This document provides guidance on approaching psychology essay questions by outlining what various essay prompts are asking students to do such as "discuss", "describe", "evaluate", and "distinguish". It also recommends how to structure essay answers using PEEL paragraphs and allocating marks between assessment objectives based on the total marks and requirements of the question.

1. Approaching essays in psychology:
What are the assessment objectives?
Look at what the question is asking you:
- “Discuss”= describe, evaluate
- “Describe”= set out the characteristics
- “Evaluate” = judge using evidence
- “Distinguish” = explain the way in which two things differ
- “Outline” = set out main characteristics
- “Suggest” = propose possible case or solution for point
- “Justify” = provide reasons, reasoned argument support and evidence
- “Consider” = review and respond to given information
- “Analyse” = separate information into its components and identify characteristics
How to structure your answer:
- Look at the marks, see how they would break down into each section
- Refer back to AOs see what you might need to include
- Use PEEL paragraphs
- Eg for 12 mark discuss question, 6 marks for description (AO1), 6 marks for
evaluation (AO3)
- For 16 mark questions = “discuss / outline” = AO1, AO3 only, 6 marks describe, 10
marks evaluate
- 16 mark questions = “context” qs = AO1/2/3, 6 marks describe, 6 marks evaluate, 4
marks linking to question context