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WPS04 exam technique

Edexcel IAL Psychology · WPS04 Clinical Psychology and Psychological Skills

WPS04 is a 2-hour written paper worth 96 marks (60% of the A2 and 30% of the full International A level). All sections are compulsory. Calculators are allowed and formulae and critical values tables are provided.

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Paper structure

Section	Content	Marks
A	Clinical psychology: short-answer questions	32
B	Clinical psychology: one extended open-response question	16
C	Psychological skills: short-answer research methods questions (Topics A to H, not F or G)	20
D	Psychological skills: one key question with a scenario	8
E	Psychological skills: one synoptic issues and debates essay	20
Total		96

Command words

Describe: give an account. Explain: give reasons (justify). Analyse: break down and link, with AO1 and AO3 balanced (for example 3 + 3 in a 6-mark question).
Discuss: explore the issue with application; no conclusion needed.
Evaluate / Assess / To what extent: weigh strengths and weaknesses and reach a judgement.
Each question uses one command word only. Levels-based marking applies to 8, 12, 16 and 20-mark questions; mark scheme content is indicative, so other valid points are credited.

What the June 2025 examiners said

Link every point to the scenario, study or disorder named: generic answers about 'content analysis' without mental health scored 0.
AO3 is weakest: in 16-mark evaluate questions, too much description loses marks; give developed strengths, weaknesses and judgements.
Studies: know specific procedures (Hans and Hiller excluded RCTs).
Calculations: show working, include minus signs, and state both observed and critical values when judging significance.
Methods: when asked about independent groups, do not give a weakness of repeated measures; name specific participant variables.
fMRI: describe screening, lying in the scanner, stimuli and measured activity; fMRI does not use a glucose tracer.

Timing

120 minutes for 96 marks is 1.25 minutes per mark: about 20 minutes for the 16-mark essay and 25 minutes for the 20-mark essay. Plan essays briefly, and leave time to check calculations.

Worked example

Turn this weak point into a strong one: 'Drug therapy has side effects.'

Make it specific: typical antipsychotics can cause shaking and muscle spasms; both types can cause weight gain and drowsiness (NHS).
Explain the consequence: unpleasant side effects lead some patients to stop taking medication, so symptoms return.
Link to the scenario (if given) and judge: this limits effectiveness, so combining drugs with family therapy and monitoring side effects is recommended.

Answer: Specific evidence + consequence + link + judgement.

Key idea: 96 marks in 2 hours: A 32, B 16, C 20, D 8, E 20. Describe, explain, analyse, discuss (no judgement), evaluate (judgement). Link every point; balance AO3; show calculations with signs and critical values.

Check yourself

Add up the section marks (32, 16, 20, 8 and 20). What is the total?
Show answer
96 marks. 32 + 16 + 20 + 8 + 20 = 96.
What percentage of the WPS04 marks are for clinical psychology (Sections A and B)?
Show answer
50 %. 48 / 96 x 100 = 50%.
How many minutes per mark is 120 minutes for 96 marks? Give your answer to 2 decimal places.
Show answer
1.25 minutes. 120 / 96 = 1.25.
Which command word does NOT require a conclusion?
- Evaluate
- Discuss
- Assess
- To what extent
Show answer
Discuss. Discuss targets AO1 and AO2.
When stating whether a result is significant, what must you include?
- Only the word 'significant'
- The sample's names
- The mean of the critical values
- The observed value, the critical value and the significance level
Show answer
The observed value, the critical value and the significance level. The June 2025 examiners required both values.
Which section contains the synoptic issues and debates essay?
- Section A
- Section E
- Section B
- Section D
Show answer
Section E. Section E: 20 marks.
Explain how to gain AO3 marks in a 16-mark 'evaluate' question.
Show answer
Give developed strengths and weaknesses supported by specific evidence, explain why each matters, and make judgements throughout and in a final conclusion, rather than mainly describing.. Developed evaluation plus judgements.

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Last updated 8 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.