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Cambridge International AS & A Level Cambridge International AS & A Level
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/12
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Paper 1 Approaches, Issues and Debates February/March 2026
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MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 60
*
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/12
Paper 1 Approaches, Issues and Debates February/March 2026 Published
1 hour 30 minutes
You must answer on the question paper.
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
No additional materials are needed. examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
*
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs. Teachers.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided. Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
● Do not use an erasable pen. Do not use correction fluid or tape.
Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the February/March 2026 series for most
● Do not write on any bar codes.
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.
INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (KS) 356213/2 This document consists of 24 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, * * DFD
9990/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
2 PUBLISHED
, , Generic Marking Principles
Section A
These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
Answer all questions. specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptions for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.
1 From the study by Baron-Cohen et al. (eyes test):
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:
(a) State the number of participants in Group 1.
Marks must be awarded in line with:
............................................................................................................................................. [1]
• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
•
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
(b) Outline what is meant by ‘social sensitivity’. • the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
................................................................................................................................................... GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:
................................................................................................................................................... Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
................................................................................................................................................... GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:
............................................................................................................................................. [2] Marks must be awarded positively:
• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond
Outline one result comparing male participants to female participants. the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
................................................................................................................................................... • marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
................................................................................................................................................... • answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.
...................................................................................................................................................
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.
2 One feature of the sample used in the study by Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia) was that
the participant was a boy.
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(a) Identify three features of the sample, other than that it was a boy.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 24
1 ................................................................................................................................................
2 ................................................................................................................................................
3 ................................................................................................................................................
[3]
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Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9990/12/F/M/26
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9990/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
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3 PUBLISHED
, ,
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:
(b) Explain one weakness of the sample.
Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
................................................................................................................................................... be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).
................................................................................................................................................... GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:
................................................................................................................................................... Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
3 A local business wants to introduce activities that will help its workers increase their attention and
improve their memory during important meetings.
Suggest what activities the local business could introduce, using your knowledge of the study
by Andrade.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................... [4]
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 3 of 24
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9990/12/F/M/26 [Turn over
Ĭ×ú¾Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÝû·þ×
ĬĦðòÐģČĆÔõćģ²ĖĕÂĈĂ
ĥåÅÕõµÅÕÅĥõąÅµĥÕåÕ
, ,
Cambridge International AS & A Level Cambridge International AS & A Level
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/12
¬Wz> 4mHuOªE`{5W
¬¦mrU¡NnINqzp
Paper 1 Approaches, Issues and Debates February/March 2026
¥ueu5¥U¥UuEE¥UU
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 60
*
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/12
Paper 1 Approaches, Issues and Debates February/March 2026 Published
1 hour 30 minutes
You must answer on the question paper.
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
No additional materials are needed. examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
*
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs. Teachers.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided. Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
● Do not use an erasable pen. Do not use correction fluid or tape.
Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the February/March 2026 series for most
● Do not write on any bar codes.
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.
INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (KS) 356213/2 This document consists of 24 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, * * DFD
9990/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
2 PUBLISHED
, , Generic Marking Principles
Section A
These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
Answer all questions. specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptions for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.
1 From the study by Baron-Cohen et al. (eyes test):
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:
(a) State the number of participants in Group 1.
Marks must be awarded in line with:
............................................................................................................................................. [1]
• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
•
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
(b) Outline what is meant by ‘social sensitivity’. • the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
................................................................................................................................................... GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:
................................................................................................................................................... Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
................................................................................................................................................... GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:
............................................................................................................................................. [2] Marks must be awarded positively:
• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond
Outline one result comparing male participants to female participants. the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
................................................................................................................................................... • marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
................................................................................................................................................... • answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.
...................................................................................................................................................
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.
2 One feature of the sample used in the study by Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia) was that
the participant was a boy.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
(a) Identify three features of the sample, other than that it was a boy.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 24
1 ................................................................................................................................................
2 ................................................................................................................................................
3 ................................................................................................................................................
[3]
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9990/12/F/M/26
ĬÕú¾Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÝù·þ×
ĬĦïñØĥĈöåăúæĦĞÁÂøĂ
ĥåµĕµÕåµÕĕåąÅÕąĕµÕ
, * * DFD
9990/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
3 PUBLISHED
, ,
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:
(b) Explain one weakness of the sample.
Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
................................................................................................................................................... be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).
................................................................................................................................................... GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:
................................................................................................................................................... Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
3 A local business wants to introduce activities that will help its workers increase their attention and
improve their memory during important meetings.
Suggest what activities the local business could introduce, using your knowledge of the study
by Andrade.
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................... [4]
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 3 of 24
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9990/12/F/M/26 [Turn over
Ĭ×ú¾Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÝû·þ×
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