OCRGCSE27 resources

OCR GCSE Psychology (9-1) Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free OCR GCSE Psychology (J203) past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Core studies, research methods and applications. 27 resources.

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June 2023

5 files

Psychology (9-1) – Mark scheme – Studies and applications in Psychology 2

Mark Scheme
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Psychology (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper
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Psychology (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Studies and applications in psychology 1

Examiner Report
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Psychology (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Studies and applications in psychology 2

Examiner Report
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Psychology (9-1) – Question paper – Studies and applications in psychology 1

Question Paper

June 2022

8 files
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Psychology (9-1) – Question paper – Studies and applications in psychology 2 post exam correction

Question Paper

Psychology (9-1) – Mark scheme – Studies and applications in Psychology 2

Mark Scheme
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Psychology (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper
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Psychology (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Studies and applications in psychology 1

Examiner Report
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Psychology (9-1) – Examiners’ report – Studies and applications in psychology 2

Examiner Report
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Psychology (9-1) – Question paper – Studies and applications in psychology 1

Question Paper

Psychology (9-1) – Mark scheme – Studies and applications in psychology 1

Mark Scheme
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Psychology (9-1) – Question paper – Studies and applications in psychology 2

Question Paper

November 2021

5 files

Psychology (9-1) – Mark scheme – Studies and applications in psychology 2

Mark Scheme
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Psychology (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper
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Psychology (9-1) – Question paper – Studies and applications in psychology 1

Question Paper

Psychology (9-1) – Mark scheme – Studies and applications in psychology 1

Mark Scheme
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Psychology (9-1) – Question paper – Studies and applications in psychology 2

Question Paper

November 2020

5 files

Psychology (9-1) – Mark scheme – Studies and applications in psychology 2

Mark Scheme
📋

Psychology (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper
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Psychology (9-1) – Question paper – Studies and applications in psychology 1

Question Paper

Psychology (9-1) – Mark scheme – Studies and applications in psychology 1

Mark Scheme
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Psychology (9-1) – Question paper – Studies and applications in psychology 2

Question Paper

No date

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Psychology (9-1) – Studies and applications in psychology 1

Sample Assessment Materials
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Psychology (9-1) – Studies and applications in psychology 2

Sample Assessment Materials

OCR Psychology (J203): Core Studies, Research Methods, and the Application of Theory

OCR GCSE Psychology (J203) is structured around real psychological studies rather than abstract theory. The specification identifies a set of core studies — landmark experiments by researchers like Milgram, Bandura, and Loftus — that students must know in detail, including the aim, method, results, conclusions, and evaluation of each. Paper 1 — Studies and Applications in Psychology 1 — is a 90-minute paper worth 80 marks (half the qualification). It addresses criminal psychology, development, and psychological problems, each anchored by core studies that illustrate the key concepts. Paper 2 — Studies and Applications in Psychology 2 — mirrors the same duration and mark allocation, covering social influence, memory, and sleep and dreaming. Research methods are embedded throughout both papers rather than isolated in a separate section. Students are expected to identify experimental designs, evaluate sampling techniques, interpret data displays, and discuss ethical issues in the context of specific studies. This integration means you cannot revise methods in isolation — you need to understand them through the lens of each core study. The highest-tariff questions (8 marks) are 'evaluate' questions that demand a balanced assessment of a study's strengths and weaknesses, considering reliability, validity, ethics, and generalisability.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1

Studies and Applications in Psychology 1

1 hour 30 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 50% of grade
Criminal psychology — core studies and theoriesDevelopment — cognitive and social developmentPsychological problems — phobias, depression and mental health
Paper 2

Studies and Applications in Psychology 2

1 hour 30 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 50% of grade
Social influence — conformity, obedience and prosocial behaviourMemory — models, accuracy and eyewitness testimonySleep and dreaming — stages, functions and disorders

Key Information

Exam BoardOCR
Specification CodeJ203
QualificationGCSE
Grading Scale9–1
Assessment Type2 written exams (no coursework)
TiersNone (single tier)
Number Of Papers2
Exam Duration1 hour 30 minutes per paper
Total Marks160 (80 per paper)
Calculator StatusNot applicable
Total Resources27

Key Topics in Psychology (9-1)

Topics you need to know

Criminal psychology — causes of criminal behaviour and rehabilitationDevelopment — Piaget, attachment and cognitive growthSocial influence — conformity, obedience and bystander behaviourMemory — multi-store model, reconstructive memory and eyewitness testimonyResearch methods — design, sampling, ethics and data analysisCore studies — aims, methods, results and evaluation

Exam Command Words

Command wordWhat the examiner expects
DefineState the precise psychological meaning of a term
DescribeGive the main features of a study, theory or psychological process
ExplainGive reasons using psychological knowledge and terminology
EvaluateAssess strengths and weaknesses of a study, theory or method, reaching a judgement
ApplyUse psychological knowledge to explain a real-life scenario or case study
DesignPlan a study including variables, design, sample and procedure

Typical Grade Boundaries

GradeApproximate mark needed
Grade 972–82%
Grade 862–71%
Grade 752–61%
Grade 643–51%
Grade 535–42%
Grade 427–34%
Grade 319–26%
Grade 211–18%
Grade 1~5–10%

⚠️ Typical boundaries across two papers (160 total marks). Actual boundaries vary by series — check OCR's website.

Core Studies, Evaluation Skills, and the GRAVE Framework for OCR Psychology

For each core study, create a revision card covering: Aim, Method (design, sample, procedure), Results (key findings and statistics), Conclusions, and Evaluation (using the GRAVE framework: Generalisability, Reliability, Application, Validity, Ethics). The GRAVE framework ensures you address all the evaluation criteria the mark scheme rewards. Don't just memorise what happened in each study — understand why it matters. If asked about Milgram's study, explain not just the 65% obedience rate but what this tells us about the power of authority, the agentic state, and situational factors in behaviour. The exam rewards students who connect findings to psychological theory. Research methods questions often present novel scenarios. You might be asked: 'A psychologist wants to investigate whether sleep deprivation affects memory. Design a study to test this.' To answer well, specify: the design (independent groups or repeated measures), the independent and dependent variables, the sample and sampling method, the procedure, and potential ethical issues. When evaluating studies, always consider both strengths AND weaknesses. A response that only criticises a study cannot achieve full marks — examiners reward balanced evaluation that weighs up both strengths and weaknesses before reaching a final judgement.

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