As a teacher, I can’t say enough good things about the new Internal Assessment task for IBDP Psychology. Compared to the old model—where students had to work in groups to replicate an experiment, often on dry topics like Stroop effects or eyewitness testimony—the new research proposal format is a breath of fresh air.
Now, students design a research proposal focused on a problem that actually matters to them and their target population. Whether it’s anxiety about climate change, peer pressure, bullying, or exam stress, students can explore real-world issues that resonate. They aren’t limited to running an experiment; they can propose interviews, surveys, or observations. This opens up creativity and allows for authentic engagement.
Even better, the proposal can spark ideas for Extended Essays or even CAS projects. It’s so much simpler to teach and support—no logistical nightmares of groupwork or ethics approval for data collection. Students focus on designing ethical, methodologically sound research rather than scrambling to collect questionable data.
In short, the new IA puts the emphasis on thinking like a psychologist, not just ticking boxes. It’s purposeful, meaningful, and a whole lot less stressful for everyone involved!
If you’re looking for a guide to help you and your students navigate the new IA process with clarity and confidence, Tom Coster’s The Internal Assessment is essential reading. This comprehensive, step-by-step resource demystifies every stage of the IA, offers practical strategies for every research method, and includes twenty high-scoring sample proposals to inspire and guide. Say goodbye to IA stress—this book has you covered!
If you’re looking for a clear, concise, and affordable IB Psychology textbook, IBDP Psychology – The Textbook is the perfect choice. It features a plain and simple layout, straightforward language, and excellent value compared to big corporate publishers. Available in print and eBook formats, it’s an essential resource for both students and teachers.
But that’s not all—there’s also a set of TEN mock exams (Papers 1, 2, and 3 for SL and HL), each with complete, high-scoring model answers to help students master exam technique.
And have you seen the COMPLETE set of PowerPoint presentations? They cover the entire course and they’re fully editable, so you can customize them to suit your own preference.
I’ve been thinking about my first few lessons for next year’s new IBDP Psychology course. I want to make it immediately relevant and meaningful to the students. What better way to do that than by using psychology itself to explain how they will learn best?
Neuroplasticity: Why simple repetition works.
A robust psychology theory is neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt based on experience. This is one of the topics in the biological approach and it ties directly into how students develop their skills and retain knowledge in all of their IBDP classes. Through repetition and rehearsal, neural pathways are strengthened—a process known as myelination. When students rewrite notes, engage in retrieval practice, or explain concepts to others, they are literally strengthening the neural networks to retain information.
In my first lesson, I’ll show students how scientifically-backed learning strategies—like spaced repetition, active recall, and scaffolding—aren’t just things we suggest as teachers, but are grounded in psychological research. If they understand why these strategies work, they’ll be more likely to use them.
Causality – the cause of learning
This elegantly connects to one of psychology’s core concepts: Causality. There is a clear cause-and-effect process at play. If students consistently engage in structured note-taking and revision (cause), they strengthen their neural pathways (effect), leading to improved retention and recall. This lesson will help students recognize that their academic success isn’t just about talent or intelligence—it’s about how they use their brains effectively.
Starting the course this way accomplishes two things:
It immediately makes the course feel relevant because the students will see that psychology isn’t just about research studies but about their own experiences, habits, and learning processes.
It gives them a toolkit for success. If they embrace evidence-based study strategies from day one, they’re more likely to perform well not just in psychology, but in all their IBDP subjects.
I want my students to leave their first Psychology lesson not just excited about Psychology, but empowered by it.
We’re excited to announce that free worksheets are now available for every learning objective in the new IBDP Psychology course! These worksheets are structured in the same order as the Subject Guide, ensuring seamless integration into your lesson plans—although you’re free to use them in whatever order best suits your teaching style.
Each worksheet is designed to take 40-50 minutes to complete and works well when 2-3 students collaborate, fostering discussion and deeper understanding. They can also serve as homework assignments or substitute lesson activities when teachers are away. The worksheets are fully editable, allowing you to adapt them to your specific classroom needs, or you can simply use them as they are.
These resources are completely free to download and use, but if you find them helpful, I have a small request—please consider purchasing a copy of Succeeding at High School or College, or even better, recommending it to your students. Your support helps make the creation of high-quality resources like these possible!
Click here to access the worksheets and start using them in your IBDP Psychology classes today!
As most IB Diploma Psychology teachers will know, a new Subject Guide will be published in mid-February, 2025. ‘The Collection’ is a set of books / teaching materials created to meet teachers’ every need for this new course:
IB Diploma Psychology – Subject outlines
IB Diploma Psychology – The Textbook
IB Diploma Psychology – The complete set of Powerpoint presentations
IB Diploma Psychology – Ten mock examinations with model answers
IB Diploma Psychology – 70 multiple choice tests
IB Diploma Psychology – The extended essay
IB Diploma Psychology – The glossary of psychology vocabulary
IB Diploma Psychology – The 150 essential research studies
IB Diploma Psychology – Success at high school and college
A new Subject Guide means a lot of very time-consuming work for DP teachers on top of their already-full schedules. Tom Coster has created The Collection to save DP Psychology teachers’ time (and summer vacations).
The Textbook – covers the entire syllabus and also has sections on the Examinations and the Internal Assessment. Available in print or eBook format from Amazon.
The complete set of powerpoint presentations – covering every aspect of the new syllabus including the assessments. These presentations are closely aligned with The Textbook. These are straightforward .ppt files so they can be edited by teachers using Windows or Apple computers.
Homework revision questions – a complete set of homework writing tasks that students can work on independently through the 2 year course or teachers can set these as regular homework writing activities – perfect for exam revision.
The Internal Assessment – a book (print or eBook, from Amazon) that describes in detail the IA requirements, gives advice from an experienced moderator’s perspective, and presents 16 high-quality examples of the Internal Assessment activity.
It’s all here. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, the IBDP teacher needs to start teaching the new Subject Guide.
Ten mock examinations with model answers – a book (print or eBook, from Amazon) with TEN complete examinations (Papers 1 and 2 for the SL & HL students and Paper 3 for the HLs). AND there are model/high-scoring answers for all questions in all 10 examinations
70 multiple choice tests – multiple choice tests (30 questions in each) assessing knowledge and understanding of every aspect of the new course. MCQ tests mean whole topics can be assessed quickly and thoroughly answering the question, ‘have the students learnt the previous topic and so can we move on to the next topic now?’
Subject Outlines Whenever a new course is created, teachers must submit a new Subject Outline to their DP Coordinator detailing the hours for each topic, how TOK, CAS and International mindedness will be integrated… Tom Coster has created two FREE (downloadable) Curse Outlines with different approaches to teaching the course. Download them both, read them, choose the one that’s right for you and your students, edit it to suit you and your school – and submit to your DPC – job done!
The Extended Essay – the Extended Essay Syllabus has also been updated for Septemebr 2025, and this book tells it all – requirements, assessment criteria, how to manage the research and writing process. The book includes 100 possible research questions each with a suggested essay outline. And there’s an example of a complete and high-scoring essay.
The glossary of psychology vocabulary – the new syllabus requires students to be fluent in ‘psychology’, which means to know and be able to use psychology-specific vocabulary. This book contains about 1000 psychology terms, designed in subjects/topics so that as student’s learn the Biological approach, they can also learn the Biological approach’s vocabulary.
150 essential research studies – outlines of the 150 most essential research studies in psychology, with each outline including a brief critical thinking section. Psychological knowledge is based on scientific research. Students should know and refer to research when discussing theories and claims about behavior.
How to succeed at high school and college – a detailed and practical, step-by-step guide on how to excel in high school and college. From attending every lesson to creating and curating a comprehensive set of class notes to preparing for and writing exams… this is THE book that we all wish we had when we started high school. No-nonsense, simple, clear advice.
Click on the links to find these books on Amazon and use Amazon’s Look Inside feature to see more about each book.
Tom Coster has been teaching IB Diploma Psychology (both Standard and Higher Level) and supervising Extended Essays in Psychology for over 30 years. With a career spanning multiple international schools across Canada, Vietnam, Switzerland, Australia, and Morocco, Tom brings a wealth of global experience to his work.
A passionate educator and lifelong learner, Tom holds two master’s degrees in Psychology—one in Clinical Psychology and another in Cognitive Psychology. He is also an active member of the British Psychological Society and a self-described “research and statistical analysis geek.”
Tom’s extensive experience includes serving as an examiner and moderator for the IB Diploma Programme, further enriching his expertise in the field. He has written numerous articles on the application of Social Identity Theory and Social Learning Theory in high school settings, blending theoretical knowledge with practical, classroom-based insights with a vigilant eye on cultural differences.
Tom’s teaching philosophy is rooted in making Psychology accessible, engaging, and relevant for students. His dedication to fostering critical thinking and an appreciation for evidence-based research has inspired countless students worldwide.
In his free time, Tom enjoys writing fiction, swimming, hiking in the European Alps, and indulging in pastries served with fine coffee. His books reflect his deep commitment to education, his love for the subject, and his desire to support both students and teachers in their journey through the fascinating world of Psychology.
Tom Coster - Psychology 