AI STUDY METHOD PRESENTS
REVISION ARCADE
EVERY SUBJECT · EVERY LEVEL · 22 GAMES · COLLECT COINS
▶ ENTER FREE →
◆ INSERT COIN ◆
IB Psychology Revision

Cognitive Approach

Models of memory, schema theory, thinking and decision-making, and reliability of memory.

Learn itInteractive mini-lessons for your exam boardPLAYQuick game on Cognitive ApproachVelvet RevisionYour IB Psychology course mapFree PDF100 AI prompts for IB Psychology

Cognitive Approach is a core part of IB Psychology. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.

Key concepts

MSMAtkinson & Shiffrin 1968 — three stores
Sensory memoryBrief raw store (Sperling 1960)
STMShort-term ~7 items, ~30 sec
LTMLong-term — unlimited capacity
Working memoryBaddeley & Hitch 1974 active model
Central executiveControls attention; allocates slaves
SchemaMental framework organising information
Bartlett 1932War of the Ghosts; reconstructive memory
AssimilationFitting new info to existing schema
Reconstructive memoryRecall rebuilds, not replays
Leading questionWording biases recall
Loftus & Palmer 1974Verb 'smashed' raised speed estimate
System 1Fast, automatic, intuitive thinking
System 2Slow, deliberate, effortful thinking

What your exam board covers

Where Cognitive Approach sits in each exam board's specification. Tap a board to see what it lists.

HLCognitive Approach to Behaviour
  • Cognitive processing (models of memory, schema theory)
  • Reliability of cognitive processes (reconstructive memory, biases)
  • Emotion and cognition
  • Ethics and research methods in the cognitive approach

Source: IB Diploma Psychology guide (first assessment 2027), accessed 23 July 2026.

SLCognitive Approach to Behaviour
  • Cognitive processing (models of memory, schema theory)
  • Reliability of cognitive processes (reconstructive memory, biases)
  • Emotion and cognition
  • Ethics and research methods in the cognitive approach

Source: IB Diploma Psychology guide (first assessment 2027), accessed 23 July 2026.

Learn Cognitive Approach step by step

Free interactive mini-lessons: short screens, worked examples and quick checks. Pick your exam board:

Practise Cognitive Approach — free games

Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic:

▶ Two Truths, One Lie▶ Reveal Race▶ Connections Grid▶ Falling Words▶ Word Web

See all 22 games in the Revision Arcade →

More IB Psychology topics

Biological ApproachSociocultural ApproachResearch MethodsOptions
← IB Psychology
Cover of 100 AI Prompts for IB Psychology
Free · PDF
100 AI Prompts for IB Psychology

Print-and-paste prompts built around the Velvet Method, so ChatGPT tests your thinking instead of doing it for you.

Download free PDF →All 91 free prompt books

← All revision guides

Want to revise every topic this smart?

The Velvet Method shows you how to use AI to revise any subject, in six steps.

See the Velvet Method →
Teaching IB Diploma Psychology? Free interactive lessons to set as class work, homework or cover. No student login. HL · SL