Pearson Edexcel International A Level (IAL) Psychology past papers and mark schemes
88 papers · June 2016 – June 2025
Two lengths of paper appear in Pearson Edexcel International A Level (IAL) Psychology. ‘Unit 1: Social and cognitive psychology (WPS01/01)’ and ‘Unit 3: Applications of psychology (WPS03/01)’ are 64 marks in 1 hour 30 minutes, while ‘Unit 2: Biological psychology, learning theories and development (WPS02/01)’ and ‘Unit 4: Clinical psychology and psychological skills (WPS04/01)’ are 96 marks in 2 hours.
This page lists 88 papers, 84 of them from 22 exam series, June 2016 to June 2025, with October sittings from October 2017 to October 2020 along the way. All 88 have a mark scheme, none has an insert, and 4 are specimen papers. Paper counts are close across the units: WPS01 has 23, WPS02 and WPS03 have 22 each, and WPS04 has 21. The files are mainly hosted by Pearson, with a handful opening on Physics & Maths Tutor.
When you mark a paper, read the mark scheme for the longer questions carefully to see how marks are shared out, then rewrite one weak answer the following day. Reschedule is a revision planner and it is not affiliated with any exam board. You add your subjects, exam board and the date of each paper, and it builds a daily plan with each subtopic placed before the paper that examines it, plus past papers and links to study material such as textbook chapters and Save My Exams.
Unit 1: Social and cognitive psychology (WPS01/01)WPS01/01
1 h 30 min · 64 marks
What this paper covers
- A Unit 1 – Topic A: Social psychologyObedience · Conformity · Minority influence and individual differences · Methods: Self-reporting data and sample selection and sampling techniques · Methods: Analysis of quantitative data and ethical guidelines · Studies (Social psychology) · Practical investigation (Social psychology)
- B Unit 1 – Topic B: Cognitive psychologyMemory: The multi-store model · Memory: The working memory model · Memory: Reconstructive memory · Methods: Designing and conducting experiments · Methods: Data analysis and case studies of brain damaged patients · Studies (Cognitive psychology) · Practical investigation (Cognitive psychology)
Opens on Pearson, Physics & Maths Tutor
Unit 2: Biological psychology, learning theories and development (WPS02/01)WPS02/01
2 h · 96 marks
What this paper covers
- C Unit 2 – Topic C: Biological psychologyStructure and function of brain regions – aggression · Body rhythms · Methods (Biological psychology) · Studies (Biological psychology) · Practical investigation (Biological psychology)
- D Unit 2 – Topic D: Learning theories and developmentClassical and operant conditioning and social learning theory · The role of the unconscious in personality development · Therapies/Treatments · Methods (Learning theories and development) · Studies (Learning theories and development) · Practical investigation (Learning theories and development)
Opens on Pearson, Physics & Maths Tutor
Unit 3: Applications of psychology (WPS03/01)WPS03/01
1 h 30 min · 64 marks
What this paper covers
- E Unit 3 – Topic E: Developmental psychologyAttachment, deprivation and privation · Cognitive and language development · Social and emotional development · Studies (Developmental psychology) · Methods (Developmental psychology) · Issues
- F Unit 3 – Topic F: Criminological psychologyExplanations for crime and antisocial behaviour · Understanding the offender · Factors influencing the identification of offenders · Factors affecting jury decision-making · Treatment · Studies (Criminological psychology) · Methods (Criminological psychology)
- G Unit 3 – Topic G: Health psychologyPhysiology of stress · Factors affecting stress · Coping strategies · Treatment and therapy for anxiety · Studies (Health psychology) · Methods (Health psychology)
Opens on Pearson, Physics & Maths Tutor
Unit 4: Clinical psychology and psychological skills (WPS04/01)WPS04/01
2 h · 96 marks
What this paper covers
- H Unit 4 – Topic H: Clinical psychologyDefinitions and debates in diagnosis · Schizophrenia · Unipolar depression · Studies (Clinical psychology) · Methods (Clinical psychology) · Practical
- I Unit 4 – Topic I: Psychological skillsMethods (Psychological skills) · Key questions in society · Issues and debates
| Series | Code | Question paper | Mark scheme | Insert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2025 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| January 2025 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2024 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| January 2024 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2023 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| January 2023 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2022 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| January 2022 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2021 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| January 2021 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| October 2020 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| January 2020 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| October 2019 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2019 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| January 2019 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| October 2018 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2018 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| January 2018 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| October 2017 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| June 2017 | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
| Specimen | WPS04/01 | Question paper | Mark scheme | — |
Opens on Pearson, Physics & Maths Tutor
Common questions
- Where can I find Edexcel IAL Psychology mark schemes?
- Every paper on this page has its mark scheme linked in the same row. Each link opens the PDF where it is hosted.
- Which years of Edexcel IAL Psychology past papers are here?
- The page lists 84 papers from 22 exam series, June 2016 to June 2025, and 4 specimen or sample papers.
- How are Edexcel IAL Psychology past papers organised on this page?
- Papers are grouped by exam paper, then by series with the newest first: Unit 1: Social and cognitive psychology (WPS01/01) (1 hour 30 minutes, 64 marks), Unit 2: Biological psychology, learning theories and development (WPS02/01) (2 hours, 96 marks), Unit 3: Applications of psychology (WPS03/01) (1 hour 30 minutes, 64 marks) and Unit 4: Clinical psychology and psychological skills (WPS04/01) (2 hours, 96 marks). Durations and marks are the most common values across the series listed.
- Are these the official Edexcel IAL papers?
- They are the papers set by Edexcel IAL. Links open the PDF where it is hosted: 84 on the Pearson website and 4 on Physics & Maths Tutor. Reschedule is independent and not affiliated with any exam board.
- How do I fit past papers into my revision plan?
- Add Psychology and Edexcel IAL in Reschedule with the date of each paper. It builds a daily revision plan that schedules each subtopic before the paper that examines it and adds past papers for each paper, then re-fits the plan if you miss a day.
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