AQA A-Level Psychology | Paper 3 | 2026 Predicted Paper
- Revision Notes
- Aug 20
- 10 min read
Updated For 7182 specification, first teach in September 2025
Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology
Time allowed: 2 hours
Each candidate answers:
Section A: 24 marks
One option from Section B: 24 marks
One option from Section C: 24 marks
One option from Section D: 24 marks
Section A: Issues and Debates in Psychology
Answer all questions in this section.
Question 01
Outline one characteristic of a free-will approach to explaining human behaviour.
[2 marks]
Question 02
Explain one reason why some psychologists question the use of free will as a scientific explanation of behaviour.
[2 marks]
A student called Nia has to give a presentation to her class. Her heart begins to beat quickly and she feels tense. Nia remembers that, during a previous presentation, some members of the class laughed when she made a mistake.
Question 03
Use your knowledge of two different levels of explanation to explain Nia’s anxiety about giving the presentation.
[4 marks]
A psychologist plans to investigate whether children’s educational achievement is related to the area in which they live.
The psychologist will compare test scores from children living in two neighbourhoods. The psychologist intends to describe one neighbourhood as having children with “naturally lower academic ability”. The findings will be published alongside the names of the schools attended by the children.
Question 04
Discuss social sensitivity in psychological research. Refer to the psychologist’s proposed investigation and to one or more topics you have studied in psychology.
[16 marks]
Section B: Relationships, Gender or Cognition and Development
Choose one topic from Section B. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
Topic: Relationships
Lee has become increasingly unhappy in a romantic relationship. Lee spends a lot of time thinking privately about the partner’s faults and comparing the relationship with other possible relationships. Lee has not yet discussed these thoughts with the partner.
Question 05
Explain how one phase of Duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown can be applied to Lee’s behaviour.
[4 marks]
A psychologist investigated similarity in attitudes and attraction.
Forty-eight participants were placed into pairs. Before meeting, each participant completed an attitude questionnaire. The psychologist calculated an attitude-similarity score for each pair.
After a ten-minute conversation, each participant rated how much they would like to meet the other person again. They used the following scale:
Rating | Response |
1 | Definitely would not like to meet again |
2 | Probably would not like to meet again |
3 | Unsure |
4 | Probably would like to meet again |
5 | Definitely would like to meet again |
Question 06
Explain why attitude similarity and desire to meet again are described as co-variables in this investigation.
[2 marks]
Question 07
Identify the level of measurement of the ratings of desire to meet again. Justify your answer.
[3 marks]
Question 08
Name an appropriate statistical test that the psychologist could use to investigate the relationship between attitude similarity and desire to meet again.
[1 mark]
Question 09
Sketch a scattergram showing the results that would be expected if there were a strong positive correlation between attitude similarity and desire to meet again.
Label both axes.
[2 marks]
Question 10
Describe one psychological study that investigated a factor affecting attraction in romantic relationships, other than similarity in attitudes.
Your answer should include the procedure and a finding of the study.
[4 marks]
Maya finds close face-to-face relationships difficult. She has developed an intense interest in an online musician. Maya watches every performance, feels that the musician understands her and becomes distressed when the musician does not post online.
Question 11
Discuss the attachment theory explanation of parasocial relationships. Refer to Maya in your answer.
[8 marks]
Topic: Gender
A child has the chromosome pattern XXY. A specialist explains that this chromosome pattern is one example of diversity in sex development.
Question 12
Explain how this chromosome pattern is associated with Klinefelter’s syndrome.
[4 marks]
A psychologist investigated the relationship between children’s understanding of gender stability and their attitudes towards gender-neutral toys.
Each child’s understanding of gender stability was classified as:
no understanding of gender stability
partial understanding of gender stability
clear understanding of gender stability
Each child was then shown a gender-neutral toy and rated how much they would like to play with it:
not at all
a little
quite a lot
very much
Question 13
Explain why understanding of gender stability and attitude towards the toy are described as co-variables.
[2 marks]
Question 14
Identify the level of measurement of the data collected in this investigation. Justify your answer.
[3 marks]
Question 15
Name an appropriate statistical test that the psychologist could use to investigate the relationship between the two co-variables.
[1 mark]
Question 16
Sketch a scattergram showing the results that would be expected if there were a strong negative correlation between understanding of gender stability and positive attitudes towards the gender-neutral toy.
Label both axes.
[2 marks]
Question 17
Describe one psychological study relevant to children’s understanding of gender.
Your answer should include the procedure and a finding of the study.
[4 marks]
A psychologist suggests that gender incongruence may develop partly because people live in cultures with different expectations about gender roles, gender identity and acceptable behaviour.
Question 18
Discuss social and cultural explanations of gender incongruence.
[8 marks]
Topic: Cognition and Development
A researcher shows infants a toy car moving down a track. A screen hides part of the track.
In one condition, the car appears to pass through a solid barrier hidden behind the screen. In another condition, the barrier is removed before the car passes behind the screen. The researcher measures how long the infants look at each event.
Question 19
Explain how this investigation could be used as a violation of expectation study.
[4 marks]
A psychologist investigated the relationship between children’s experience of scaffolding and their attitudes towards unfamiliar puzzles.
Teachers rated each child’s usual experience of scaffolding:
very little scaffolding
some scaffolding
frequent scaffolding
very frequent scaffolding
Each child then rated an unfamiliar puzzle:
strongly dislike
dislike
neither like nor dislike
like
strongly like
Question 20
Explain why experience of scaffolding and attitude towards the unfamiliar puzzle are described as co-variables.
[2 marks]
Question 21
Identify the level of measurement of the data collected in this investigation. Justify your answer.
[3 marks]
Question 22
Name an appropriate statistical test that the psychologist could use to investigate the relationship between the two co-variables.
[1 mark]
Question 23
Sketch a scattergram showing the results that would be expected if there were a strong positive correlation between experience of scaffolding and positive attitudes towards unfamiliar puzzles.
Label both axes.
[2 marks]
Question 24
Your answer should include the procedure and a finding of the study.
[4 marks]
A researcher shows two children two rows containing equal numbers of counters.
The researcher spreads out one row so that it becomes longer.
Child A says that the longer row now contains more counters.
Child B says that both rows still contain the same number because no counters were added or removed.
Question 25
Discuss research into conservation. Refer to Child A and Child B in your answer.
[8 marks]
Section C: Schizophrenia, Eating Behaviour or Stress
Choose one topic from Section C. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
Topic: Schizophrenia
Question 26
Which one of the following best illustrates a neural correlate of schizophrenia?
Write the correct letter in your answer.
A A person inherits several candidate genes associated with vulnerability to schizophrenia.
B Reduced activity in a brain area associated with motivation occurs alongside avolition.
C A person experiences high levels of criticism from family members.
D A person develops irrational beliefs after a stressful experience.
[1 mark]
Jon reports hearing a voice commenting on everything he does. He sometimes believes that his private thoughts have been placed into his mind by someone else. During conversations, he finds it difficult to ignore irrelevant information and frequently loses track of what he is saying.
Question 27
Use your knowledge of cognitive explanations of schizophrenia to explain Jon’s experiences.
[6 marks]
Question 28
Which one of the following describes the main action of a typical antipsychotic drug?
Write the correct letter in your answer.
A Increasing the activity of dopamine receptors
B Blocking dopamine receptors
C Increasing the production of cortisol
D Blocking the action of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction
[1 mark]
Rosa has been prescribed an antipsychotic drug. Her hallucinations have become less frequent, but she has developed unpleasant motor side effects. Her psychiatrist is considering changing her medication.
Question 29
Discuss drug therapy for schizophrenia. Refer to Rosa in your answer.
[8 marks]
Two psychiatrists assess Malik.
One psychiatrist diagnoses schizophrenia. The other psychiatrist diagnoses a mood disorder because some of Malik’s symptoms occur in both conditions. Malik also has a substance-use disorder. His family believes that the psychiatrists have misunderstood behaviour that is considered acceptable in their cultural community.
Question 30
Discuss issues involved in the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Refer to Malik in your answer.
[8 marks]
Topic: Eating Behaviour
Question 31
Which one of the following brain structures plays a central role in coordinating signals involved in hunger and satiety?
Write the correct letter in your answer.
A Hypothalamus
B Motor cortex
C Visual cortex
D Medulla
[1 mark]
Sophie follows a very strict diet and labels many foods as forbidden. At a party, she eats one slice of cake. Sophie decides that she has “ruined the diet”, so she continues eating well beyond the point at which she normally feels full. The next day, she begins another strict diet.
Question 32
Use your knowledge of psychological explanations of obesity to explain Sophie’s behaviour.
[6 marks]
A teenager repeatedly watches a social-media influencer restrict their food intake. The teenager begins to copy the influencer’s eating behaviour.
Question 33
Name the social learning process illustrated by the teenager copying the influencer.
[1 mark]
A group of students frequently view online content that praises extreme thinness. Some students receive compliments after losing weight and begin to imitate the restrictive eating behaviour shown by popular influencers.
Question 34
Discuss the social learning theory explanation of anorexia nervosa. Refer to the students in your answer.
[8 marks]
After becoming ill shortly after eating shellfish, Arjun avoids shellfish for several years. He is also reluctant to eat unfamiliar foods when travelling abroad.
Question 35
Discuss evolutionary explanations of food preferences. Refer to Arjun in your answer.
[8 marks]
Topic: Stress
Question 36
According to the general adaptation syndrome, which stage occurs after the initial alarm reaction if the stressor continues?
Write the correct letter in your answer.
A Resistance
B Recovery
C Appraisal
D Exhaustion immediately begins
[1 mark]
Keira has recently moved house following the end of a long-term relationship. Her journey to work now involves frequent traffic delays. At work, her workload has increased, but her manager gives her very little control over how she completes her tasks.
Question 37
Use your knowledge of sources of stress to explain why Keira might experience stress.
[6 marks]
Question 38
Which one of the following best describes biofeedback?
Write the correct letter in your answer.
A Giving a person information about physiological activity so that they can learn to control it
B Asking a person to describe stressful life events in an interview
C Prescribing medication that reduces activity in the nervous system
D Encouraging a person to avoid all situations that cause stress
[1 mark]
During biofeedback sessions, Tariq is shown a continuous display of his skin conductance. He practises breathing and relaxation exercises and watches how the display changes.
Question 39
Discuss biofeedback as a method of managing stress. Refer to Tariq in your answer.
[8 marks]
A researcher measures participants’ stress while they complete a difficult task. The researcher records skin conductance and also asks participants to rate how stressed they feel.
Question 40
Discuss the use of physiological measures of stress. Refer to the researcher’s investigation in your answer.
[8 marks]
Section D: Aggression, Forensic Psychology or Addiction
Choose one topic from Section D. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
Topic: Aggression
A psychologist conducts a content analysis of aggressive behaviour in computer games.
Question 41
Suggest one observable behavioural category that the psychologist could use to record physical aggression in the games.
[1 mark]
Two observers independently use the behavioural category to analyse the same ten minutes of gameplay.
Question 42
Explain how the psychologist could assess the reliability of the observers’ recordings.
[3 marks]
A prison governor claims that aggression in prisons occurs mainly because some prisoners have aggressive personalities.
Question 43
Explain two limitations of dispositional explanations of institutional aggression in prisons.
[4 marks]
A football team travels to an important match. When the supporters arrive, they are told that the match has been cancelled. Some supporters shout at officials, damage barriers and fight with opposing supporters.
Question 44
Discuss the frustration-aggression hypothesis. Refer to the behaviour of the football supporters in your answer.
[16 marks]
Topic: Forensic Psychology
A psychologist conducts a content analysis of video recordings made in a prison. The psychologist wants to record displays of anger by prisoners.
Question 45
Suggest one observable behavioural category that the psychologist could use to record anger.
[1 mark]
Two observers independently analyse the same recordings.
Question 46
Explain how the psychologist could assess the reliability of the observers’ recordings.
[3 marks]
A police investigator classifies an unknown offender as either organised or disorganised after examining features of the crime scene.
Question 47
Explain two limitations of the typology approach to offender profiling.
[4 marks]
Owen begins spending time with a group of older friends who regularly commit theft. The group teaches Owen techniques for avoiding detection. They repeatedly describe offending as exciting and claim that rules do not deserve respect. Owen later begins committing similar offences.
Question 48
Discuss differential association theory as an explanation of offending behaviour. Refer to Owen in your answer.
[16 marks]
Topic: Addiction
A psychologist conducts a content analysis of advertisements for online gambling companies.
Question 49
Suggest one observable behavioural or visual category that could be used to record positive representations of gambling.
[1 mark]
Two observers independently analyse the same advertisements.
Question 50
Explain how the psychologist could assess the reliability of the observers’ recordings.
[3 marks]
A therapist uses aversion therapy with one person who has an addiction and covert sensitisation with another.
Question 51
Explain one limitation of aversion therapy and one limitation of covert sensitisation as interventions for addiction.
[4 marks]
Priya began smoking occasionally at social events. She now smokes throughout the day. When Priya tries to stop, she experiences powerful cravings and finds it difficult to concentrate. Smoking a cigarette quickly reduces these experiences, and Priya reports that smoking feels rewarding.
Question 52
Discuss brain neurochemistry as an explanation of nicotine addiction. Refer to Priya in your answer.
[16 marks]
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