IB Psychology Study Plan: Week-by-Week Schedule | LearnByTeaching.ai
This 6-week IB Psychology study plan is designed for intensive exam preparation, focusing on memorizing key studies, building evaluative essay-writing skills, and mastering the three core approaches. The plan covers both SL and HL content, with dedicated time for Paper 3 research methods and option topic review.
6
weeks
14
hrs / week
84
total hours
Weekly Plan
Rest & Review Strategy
Schedule one full rest day per week to prevent burnout from memorization-heavy study. On rest days, consider watching psychology documentaries or podcasts for passive reinforcement. Use spaced repetition flashcards daily for 15-20 minutes to maintain recall of studies covered in earlier weeks.
Adjustment Tips
- 1
If you are SL only, skip Paper 3 preparation and use that time for additional essay writing practice.
- 2
If you struggle with essay structure, spend 30 extra minutes per day on ERQ outlining before writing full essays.
- 3
If a particular approach feels strong, reduce its review time and reallocate hours to weaker approaches or the option topic.
- 4
If you cannot recall enough studies, prioritize memorizing 2-3 versatile studies per topic that can be used across multiple essay prompts.
- 5
If you are running short on time, focus on Paper 1 core approaches first as they carry the highest weight in the final grade.
Final Week Protocol
Day 1
Day 1: Complete a full timed exam simulation covering Paper 1 and Paper 2 (and Paper 3 for HL).
Day 2
Day 2: Mark all papers and identify the 10 most costly errors — categorize as content gaps, evaluation weakness, or time management.
Day 3
Day 3: Rapid-fire study recall drill — write key details of 20 studies from memory in 60 minutes.
Day 4
Day 4: Write two practice ERQs under strict time limits and self-mark against IB criteria.
Day 5
Day 5: Review option topic studies and Paper 3 research methods terminology (HL only).
Day 6
Day 6: Light review of summary sheets and key study flashcards — no new material. Prepare exam supplies.
Day 7
Day 7: Complete rest. Sleep well and trust that your systematic preparation has covered all required content.