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When it comes to IB Psychology Paper 2, choosing and teaching the options can feel like a daunting task for teachers. 

With four options to choose from—Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Health Psychology, and Psychology of Human Relationships—it’s natural to wonder which option might be the easiest for students or the best fit for your teaching style. 

Each option comes with its own set of topics and subtopics, which can vary slightly in number, and there’s a need to balance covering essential content with providing students some choice in essay questions. 

The good news is that all four options are quite similar in difficulty and can be systematically approached with effective planning. 

Let’s break down a straightforward way to help you navigate and teach Paper 2 with clarity and confidence.

Choosing the Best Option: A Structured Approach

Rather than focusing on which option might be “easiest,” it’s often more effective to consider a combination of content load and personal or student interest. 

While Abnormal and Developmental Psychology each have 10 subtopics, Human Relationships has 9, and Health has 8, not all subtopics need to be taught. 

The IB organises each option into three main topics, with each topic guaranteed to have at least one ERQ question. 

This means you could, theoretically, teach only one topic per option. 

However, a better approach is to cover at least two topics per option to give students a choice between two essay questions.

When selecting which topics to teach, it’s helpful to prioritise those with fewer subtopics, as this reduces the overall content load. 

For example, choosing two topics within Abnormal Psychology that are concise but comprehensive could offer students a solid base without overwhelming them. 

Additionally, consider topics that align with Paper 1 content. 

For instance, as you teach the biological approach to behavior in Paper 1, you might choose the Abnormal Psychology option and focus on explanations for disorders that tie into the same theories or studies.

An example would be to investigate the role of the 5-HTT gene for both topics.

Planning for Success: Essay Structure and Command Terms

Once your options and topics are chosen, one of the best tools you can provide students is a well-structured essay planning booklet. 

I recommend compiling or creating booklets specifically for each option you’re teaching, so students can organise their ideas and understand the structure needed for each question type. 

Here are my essay writing booklets for the two topics I cover in Human Relationships:

Personal Relationships Revision Booklet.docx

Social Responsibility Revision Booklet.docx.

I recommend teaching to the command term “discuss” (a frequent one for ERQs), which involves a few essential components:

1. Define the key concept.

2. Describe the main theory.

3. Provide and evaluate two relevant studies that deepen the discussion.

4. Evaluate the theory using psychological issues and debates.

5. Suggest alternative theories.

6. Conclude with a summary of the discussion and mention triangulation with alternatives.

This structure gives students a clear template, helping them understand what examiners are looking for and how to develop their ideas cohesively. 

Also, remind students to be prepared to discuss research methods, ethical considerations, or even different approaches in their answers, as these elements may also appear in ERQ questions linking to each topic.

If you haven’t already, you can also teach students to adapt their ERQs for various command terms. 

After mastering “discuss,” lessons on tailoring responses for “contrast,” “evaluate,” and “to what extent” will help ensure they can flexibly adapt to whatever command term they encounter.

Engaging and Building on Students' Foundations

By the time students reach Paper 2, they’ve built a strong foundation of knowledge from Paper 1, so teaching options can be a fun and interactive experience! 

Take advantage of the engaging topics in each option to make learning enjoyable. 

For example, if you’re covering Human Relationships, consider adding group discussions or case studies to explore concepts like interpersonal attraction or conflict resolution. 

For Health Psychology, activities on stress management techniques can bring the material to life in a way students will remember. With their foundational knowledge and structured plans in place, students should be ready to tackle the ERQs with confidence.

Looking Forward

Teaching Paper 2 doesn’t have to be stressful, and I hope this guide gives you a bit of reassurance as you plan your classes. 

Remember, this is an exciting stage where students are already familiar with ERQ structure and ready to dive deeper into fascinating areas of psychology. 

Enjoy the journey, and don’t hesitate to make your lessons as engaging as possible. 

Here’s to a great week ahead—I’ll be back next Friday with more tips and resources to support your teaching. Have fun with Paper 2, and happy teaching!

Warmly,

Thes

Future articles in this series:

How scientific do you have to be in Biological Approach?

How to ensure students answer the question.

Tackling the higher level extension questions.