work down until you reach the level that matches the answer
b. To determine the mark within the level, consider the following:
Descriptor Award mark
On the borderline of this level and the one below At bottom of level
Just enough achievement on balance for this Above bottom and either below middle or at middle of level (depending on number of marks
level available)
Meets the criteria but with some slight Above middle and either below top of level or at middle of level (depending on number of marks
inconsistency available)
Consistently meets the criteria for this level At top of level
5
