Tom Coster – Psychology

Tag: IB Diploma Psychology

  • Teach the new IBDP Psychology course with total confidence

    The Tom Coster Collection – by a seasoned IB educator (and examiner/moderator and workshop leader), this comprehensive suite of books and teaching materials is purpose-built for the new syllabus. Whether you’re a veteran IB Psychology teacher or delivering it for the first time, this collection truly covers everything you need.

    What’s in the Tom Coster Collection?

    1. IB Diploma Psychology – The Textbook

    The flagship resource, available in print and eBook format from Amazon, this book:

    • Covers every aspect of the new syllabus
    • Includes sections on the examinations and the Internal Assessment
    • Fully aligns with the new concept-based and research-grounded approach

    2. The Complete Set of PowerPoint Presentations

    • Downloadable, editable .ppt files for all syllabus topics
    • Closely aligned with the textbook
    • Covers content and assessments, ready for classroom delivery

    3. Homework Revision Questions

    • A structured set of exam-style writing prompts
    • Can be used throughout the two-year course or as a revision pack
    • Ideal for independent learning or class-based assignments

    4. The Internal Assessment

    • A dedicated book (print/eBook) providing:
      • Detailed breakdown of IA requirements
      • Moderator-level advice
      • 16 high-quality examples of completed IAs

    5. Ten Mock Examinations with Model Answers

    • A full book with:
      • 10 complete practice exams (Papers 1, 2, and HL Paper 3)
      • Model/high-scoring answers for all questions
      • Ideal for assessment practice and benchmarking progress

    6. 70 Multiple Choice Tests

    • 30-question tests across all course topics
    • Designed for quick, comprehensive checks of student understanding
    • Great for determining readiness to move forward in your teaching sequence

    7. The Extended Essay

    • Updated to reflect the revised EE guidelines from September 2025
    • Includes:
      • Step-by-step guidance
      • 100 research question ideas with essay outlines
      • A complete, high-scoring sample EE

    8. Glossary of Psychology Vocabulary

    • Around 1,000 terms, grouped by approach and topic
    • Supports the syllabus’ emphasis on disciplinary literacy
    • A must-have for developing confident, fluent IB Psychology students

    9. 150 Essential Research Studies

    • Brief, focused outlines of 150 key research studies
    • Each outline includes:
      • Core details
      • A critical thinking mini-section
    • Perfect for building student reference banks and evidence-based writing

    10. Success at High School and College

    • A practical guide on how students can thrive academically
    • Covers note-taking, revision strategies, exam technique, and time management
    • Ideal for student onboarding or as a gift at the start of the Diploma

    What sets the Tom Coster Collection apart is that it was clearly created by a teacher (and examiner/moderator, and workshop leader), for teachers. These resources are:

    • 100% tailored to the new IB Psychology syllabus
    • Field-tested, classroom-ready, and immediately usable
    • Designed to make the complex clear, structured, and teachable

    How to Access the Collection

    • Books are available on Amazon in both print and eBook formats.
    • Downloadable materials (like PowerPoints and course outlines) are available from the official website.
    • No subscriptions. No locked platforms. Just tools that work.

    Teaching the new IB Psychology course doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the Tom Coster Collection, you gain not just a set of materials—but a full teaching system designed to support you at every step. So if you’re looking to teach the new syllabus with clarity, confidence, and creativity—this is the collection to have on your shelf and screen.

  • A real-world issue for the in-class practicals

    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.

  • How good is the new internal assessment task for IBDP Psychology?

    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!

  • Powerpoints for the whole IBDP Psychology course

    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.

  • Peace via Hofstede’s cultural dimensions

    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?

  • Success at high school or college – practical, ‘how to succeed’ advice

    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!

  • The Textbook and the book of 10 Mock Examinations

    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.

  • Sleep – the overlooked health treatment

    Sleep – the overlooked health treatment

    As psychology teachers, we’re often at the front and centre of mental health discussions – with students and also with colleagues. We teach our students about the biological, cognitive, and social explanations of disorders, the effectiveness of SSRIs, and the transformative power of CBT. And yet, one of the simplest and most effective interventions remains woefully underemphasized: adequate sleep.

    There is a mountain of credible, published research highlighting just how significant sleep is to emotional regulation. We have compelling evidence showing that poor sleep isn’t just a symptom of anxiety or depression, it is often the primary cause.

    The relationship between sleep and mental health is bidirectional, creating a vicious cycle: insufficient sleep heightens emotional reactivity, disrupts rational thought processes, and increases vulnerability to stress, making individuals more prone to anxiety and depression.

    One night of sleep deprivation leads to a significant spike in anxiety and low mood the following morning. Chronic, ie longer term, sleeplessness makes everyday events feel more negative, reinforcing a bleak outlook on life. Research shows that individuals suffering from insomnia are at twice the risk of developing anxiety or depression compared to those who sleep well.

    The evidence is compelling. Sleep deprivation impairs the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s emotional regulator, weakening its connection to the amygdala, which governs fear and emotional responses. This disruption makes individuals more emotionally volatile, prone to misperceiving neutral events as negative, and more likely to spiral into stress and mood disorders.

    As educators, we must recognize the immense potential of sleep education as a preventative mental health strategy. A CAS project that focuses on sleep awareness could help students (and colleagues) track their sleep, analyze its effects on mood and cognitive function, and share findings with peers.

    Getting sufficient sleep is not about school starting later or school providing quiet spaces for rest. It’s about teaching students, their parents, and colleagues that the simplest treatment (and prevention) strategy relating to the most common mental health issues of anxiety and depression is getting sufficient sleep. In general we all need 8-9 hours of sleep, so we must go to bed more than 8-9 hours before the required wake-up time because we need about half an hour to ‘fall asleep’. We all need to be in bed, light off and phone off around half an hour before the sleep time.

    Ultimately, if there is one piece of mental health advice we can give our students—and even our colleagues—it is this: Prioritize sleep because it is the foundation of emotional resilience, cognitive function, and overall well-being.

    I seldom see anxious cats.

  • IB Psychology Examinations

    Preparing students for the IB Diploma Psychology exam can be a challenge, but IB Diploma Psychology: Ten Mock Examinations by Tom Coster is the essential resource to ensure success. This book provides ten meticulously designed mock exams that mirror the structure, difficulty, and content of the real IB assessments, offering students the most authentic practice experience possible.

    Teachers will appreciate how this resource aligns with the IB Psychology Subject Guide and Teacher Support Material, making it a perfect companion for classroom revision. With realistic time allocations, model answers, and success strategies, students gain valuable insights into exam techniques, structuring high-quality responses, and integrating research evidence effectively.

    By using this book, teachers can provide their students with practical, targeted preparation, helping them approach the exams with confidence. With comprehensive syllabus coverage and expert guidance, this resource is the key to maximizing student achievement in IB Psychology.

  • IBDP Psychology – The Textbook

    Looking for the perfect study companion? The Textbook is designed to make learning easier, clearer, and more affordable. Available in both print and eBook formats, our eBook never expires and can be accessed on your phone, tablet, or laptop—so you can study anytime, anywhere.

    With a straightforward Concepts, Content, and Context layout, The Textbook presents information in a way that’s easy to follow. It includes everything you need: diagrams, chapter summaries, a dedicated section on Internal Assessment, and a full guide to the examinations. No unnecessary complexity—just clear explanations in plain language.

    But The Textbook is more than just a textbook—it’s the centrepiece of a complete collection of teaching and learning resources. This includes Homework Revision Questions, specialised books on the IA and the exams, a Book of Essential Research Studies, and a Vocabulary Book to strengthen key concepts.

    Best of all, The Textbook costs significantly less than those from big publishers, making it an accessible choice for students and schools alike. Whether you’re studying at home or on the go, this is the complete textbook you can rely on.