VCE Psychology Exam - Suggested Answers and Discussion

[brenden]

Hey everyone!

Congratulations on finishing one of the most enjoyable but hard courses in VCE! IT'S OVER!

What did you think of the exam this year?

How did you go with multi-choice, and how did you go with the extended response? Did it feel like an easy, normal, or difficult exam to you? Very interested to hear your thoughts below!

A copy of the exam is available here.

Note from the person who wrote the answers: If you look at these suggested answers and feel like you've made mistakes in the exam, don't become demoralised. These answers are simply tentative solutions, and we're happy for you to jump into the discussion and reply to the thread with what you thought of the exam or to argue that one of the below is incorrect. If you don't have an account, register here!


MULTI-CHOICE ANSWERS (not 100% perfection guaranteed; please point out any mistakes you find!)

1.   D
2.   A
3.   D
4.   A
5.   A
6.   D
7.   C
8.   C
9.   B
10.   D
11.   B
12.   D*
13.   A
14.   D
15.   D
16.   D
17.   B
18.   C
19.   C
20.   A
21.   B
22.   D
23.   D
24.   B
25.   C
26.   A
27.   C
28.   B
29.   A
30.   B
31.   D
32.   C
33.   C
34.   A
35.   C
36.   D*
37.   A
38.   C
39.   D
40.   B
41.   B
42.   D
43.   C
44.   C
45.   D
46.   C
47.   B
48.   B
49.   A
50.   C
51.   B*
52.   B
53.   C
54.   B
55.   D
56.   D
57.   A
58.   D
59.   A
60.   C
61.   A
62.   B
63.   A
64.   B
65.   D

[Alter]

I'm writing up some MC answers right now, but I'm a bit rusty

[brenden]

I'm writing up some MC answers right now, but I'm a bit rusty

You are my hero.

[Joseph41]

Congratulations, everybody! Very interested to hear your thoughts on how it went.

[Alter]

Just to clarify, I have never tutored in psych and sat the exam 2 years ago, so it's entirely possible for these to be incorrect. I'm mainly just putting them up to open the avenue for discussion on hard questions. Those asterisked are those I'm particularly open to discussion about.

Answers:

Spoiler

SEE ORIGINAL POST FOR EDITED VERSION; I'VE CHANGED A LOT OF THESE
1.   D
2.   A
3.   D
4.   A
5.   A
6.   D
7.   C
8.   C
9.   B
10.   D
11.   B
12.   D*
13.   A
14.   D
15.   D
16.   D
17.   B
18.   C
19.   D
20.   A
21.   B
22.   D
23.   D
24.   B
25.   C
26.   A
27.   C
28.   B
29.   A
30.   B
31.   D
32.   C
33.   C
34.   A (not B)
35.   B
36.   B*
37.   A
38.   C
39.   D
40.   B
41.   B
42.   D
43.   C
44.   C
45.   D
46.   C
47.   B
48.   B
49.   A
50.   C
51.   C*
52.   B
53.   C
54.   B
55.   A
56.   C
57.   A
58.   D
59.   A
60.   C
61.   B*
62.   B
63.   A
64.   B
65.   D

I'll probably go back and check over these answers as I haven't double-checked any yet, but it's better to have something up than nothing at all.

[Stick]

My sister is in Year 11 and did VCE Psychology. She just texted me that she thought the exam was good but that section C was different and difficult this year (in comparison to about 40 practice exams she did). I didn't do this subject in VCE but as a neuroscience major I can see major overlap in what we've both learnt. In my incredibly limited scope of the actual VCE course, I think I can see where she's coming from; it also seemed like sections A and B were reasonable.

Someone who actually does/did VCE Psychology, please feel free to correct me.

[brenden]

Just to clarify, I have never tutored in psych and sat the exam 2 years ago, so it's entirely possible for these to be incorrect. I'm mainly just putting them up to open the avenue for discussion on hard questions. Those asterisked are those I'm particularly open to discussion about.

Answers:

Spoiler

1.   D
2.   A
3.   D
4.   A
5.   A
6.   D
7.   C
8.   C
9.   B
10.   D
11.   B
12.   D*
13.   A
14.   D
15.   D
16.   D
17.   B
18.   C
19.   D
20.   A
21.   B
22.   D
23.   D
24.   B
25.   C
26.   A
27.   C
28.   B
29.   A
30.   B
31.   D
32.   C
33.   C
34.   A (not B)
35.   B
36.   B*
37.   A
38.   C
39.   D
40.   B
41.   B
42.   D
43.   C
44.   C
45.   D
46.   C
47.   B
48.   B
49.   A
50.   C
51.   C*
52.   B
53.   C
54.   B
55.   A
56.   C
57.   A
58.   D
59.   A
60.   C
61.   B*
62.   B
63.   A
64.   B
65.   D

I'll probably go back and check over these answers as I haven't double-checked any yet, but it's better to have something up than nothing at all.

Absolute ledge!!!!

My sister is in Year 11 and did VCE Psychology. She just texted me that she thought the exam was good but that section C was different and difficult this year (in comparison to about 40 practice exams she did). I didn't do this subject in VCE but as a neuroscience major I can see major overlap in what we've both learnt. In my incredibly limited scope of the actual VCE course, I think I can see where she's coming from; it also seemed like sections A and B were reasonable.

Someone who actually does/did VCE Psychology, please feel free to correct me.

I just realised Stick is one of the most prolific posters in ATAR Notes history haha. Will crack into the top 10 soon!

[crackleking]

In question 19 alternative c do you think that stomach contractions is referring to digestion?

[EmilyRoseLamb]

I did sooo many practice exams under timed conditions, and had my teacher (who is a VCAA marker) give me detailed feedback - I found the exam fine for sections A and B, but section C was unlike anything I've ever come across. I also felt quite cheated, in a way - the exam didn't test a broad amount of knowledge particularly in the short answer. I'd been averaging 90-97% on my practice exams, but I'm honestly unsure about how I went.

Am I glad it's over? Well, in a way - but after having put in the effort all year, the least one may ask is to leave the exam room feeling like the work has paid off. I don't know if I really have that feeling! Hah. The important thing is we've all completed the exam to the best of our ability.

[deejay9]

I also felt quite cheated, in a way - the exam didn't test a broad amount of knowledge particularly in the short answer.

I noticed this too actually, there were barely any questions on consciousness and mental health.

[minerva]

Section C was really different. I was ready to interpret a p value, draw a conclusion, discuss the limitations of the experimental design ... But they asked about the psychological determinants of the stress response, the roles of primary and secondary appraisal in Lazarus and Folkman's model and extraneous/confounding variables and how to minimise them (in relation to the scenario which was about brides' stress levels before and after their wedding). I'm really unsure with how I went and whether what I wrote was relevant. I wrote over both pages and did section C first but the extended response took me half an hour which was longer than I had planned. I did finish the exam though. Overall, not too bad.

[nadiaaa]

isnt Q6 B?

[brenden]

isnt Q6 B?

I don't think so. B and C are saying the same thing, and A is wrong... Babies have tonnes of REM/slow wave, and children either have more or the same as adolescents. (Tbh i thought they had more, but they certainly don't have less, so eliminate B and C, think the answer is D).

That said, it's been 4 years since I sat my exam haha!

[Joseph41]

I did sooo many practice exams under timed conditions, and had my teacher (who is a VCAA marker) give me detailed feedback - I found the exam fine for sections A and B, but section C was unlike anything I've ever come across. I also felt quite cheated, in a way - the exam didn't test a broad amount of knowledge particularly in the short answer. I'd been averaging 90-97% on my practice exams, but I'm honestly unsure about how I went.

Am I glad it's over? Well, in a way - but after having put in the effort all year, the least one may ask is to leave the exam room feeling like the work has paid off. I don't know if I really have that feeling! Hah. The important thing is we've all completed the exam to the best of our ability.

Congratulations for finishing!

I think, considering your preparation, you will have done well - even if it doesn't feel like you completely smashed it. I came out of several exams feeling sort of similarly (in the cheated sense - not being sure if the hard work had paid off etc.), and everything turned out just fine.

[Glasses]

Just remember guys that if you struggled with a certain part of the exam (e.g. Section C), the rest of the state probably struggled with it too - so don't let it get to you! (It's a competition after all!)