Psychology Test Bank: Comprehensive Exam Questions
June 11, 2025
Introduction
This 10-page test bank is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate psychology students
preparing for 2025 university exams. It features 50 exam-style questions across 10 sections:
cognitive, developmental, social, biological, abnormal, personality, research methods, clinical,
neuropsychology, and environmental psychology. Questions are categorized as moderate (3 points),
advanced (5 points), or very advanced (7 points), totaling 130 points. Model answers are
evidence-based, concise, and include marking guidance to ensure high scores. Pair with primary texts
for comprehensive preparation.
Questions and Model Answers
1. Cognitive Psychology
1. (3 points) Moderate: Define working memory and provide an example.
2. (5 points) Advanced: Explain how the Levels of Processing framework accounts for memory re-
tention, with evidence.
3. (7 points) Very Advanced: Critically evaluate the neural mechanisms of the Levels of Processing
framework, with evidence.
4. (3 points) Moderate: Which heuristic leads to judging likelihood based on representativeness?
A. Availability
B. Representativeness
C. Anchoring
D. Confirmation
5. (5 points) Advanced: How does dual-process theory explain cognitive biases, with an example?
2. Developmental Psychology
1. (3 points) Moderate: What is Piagets conservation concept?
1
, 2. (5 points) Advanced: Compare Eriksons and Bronfenbrenners theories on adolescent develop-
ment.
3. (7 points) Very Advanced: Evaluate the empirical support for Eriksons identity vs. role confu-
sion stage, with one critique.
4. (3 points) Moderate: What is Vygotskys Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?
5. (5 points) Advanced: How does Vygotskys sociocultural theory inform modern education?
3. Social Psychology
1. (3 points) Moderate: Define the bystander effect and give an example.
2. (5 points) Advanced: Explain how social identity theory accounts for prejudice, with evidence.
3. (7 points) Very Advanced: Critically assess interventions based on social identity theory to re-
duce prejudice, with evidence.
4. (3 points) Moderate: What is groupthink?
A. Seeking diverse opinions
B. Prioritizing group consensus
C. Avoiding group tasks
D. Enhancing group creativity
5. (5 points) Advanced: How does the ELM guide persuasion in health campaigns?
4. Biological Psychology
1. (3 points) Moderate: What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in behavior?
2. (5 points) Advanced: Explain how the amygdala contributes to emotional memory, with evi-
dence.
3. (7 points) Very Advanced: Critically evaluate the HPA axiss role in mood disorders, with evi-
dence.
4. (3 points) Moderate: Which neurotransmitter is linked to attention?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
Page 2
June 11, 2025
Introduction
This 10-page test bank is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate psychology students
preparing for 2025 university exams. It features 50 exam-style questions across 10 sections:
cognitive, developmental, social, biological, abnormal, personality, research methods, clinical,
neuropsychology, and environmental psychology. Questions are categorized as moderate (3 points),
advanced (5 points), or very advanced (7 points), totaling 130 points. Model answers are
evidence-based, concise, and include marking guidance to ensure high scores. Pair with primary texts
for comprehensive preparation.
Questions and Model Answers
1. Cognitive Psychology
1. (3 points) Moderate: Define working memory and provide an example.
2. (5 points) Advanced: Explain how the Levels of Processing framework accounts for memory re-
tention, with evidence.
3. (7 points) Very Advanced: Critically evaluate the neural mechanisms of the Levels of Processing
framework, with evidence.
4. (3 points) Moderate: Which heuristic leads to judging likelihood based on representativeness?
A. Availability
B. Representativeness
C. Anchoring
D. Confirmation
5. (5 points) Advanced: How does dual-process theory explain cognitive biases, with an example?
2. Developmental Psychology
1. (3 points) Moderate: What is Piagets conservation concept?
1
, 2. (5 points) Advanced: Compare Eriksons and Bronfenbrenners theories on adolescent develop-
ment.
3. (7 points) Very Advanced: Evaluate the empirical support for Eriksons identity vs. role confu-
sion stage, with one critique.
4. (3 points) Moderate: What is Vygotskys Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?
5. (5 points) Advanced: How does Vygotskys sociocultural theory inform modern education?
3. Social Psychology
1. (3 points) Moderate: Define the bystander effect and give an example.
2. (5 points) Advanced: Explain how social identity theory accounts for prejudice, with evidence.
3. (7 points) Very Advanced: Critically assess interventions based on social identity theory to re-
duce prejudice, with evidence.
4. (3 points) Moderate: What is groupthink?
A. Seeking diverse opinions
B. Prioritizing group consensus
C. Avoiding group tasks
D. Enhancing group creativity
5. (5 points) Advanced: How does the ELM guide persuasion in health campaigns?
4. Biological Psychology
1. (3 points) Moderate: What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in behavior?
2. (5 points) Advanced: Explain how the amygdala contributes to emotional memory, with evi-
dence.
3. (7 points) Very Advanced: Critically evaluate the HPA axiss role in mood disorders, with evi-
dence.
4. (3 points) Moderate: Which neurotransmitter is linked to attention?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
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