AO1 exam tips For paper 3 you have just 10 minutes to write your AO1 per question, so you have to use your time well

Step 1: Accuracy Correctly identify what AO1 you should write about! This includes not only being able to match the question to the material we have covered in class, but also knowing how many theories/explanations you should outline. Read the question carefully to assess this.

Step 2: How much should I write? To get the full 8 AO1 marks AQA advise that you write about 200 words You may be able to write more than this in 10 minutes, but 200 words is enough to write. If you are writing about two theories, you do not have to write an equal amount for each. Studies as AO1?? E.g. Discuss research into the social influences on gender (8 marks + 16 marks) 3 will be enough providing you describe them well, although you may pick to describe two in detail and two more briefly.

What if I need to get 8 AO1 marks for describing one theory? Remember = 200 words! If a question asks for one theory for 8 marks, AQA will have selected a theory where it is possible to easily write 8 marks worth of information. To get the 8 marks, use terminology, describe in detail where possible and make sure that you show that you understand the AO1 – for a theory you could use a brief example, for studies be clear on what they mean.

Step 3: Links to question Question: Outline one social psychological explanation for aggression. (4 marks) Candidate answer: Social learning theory states that behaviour is learnt through observation alone. The behaviour of role models is especially likely to be imitated, particularly if vicarious reinforcement occurs where the individual sees the role model being reinforced for their behaviour. The individual also forms mental representations of the behaviour that they observe, so whilst this is a behaviourist theory, the role of cognitions is acknowledged. This would score no more than one mark because there is no mention of aggression. Improve the answer to make it worth 4 out of 4.

Step 4: Terminology For top quality AO1 you do need to use appropriate terminology. Outline one evolutionary for gender (4 marks) Baron Cohen argues that males and females are different because their genes make them different and this has helped survival. Women are born to be empathisers because this helps them look after children. Men are born to be systemisers since it is easier to hunt food this way. This answer would only gain 2 marks despite showing a good understanding of the theory because the use of technical terms is minimal.

Terminology This answer received 4 marks out of 4: Baron Cohen argues that males and females are different because it has been adaptive for them to be this way. He argues that women are hard wired for empathy whist men are for systemising.  In the past, women have been the main carers of children and the sick, so it has been an evolutionary advantage for them to have a high level of empathy. Men, on the other hand, have had to hunt food: too much empathy may jeopardize the ability to kill, but being able to systemise gives the survival advantage of being able to track, hunt and kill efficiently. This is a good paragraph and also shows you how little you actually have to write; the question is out of 4 and 4 marks have been gained for 101 words.

Now practise improving this answer through use of terminology Outline research about the disruption of biological rhythms (4 marks) Animal studies show night, evening, day shifts changing like this kills the animals. Human studies (chemical plant) show this pattern makes people feel bad. Changing to the opposite shift changes make workers better. Sports team from America who travelled West to East lost most, so this causes jet lag and wrecks your chance of winning.

Hand out: 8 mark AO1 answers You have two AO1 answers to the question ‘Describe and evaluate the gender schema theory of gender development (8 + 16 marks)’ and the mark scheme. The answers are genuine exam answers marked by AQA. Your task is to mark them. AQA gave 4 AO1 marks to candidate 1 and 8 to candidate 2.

Over to you You have 10 minutes. Write the AO1 part of the answer to this question. Discuss explanations for insomnia and/or narcolepsy. (8 marks + 16 marks)