While the IB provides just one sample exam on the MyIB Programme Resource Centre, Tom Coster’s book goes much further – TEN full-length exams (Papers 1, 2 and 3), each with high-scoring student responses. These sample answers give students and teachers a very clear insight into what a top-level response looks like.
Instead of guessing what earns a 7, readers can analyse near-perfect responses, identify successful strategies, and improve their own writing and exam technique. For teachers, it’s a time-saving tool for revision, assessment preparation, and modelling high standards. For students, it’s like having a roadmap to exam success.
The new IBDP Psychology syllabus introduces “Class Practicals” — and understandably, many teachers are expressing some concern. But there’s good news: they’re not as big a deal as they might seem.
First, students don’t need to each design and carry out four practicals independently. These are class activities, best done together during regular class time or in school, using the 4 research methods to prepare for Paper 1 Section B. The aim is to build understanding of experimental design, data collection, and critical thinking — not to create publishable research.
Each of the four required Class Practicals aligns with a key method in the syllabus: experiment, observation, interview, and survey/questionnaire. Teachers are encouraged to guide the design and implementation, ensuring all students participate and reflect on the process.
If you’re looking for support, Tom Coster’s IBDP Psychology: The Textbook is a must-have. It provides clear explanations, guidance, and a ready-to-use example for each practical. With good planning and a collaborative classroom approach, these activities can be both manageable and meaningful.
When it comes to teaching the IB Diploma Psychology course, experience and insight matter.
With a Master’s degree in Psychology and years of hands-on teaching, Tom Coster brings strong subject knowledge and a deep understanding of how students learn. He’s worked extensively with the IB —as an exam marker, IA moderator, Extended Essay marker, and workshop leader. He knows how to read between the lines of a Subject Guide and translate it into real-world classroom success.
What does this mean for Psychology teachers? A complete set of affordable, classroom-ready teaching materials designed to help your students succeed—whether in the IA, exams, or the new extended essay.
The materials are:
Perfectly aligned with the new syllabus
Available in both print and eBook formats
Packed with simple strategies for success
Easy to use and built for real classroom conditions
Tom’s mission is simple: to make high-quality Psychology teaching less stressful for teachers and their students and more effective. And judging by the response from teachers around the world, it’s working.
Ready to simplify your planning and boost student achievement? See for yourself.
The new IB Diploma Psychology course requires students to take part in four teacher-guided in-class practicals: an interview, an experiment, an observation, and a survey/questionnaire. We’re looking for issues that feel real and relevant to our students, and few topics are more urgent right now than the mental health crisis among young people.
A recent UN-commissioned study by Jean Twenge and David Blanchflower has revealed a shocking reversal of the traditional “U-shaped” wellbeing curve. Happiness no longer dips in midlife—it now rises steadily with age, while young people are reporting record-low levels of life satisfaction. In six major English-speaking countries (UK, US, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand), wellbeing among teenagers has plummeted—especially for young women.
Teenager wellbeing
One clear suspect? Smartphones and social media.
This trend didn’t start with COVID-19. It dates back to around 2013 and has only worsened. Young people are reportedly more isolated, less socially engaged, and more exposed to cyberbullying and body shaming.
This is exactly the kind of real-world phenomenon that DP Psychology students could—and should—investigate through in-class practicals. Imagine students designing ethical, small-scale studies examining screen time, social media use, and indicators of wellbeing among peers. It’s relevant, measurable, and personally meaningful to them.
But maybe there are other possibilities, such as a shortage of good quality sleep. Diet? The mass media? The topsy-turvy economy and jobs market? Or maybe the teenage years were never really the greatest time of our life.
We may not solve a global crisis in one classroom, but maybe we will start asking the right questions.
Smartphones? Lack of sleep? Mass media? Music? Exams? Or maybe it’s ‘just a phase’
Note that our Textbook includes a detailed section including examples of the In Class Practicals.
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!
We’re receiving very positive feedback for our comprehensive PowerPoint slides, covering the entire course, including the internal assessment and examinations. Designed to be 100% editable, teachers can add, delete, or modify slides to fit their teaching style and students’ needs.
At just $50 for the complete set, these slides are not only a huge time-saver but also exceptional value for money. Streamline your lesson planning and deliver engaging, structured lessons with ease.
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions are interesting when we consider the Russia-Ukraine-USA situation.
Can IBDP help achieve a more peaceful world, as the mission statement says?
Both Russia and Ukraine share high power distance (acceptance of strong leadership) and high uncertainty avoidance (a preference for stability and control). But Russia is more long-term oriented, which means it emphasizes strategic dominance, while Ukraine is more collectivist, meaning it values community and national identity.
The U.S., by contrast, is highly individualistic, low in uncertainty avoidance, and indulgent. These traits influence its foreign policy toward promoting democracy, personal freedoms, and economic growth.
This fundamental cultural difference means the U.S. often supports Ukraine’s sovereignty while rejecting Russia’s authoritarian, power-driven approach.
Hofstede’s framework helps explain the cultural differences between Ukraine and Russia that are driving the conflict and the challenges in finding a resolution. Russia’s high power distance and long-term strategic thinking make it resistant to compromise. Russia views control over Ukraine as essential to its geopolitical security. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s collectivist and high uncertainty avoidance culture fuels its strong national identity and resistance to external control and its desire to join Europe and NATO.
The U.S.’s individualism and low uncertainty avoidance drive its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, which fuels the tension between Ukraine and Russia.
A path toward peace requires acknowledging these cultural differences—balancing Ukraine’s desire for independence with Russia’s security concerns while leveraging the U.S.’s preference for diplomacy and pragmatic solutions.
Peace can be achieved by addressing the core cultural and geopolitical needs of each side. For Russia, security guarantees, such as Ukraine’s neutrality (no NATO membership) or regional autonomy agreements, could reduce its strategic fears. For Ukraine, sovereignty and economic stability must be protected, possibly through international security assurances and reconstruction aid. For the U.S. and allies, diplomacy should focus on pragmatic solutions rather than ideological confrontations, ensuring Ukraine’s independence without escalating Russia’s insecurity.
Hofstede’s cultural dimensions framework is lacking an important dimension. To what extent can each if these parties to the conflict be trusted to stick to any peace agreement?
Understanding conflict is important for peace in Ukraine. Two elements of the IBDP Psychology course would help both Ukraine and Russia achieve peace – if that’s what they want.
Peace tnrough IBDP Psychology
If peace is the goal, Sherif et al. (1957)’s The Robbers Cave Study and Henri Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory offer hope.
In the Robbers Cave Study, Sherif divided teenage boys at a summer camp into two competing groups. Initially, they bonded in their own groups. When competition was introduced, hostility erupted between the groups. Tbe conflict was resolved when the boys were given superordinate goals – to fix a leaking water tank. Working together, the mete act of required cooperation against a shared problem, turned the rival groups into allies.
Henri Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory (SIT) explains how people categorize themselves into groups, leading to an “us vs. them” state – emphasis on the ‘versus’. The perceived difference triggers conflict. But SIT also shows that group identities can be reshaped. When people see themselves as part of a larger, inclusive group, intergroup conflict decreases, cooperation is possible and peace between previously warring groups can occur.
Applying this knowledge about human behavior can lead to peace in Ukraine and Russia. It’s about creating shared goals and identities. The Orthodox church leaders in Russia and Ukraine could play a role here. Instead of reinforcing divisions, the church leaders could highlight common interests: we are more alike than different. Economic leaders such as the IMF could show that both countries, working together through a Free Trade Agreement could achieve economic growth and, more importantly, economic development.
Of course, this presupposes that both Ukraine and Russia want peace.
Success in high school or college isn’t about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about using the right strategies to maximize your learning. Success at high school or college is your step-by-step guide to thriving in education, whether you’re aiming for top grades or simply want to get the most out of your studies.
Packed with practical advice, this book covers everything from attending every class and participating actively to mastering time management and building strong relationships with teachers. Each chapter provides actionable tips to help you stay motivated, organized, and confident in your academic journey.
Whether you’re struggling to keep up or looking to reach new heights, this book gives you the tools to take control of your education—and your future. Don’t leave success to chance—start building the habits that will set you apart today!
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.
Tom Coster - Psychology 