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Edexcel GCSE Psychology (1PS0): complete guide to the two papers, topics and exam skills

A complete guide to Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Psychology (specification 1PS0). Explains the two-paper structure, the eleven topics, the compulsory core studies, the issues and debates, and the multiple-choice, short-answer, extended-response and research-methods questions the exams reward.

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Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Psychology (specification 1PS0) is a linear course assessed by two written papers at the end of Year 11. There is no coursework. This page is the index: below is a map of the two papers, the eleven topics, the compulsory core studies, the issues and debates, and the exam skills that run across the whole course.

The two papers

Edexcel splits the course into two written papers, weighted unevenly.

Paper 1 (1PS0/01). Topic 1 Development, Topic 2 Memory, Topic 3 Psychological problems, Topic 4 The brain and neuropsychology, and Topic 5 Social influence. 1 hour 45 minutes, 98 marks, 55%.
Paper 2 (1PS0/02). Topic 6 Criminal psychology, Topic 7 The self, Topic 8 Perception, Topic 9 Sleep and dreaming, Topic 10 Language, thought and communication, and Topic 11 Research methods. 1 hour 20 minutes, 79 marks, 45%.

Both papers use multiple-choice, short-answer, source and research-methods questions alongside extended-response questions worth up to 9 marks. At least 10% of the total marks test mathematics, mostly inside research methods.

The topics covered on this site

This site builds the high-traffic Paper 1 topics in depth, plus Criminal psychology and Research methods, with every theory and core study anchored to the specification.

Development (Topic 1): Early brain development, Piaget's theory of cognitive development, Carol Dweck's mindset theory and Daniel Willingham's learning theory, the Piaget and Inhelder (1956) and Gunderson et al. (2013) studies, and the nature-nurture and morality issues.
Memory (Topic 2): The structure and process of memory, the multi-store model, the theory of reconstructive memory, the features of short-term and long-term memory and amnesia, the Bartlett (1932) and Peterson and Peterson (1959) studies, and the reductionism-holism debate.
Psychological problems (Topic 3): Defining and measuring mental health, unipolar depression and addiction, the influence of genes, the cognitive theory of depression and learning theory of addiction, and their treatments (cognitive behavioural therapy and drugs).
The brain and neuropsychology (Topic 4): The structure and function of the brain, lateralisation, neurons and synapses, the impact of neurological damage, and the Sperry (1968) and Damasio et al. (1994) studies.
Social influence (Topic 5): Conformity and obedience, factors affecting bystander intervention, collective and prosocial behaviour, and the Piliavin et al. (1969) and Haney, Banks and Zimbardo (1973) studies.
Criminal psychology (Topic 6): Learning and biological explanations of criminality, the effect of punishment on recidivism, treatments to reduce antisocial behaviour, and the Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961) and Charlton et al. (2000) studies.
Research methods (Topic 11): Designing research, sampling, variables and experimental design, data analysis and statistics (the maths content), and the ethical issues that govern all psychological research.

The skills that run across the course

Each topic rewards content knowledge, but the marks come from applying it through a fixed set of question types.

Describe. State a theory, study or concept clearly and accurately, often the aim, method, results and conclusion of a core study.
Explain. Develop a point with reasoning or an example, showing why something happens, not just that it does.
Evaluate. Weigh strengths and weaknesses of a theory or study and reach a justified judgement, the basis of the extended-response marks.
Research methods and maths. Identify variables, choose a sampling method, spot ethical issues, and calculate means, ranges, percentages and ratios from data.

How to study Edexcel Psychology

Psychology rewards precise knowledge and disciplined exam technique in equal measure.

Learn each theory and study to four parts. For every core study, secure the aim, method, results and conclusion, plus two evaluation points.
Separate describe from evaluate. Many marks are lost by describing when the question says evaluate; practise both against the command word.
Drill the maths. At least 10% of marks are quantitative, so rehearse means, ranges, percentages, ratios and sampling until they are automatic.
Apply the debates. Be ready to discuss nature versus nurture, reductionism versus holism, and ethics in the context of a named topic.
Practise extended responses. The 6 and 9-mark questions reward structure, evidence and a balanced conclusion, so plan and time them.

The topics, dot point by dot point

Each topic has an overview guide, dot-point answer pages and a quiz. Browse the full set at /gcse-edexcel/psychology/syllabus.

For the official specification

Pearson publishes the full specification (1PS0), past papers and mark schemes at qualifications.pearson.com. Always revise from the current specification and Edexcel's own past papers, because question style, the named core studies and the issues and debates are board-specific.

Psychology guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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Psychology practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The GCSE-EDEXCEL system, explained

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Common questions about Psychology

How is Edexcel GCSE Psychology (1PS0) structured?

Edexcel GCSE Psychology is a linear course assessed by two written papers at the end of Year 11. Paper 1, covering Development, Memory, Psychological problems, The brain and neuropsychology and Social influence, is 1 hour 45 minutes and worth 55 percent. Paper 2, covering Criminal psychology, The self, Perception, Sleep and dreaming, Language thought and communication, and Research methods, is 1 hour 20 minutes and worth 45 percent. There is no coursework, but research methods and a set of compulsory core studies run through both papers.

What are the two Edexcel Psychology papers worth?

Paper 1 (1PS0/01) is 1 hour 45 minutes, worth 98 marks and 55 percent of the GCSE, and covers Topics 1 to 5. Paper 2 (1PS0/02) is 1 hour 20 minutes, worth 79 marks and 45 percent, and covers Topics 6 to 11. Both papers mix multiple-choice, short-answer, source and research-methods questions with extended-response questions worth up to 9 marks. At least 10 percent of the total marks test mathematics, mostly in research methods.

What are the core studies in Edexcel GCSE Psychology?

Each topic names one or two compulsory classic and contemporary studies you must know in detail (aim, method, results and conclusion) and be able to evaluate. Examples include Piaget and Inhelder (1956) on the three mountains task, Bartlett (1932) on reconstructive memory, Caspi et al. (2003) on genes and depression, Sperry (1968) on split-brain patients, Piliavin et al. (1969) on bystander behaviour, and Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961) on learning aggression. Studies are examined with describe, explain and evaluate questions.

What are the issues and debates in Edexcel GCSE Psychology?

Three debates run across the specification and are assessed in extended-response questions: nature versus nurture (whether behaviour comes from biology or experience), reductionism versus holism (whether to explain behaviour by breaking it into small parts or as a whole), and ethical issues in psychological research (consent, deception, protection from harm and the use of animals). You apply a debate to a named topic, such as discussing whether memory should be explained reductively.

How should I revise Edexcel GCSE Psychology?

Work topic by topic against the specification, learning each theory and core study precisely (aim, method, results, conclusion and two evaluation points) so you can both describe and evaluate them. Drill the research-methods maths (means, ranges, percentages, ratios and sampling) because at least 10 percent of marks are quantitative. Practise the extended-response questions against the mark scheme, especially the evaluate-a-study and apply-a-debate styles, which reward a balanced, evidenced judgement.

How does Edexcel GCSE Psychology compare to AQA?

All GCSE Psychology specifications cover similar regulated content, so memory, the brain, social influence and research methods appear across boards. Edexcel's distinctive features are its eleven topics split across two papers, its named compulsory core studies, the three issues and debates applied in extended-response questions, and its guiding-question framing (for example, how does your memory work). AQA (8182) is a different specification with its own studies and question styles, so always revise from the Edexcel 1PS0 specification and Edexcel past papers.