IB Psychology HL · 2021 to 2025
2.2 Cognitive approach
35 past paper questions from 25 papers across 15 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
Starter set across the most-tested skills, with AI marking and model answers.
HL archive · 2019 to 2027
2.2 Cognitive approach
Latest exam session: Specimen 2027
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Micro-topics in 2.2 Cognitive approach
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 2 of them have no matching questions in this archive.
Exam pattern
How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.
Does it repeat?
Top 4 of 6 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ·Cognitive models, 2011: 0 questions | ·Cognitive models, 2012: 0 questions | ·Cognitive models, 2013: 0 questions | ·Cognitive models, 2014: 0 questions | ·Cognitive models, 2015: 0 questions | ·Cognitive models, 2016: 0 questions | ·Cognitive models, 2018: 0 questions | 1Cognitive models, 2019: 1 question | 1Cognitive models, 2020: 1 question | ·Cognitive models, 2021: 0 questions | 2Cognitive models, 2022: 2 questions | ·Cognitive models, 2023: 0 questions | 1Cognitive models, 2024: 1 question | 3Cognitive models, 2025: 3 questions | 1Cognitive models, 2026: 1 question | 1Cognitive models, 2027: 1 question | |
| ·Schema theory, 2011: 0 questions | ·Schema theory, 2012: 0 questions | ·Schema theory, 2013: 0 questions | ·Schema theory, 2014: 0 questions | ·Schema theory, 2015: 0 questions | ·Schema theory, 2016: 0 questions | ·Schema theory, 2018: 0 questions | 2Schema theory, 2019: 2 questions | ·Schema theory, 2020: 0 questions | 3Schema theory, 2021: 3 questions | ·Schema theory, 2022: 0 questions | 1Schema theory, 2023: 1 question | ·Schema theory, 2024: 0 questions | 2Schema theory, 2025: 2 questions | 1Schema theory, 2026: 1 question | ·Schema theory, 2027: 0 questions | |
| ·Cognitive load theory, 2011: 0 questions | ·Cognitive load theory, 2012: 0 questions | ·Cognitive load theory, 2013: 0 questions | ·Cognitive load theory, 2014: 0 questions | ·Cognitive load theory, 2015: 0 questions | ·Cognitive load theory, 2016: 0 questions | ·Cognitive load theory, 2018: 0 questions | ·Cognitive load theory, 2019: 0 questions | 1Cognitive load theory, 2020: 1 question | ·Cognitive load theory, 2021: 0 questions | 2Cognitive load theory, 2022: 2 questions | 2Cognitive load theory, 2023: 2 questions | ·Cognitive load theory, 2024: 0 questions | ·Cognitive load theory, 2025: 0 questions | 1Cognitive load theory, 2026: 1 question | ·Cognitive load theory, 2027: 0 questions | |
| ·Dual processing theory, 2011: 0 questions | ·Dual processing theory, 2012: 0 questions | ·Dual processing theory, 2013: 0 questions | ·Dual processing theory, 2014: 0 questions | ·Dual processing theory, 2015: 0 questions | ·Dual processing theory, 2016: 0 questions | ·Dual processing theory, 2018: 0 questions | ·Dual processing theory, 2019: 0 questions | ·Dual processing theory, 2020: 0 questions | ·Dual processing theory, 2021: 0 questions | ·Dual processing theory, 2022: 0 questions | 1Dual processing theory, 2023: 1 question | 1Dual processing theory, 2024: 1 question | 2Dual processing theory, 2025: 2 questions | 1Dual processing theory, 2026: 1 question | ·Dual processing theory, 2027: 0 questions |
2 more micro-topics with a free account
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
- Occasionalin about one paper in ten
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Questions on 2.2 Cognitive approach, by exam session
Which papers asked about 2.2 Cognitive approach, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
Specimen 2027
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2026
4 questions across 3 papers
November 2025
3 questions across 2 papers
May 2025
4 questions across 3 papers
November 2024
1 question across 1 paper
May 2024
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2023
1 question across 1 paper
May 2023
3 questions across 2 papers
November 2022
1 question across 1 paper
May 2022
3 questions across 2 papers
November 2021
1 question across 1 paper
May 2021
4 questions across 2 papers
November 2020
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2019
1 question across 1 paper
May 2019
3 questions across 2 papers
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Psychology HL exam sessions are covered for 2.2 Cognitive approach?
28 exam sessions from 2019 to 2027, the latest Specimen 2027. Every Paper 1 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 25 papers in this archive.
Which 2.2 Cognitive approach topic comes up most?
Cognitive models (2.2.4): in 14% of papers, last seen May 26 P1 TZ1. Usually "Describe", worth about 10 marks in a paper that includes it.
Can I see the original question and mark scheme?
No. The wording belongs to the IB. You get the citation, the marks, the command term and the skill tested, plus our own matched practice questions with worked answers and AI marking.
What do "banker", "due" and "rising" mean?
Banker: examined in at least one sitting in four and still appearing. Due: regular before, but absent for the last two exam sessions. Rising: clearly more common in the last two years. Our classification of real papers, not an IB statistic.
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Reading this page and the exam pattern is free. A free account generates three sets of ten questions and launches one practice set. Pro opens every question in any scope, sets of twenty or all, and unlimited practice.
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