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About IGCSE Psychology
IGCSE Psychology introduces students to how people think, remember, perceive and behave. It is a written subject with no practical work and no coursework on either board, so the whole grade comes from two exam papers. It also demands something many students are not used to: describing studies accurately and then evaluating them.
The most useful thing to understand is how both boards treat research methods. Cambridge 0266 and OxfordAQA 9218 each set four sections in every paper, and the fourth section is always research methods. So research methods is not a small topic tucked into one paper — it is examined twice, once in each paper, and it carries real marks both times.
The two boards then differ in how evenly they split the qualification. OxfordAQA keeps it simple: two papers of 2 hours and 100 marks, worth 50% each. Cambridge does not. Its Paper 1 is longer and worth more — 1 hour 30 minutes, 90 marks and 53% — while Paper 2 is 1 hour 20 minutes, 80 marks and 47%. Those few marks decide which paper matters slightly more. We work from real past papers. There is one more difference worth knowing. Cambridge divides research methods into two halves, with experimental method in Paper 1 and non-experimental methods in Paper 2. OxfordAQA examines the same research methods content in both papers.
Who IGCSE Psychology Is For
This course suits students who can learn the studies but need help writing about them the way examiners want.
- Students starting IGCSE Psychology who need a clear way to describe and evaluate studies
- Candidates who lose marks because they describe a study but never evaluate it
- Learners who find research methods confusing and need it taught as a subject in its own right
- Students who know the content but run out of time on extended writing answers
- Students aiming for the top grades who need precise use of psychological terms
IGCSE Psychology Exam Boards We Cover
Both boards examine research methods in a section of every paper, and neither sets coursework. The difference is the weighting. Cambridge 0266 splits its two papers 53% and 47% and grades A* to G. OxfordAQA 9218 splits them 50% each and grades 1 to 9.
Cambridge
Cambridge IGCSE Psychology 0266 is not tiered, and all candidates take two components, both externally assessed, for grades A* to G. There is no coursework. Paper 1 runs for 1 hour 30 minutes and carries 90 marks and 53% of the qualification. It has four sections. Section A is Memory and forgetting, Section B is Sleep and dreams and Section C is Prosocial behaviour, each worth 20 marks. Section D is the Experimental research method, worth 30 marks, and it assesses syllabus sections 7.1 and 7.5–7.9. One of the Sections A–C will include an 8-mark item, and this section will vary. Paper 2 runs for 1 hour 20 minutes and carries 80 marks and 47% of the qualification. Section A is Visual perception, Section B is Motivation and needs and Section C is Language development, each worth 20 marks. Section D is Non-experimental research methods, worth 20 marks, and it assesses syllabus sections 7.2–7.4 and 7.5–7.9. Candidates answer all questions in each section. Exams are available in the June and November series.
OxfordAQA
OxfordAQA International GCSE Psychology 9218 is not tiered, and sets two papers worth 50% of GCSE each, for grades 1 to 9. There is no coursework or non-exam assessment. Paper 1 is Cognition and behaviour: a written exam of 2 hours carrying 100 marks and 50%. It has four sections, each worth exactly 25 marks — Section A Memory, Section B Perception, Section C Biopsychology and Section D Research methods. Paper 2 is Social context and behaviour: a written examination of 2 hours carrying 100 marks and 50%. It also has four sections of 25 marks — Section A Communication, Section B Social Influences, Section C Mental health and Section D Research methods. The subject content of the Research methods topics is the same in both Paper 1 and Paper 2, and students are assessed on data in both papers. Questions across both papers are multiple choice, structured, short answer and extended writing responses. The two papers have a total scaled mark of 200, and the qualification is graded on a nine-point scale from 1 to 9, where 9 is the best grade, in line with UK GCSEs. This specification is Version 1.1, for International GCSE exams May/June 2025 onwards.
How Centaurus Helps
Describe then evaluate
Psychology marks reward students who can say what a study found and then judge how good the evidence is. We teach that two-part habit until it is automatic.
Research methods taught properly
It is a full section of both papers on both boards. We treat it as a core topic rather than something to skim before the exam.
Data and statistics made calm
Both papers include data interpretation. We practise reading tables, graphs and summary statistics without panicking.
Extended writing under time pressure
Cambridge Paper 1 is only 1 hour 30 minutes for 90 marks, so pace matters. We rehearse full papers to the clock.
Precise terminology
Students who use terms such as reliability, validity and ethics correctly pick up marks that others miss. We drill the vocabulary in context.
Getting the weighting right
Cambridge puts 53% on Paper 1, so paper practice is weighted to match rather than split evenly out of habit.
Cambridge 0266 and OxfordAQA 9218 Compared
Both boards examine research methods in both papers and neither sets coursework. The clearest difference is that Cambridge does not weight its two papers equally.
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