Free topical revision checklist for IB DP Psychology SL & HL. Includes research methods, core approaches, IA checklist, and HL options. Built for 2026 expectations. Rate your confidence (1–5), track review dates, then export as CSV or print.
| Topic | Sub-topic | Resources | Confidence (1–5) | Last reviewed | Next review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Research methods & ethics (core) | Research methods overview: experiments, observations, interviews, surveys | Topic resources | |||
| 1. Research methods & ethics (core) | Experimental design: IV/DV, controls, randomisation, counterbalancing | Topic resources | |||
| 1. Research methods & ethics (core) | Sampling techniques and sampling bias | Topic resources | |||
| 1. Research methods & ethics (core) | Reliability (test-retest, inter-rater) and validity (internal/external/construct) | Topic resources | |||
| 1. Research methods & ethics (core) | Triangulation and mixed methods (when used) | Topic resources | |||
| 1. Research methods & ethics (core) | Ethics: consent, deception, debriefing, harm, confidentiality, withdrawal | Topic resources | |||
| 1. Research methods & ethics (core) | Operationalisation of variables; measurement scales | Topic resources | |||
| 1. Research methods & ethics (core) | Quantitative analysis basics: descriptive stats, graphs | Topic resources | |||
| 1. Research methods & ethics (core) | Qualitative analysis basics: content analysis, thematic ideas | Topic resources | |||
| 2. Biological approach (core) | Localisation of function; neuroplasticity | Topic resources | |||
| 2. Biological approach (core) | Neurotransmitters and synaptic transmission | Topic resources | |||
| 2. Biological approach (core) | Hormones and behaviour (as taught) | Topic resources | |||
| 2. Biological approach (core) | Genetics and behaviour; twin/adoption study logic | Topic resources | |||
| 2. Biological approach (core) | Brain imaging techniques (fMRI, PET, EEG) — strengths/limitations | Topic resources | |||
| 2. Biological approach (core) | Pheromones/biological rhythms (as taught) | Topic resources | |||
| 2. Biological approach (core) | Animal research: strengths/limitations; ethics and generalisability | Topic resources | |||
| 3. Cognitive approach (core) | Cognitive models of memory (MSM, WMM) and evaluation | Topic resources | |||
| 3. Cognitive approach (core) | Schema theory and reconstructive memory | Topic resources | |||
| 3. Cognitive approach (core) | Thinking and decision-making: biases and heuristics | Topic resources | |||
| 3. Cognitive approach (core) | Cognitive processing in digital world (as taught) | Topic resources | |||
| 3. Cognitive approach (core) | Emotion and cognition (flashbulb memory, theory links) | Topic resources | |||
| 3. Cognitive approach (core) | Reliability of cognitive processes (e.g., eyewitness testimony) | Topic resources | |||
| 3. Cognitive approach (core) | Methods: lab experiments vs naturalistic approaches in cognition | Topic resources | |||
| 4. Sociocultural approach (core) | Social identity theory and group processes | Topic resources | |||
| 4. Sociocultural approach (core) | Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination (as taught) | Topic resources | |||
| 4. Sociocultural approach (core) | Cultural norms and their influence on behaviour | Topic resources | |||
| 4. Sociocultural approach (core) | Enculturation and acculturation; cultural dimensions | Topic resources | |||
| 4. Sociocultural approach (core) | Social learning theory; modelling and observational learning | Topic resources | |||
| 4. Sociocultural approach (core) | Globalisation and cultural change (where taught) | Topic resources | |||
| 4. Sociocultural approach (core) | Methods: ethnography and participant observation (where taught) | Topic resources | |||
| 5. HL options (choose one option in the syllabus) | Abnormal psychology — key concepts, explanations and treatment | Topic resources | |||
| 5. HL options (choose one option in the syllabus) | Health psychology — stress, health beliefs and interventions | Topic resources | |||
| 5. HL options (choose one option in the syllabus) | Human relationships — attraction, relationships and prosocial behaviour | Topic resources | |||
| 5. HL options (choose one option in the syllabus) | Exam strategy: ensure your option matches your school’s taught option | Topic resources | |||
| 6. Internal Assessment (IA) — experimental study checklist | Clear aim and hypothesis based on a core topic | Topic resources | |||
| 6. Internal Assessment (IA) — experimental study checklist | Ethical considerations and informed consent | Topic resources | |||
| 6. Internal Assessment (IA) — experimental study checklist | Method: variables, controls, standardised procedure | Topic resources | |||
| 6. Internal Assessment (IA) — experimental study checklist | Results: descriptive stats and appropriate graphing | Topic resources | |||
| 6. Internal Assessment (IA) — experimental study checklist | Analysis and evaluation: limitations and improvements | Topic resources |
Tip: Pair this checklist with past paper practice and spaced repetition. Always confirm exact assessment components (SL/HL, options) with your school’s IB DP route for the 2026 exam session.
Quick answers about this free revision checklist, how to use it for exam prep, and how it relates to the official syllabus.
This revision checklist mirrors the official IB DP Psychology syllabus for the 2026 examination series. Every topic and sub-topic on the page is taken from the published syllabus document, so working through the list in order gives you full coverage of what your exam can assess. It covers both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) topic expectations. For the authoritative version, always cross-check with the latest syllabus PDF on your exam board's website before your final revision push.
The number of top-level topic groups varies by subject, but you can see the exact count on this page — each major heading in the checklist corresponds to one syllabus topic group, and each row below it is a syllabus-level sub-topic. Use the confidence column (1–5) to flag which sub-topics need more work, and re-score yourself weekly to track real progress instead of guessing.
16–20 weeks of consistent revision is realistic for IB DP — work through one topic per week alongside ongoing past-paper practice and Internal Assessment polish. Use this checklist to plan your weeks: filter by topics you have rated 1–3 and spend your first revision block there. Subjects with heavy practical or extended-writing components (e.g. sciences, English) need more past-paper time in the final block than the topic-by-topic phase.
Revise in roughly the order the syllabus lists the topics — exam boards build later topics on earlier ones, so taking them in syllabus order avoids gaps. Once you have rated every topic, switch to weakest-first: filter the checklist by confidence ≤ 2 and prioritise those topics in your next study block. This is more effective than re-revising topics you already score 4–5 on.
You can find past papers and mark schemes via Tutopiya's Past Paper Finder and on your exam board's official site. Once you have rated each sub-topic on this checklist, attempt past-paper questions on your weakest topics first — practising under timed conditions is the single best predictor of exam performance, more so than re-reading notes.
Use the Download CSV or Print PDF button at the bottom of the checklist. CSV opens in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets so you can sort by confidence and re-arrange revision order. The PDF is print-ready for offline use. A free Tutopiya account is required for download — this also unlocks the matching topic resources, notes and worked examples on the Learning Portal.
Yes, the checklist itself is free — you can view, score and re-score every topic on this page without an account. The CSV / PDF downloads and access to matching Tutopiya Learning Portal resources require a free account. There is no payment required at any point; teachers and parents can also use this checklist freely with their students.
Yes. The topics and sub-topics on this page are drawn from the current 2026 IB DP Psychology specification published by your exam board. Exam boards occasionally tweak weighting or assessment structure mid-cycle, so do a quick sanity-check against the official syllabus PDF when you start your revision and again 4 weeks before the exam.