How to Analyse AQA Psychology Mark Schemes Like an Examiner (Humanistic Approach Example)

by Yum Yum Mama Team December 3, 2025

Introduction

If you want to move from a B to an A or A* in AQA Psychology, analysing the mark scheme like an examiner is one of the most powerful skills you can learn. Surprisingly, most students never look at the mark scheme properly — they only check the grade boundaries, glance at the answers, or skip the document entirely.

But AQA’s mark schemes actually tell you:

what is creditworthy
what examiners reward the most
common mistakes students make
what counts as AO1 vs AO3
how clarity and structure affect final marks
what “sound analysis” and “effective evaluation” really mean

In this guide, you’ll learn how to use the mark scheme effectively — using the Humanistic Approach 16-marker as the demonstration.

1. Start by Identifying the Command Word

AQA typically uses:

Discuss
Outline and evaluate
Evaluate
Apply

For 16-mark questions, Discuss often means:

AO1 = ~6 marks
AO3 = ~10 marks

When you read the mark scheme, look for the phrase:

👉 “Credit appropriate knowledge and understanding (AO1) and appropriate evaluative commentary (AO3).”

This tells you what examiners are actively looking for.

2. Pull Out the AO1 Requirements

To understand what the examiner expects, use the mark scheme like a checklist:

For the Humanistic Approach, AO1 requires students to show understanding of:

free will
self-actualisation
Maslow’s hierarchy
unconditional positive regard
congruence
person-centred therapy

If your essay misses even one of these, your AO1 is weakened.

Tip: Compare your AO1 to an A* example.

👉 Free A* Humanistic Essay (PDF)

Ask yourself:

Did I define everything clearly?
Did I link the concepts together?
Did I explain the aim of PCT?

This is exactly how examiners mark.

3. Look for the AO3 Expectations

AQA mark schemes include phrases like:

“effective use of evidence”
“appropriate breadth and depth”
“coherent chains of reasoning”
“clear use of counterargument”

These are usually found under Level 4 AO3 descriptors.

This is why students who “list strengths and weaknesses” get stuck at Level 2 or 3.

Mark schemes want structured evaluation, not scattered points.

This is where your PBWC structure comes in:

Point
Because
Why (using research)
Counterargument

If your paragraph includes all four, you hit Level 4.

This is how examiners judge quality.

4. Match Your Paragraphs to Level Descriptors

Examiners mark holistically, not point-by-point.

Here’s an example using the Humanistic Approach:

Level 4 AO3 descriptors include:

sustained critical evaluation
effective use of evidence
clear chains of reasoning
well-organised paragraph structure

Your Humanistic A* example includes:

Harter (1996) for conditional regard
Elliot (2002) for PCT effectiveness
Eysenck (1991) on lack of scientific method
Nevis (1983) on cultural variation

Each study directly supports a part of the argument.

When your evaluation matches the Level 4 pattern, examiners reward it.

5. Compare Your Timing to the Mark Scheme

Mark schemes assume:

~6 minutes AO1
~14 minutes AO3
~2 minutes checking

If your AO1 is too long, your AO3 will suffer.
If AO3 is rushed, your chain of reasoning breaks.

Using the mark scheme to guide timing prevents this.

6. Use Mark Schemes to Identify Common Traps

Mark schemes repeatedly highlight:

❌ “generic evaluation”
❌ “assertions without evidence”
❌ “meaningless statements”
❌ “misunderstanding of concepts”
❌ “poor organisation”

For the Humanistic Approach specifically, students often:

confuse self-concept with ideal self
misunderstand hierarchy of needs
incorrectly explain self-actualisation
forget cultural bias concerns
forget client-centred therapy features

Mark scheme analysis fixes these instantly.

7. Rewrite the Weakest Part of Your Answer

This is the secret examiners wish students knew.

When you use the mark scheme to find your weakest area:

Rewrite only that paragraph
Use PBWC
Add one study
Make your counterargument relevant
Link back to the hook

This transforms your AO3 in less than 10 minutes.

If you want a clean space to practise:

👉 Use the A5 Approaches Notebook

Perfect for one-paragraph improvement drills.

8. Analyse Past Papers Monthly

You don’t need to write a full past paper.
You need to analyse one.

Steps:

Find a Paper 1 or Paper 2
Identify topics tested
Check AO1 expectations
Check AO3 expectations
Rewrite the hardest question only

This is how students improve rapidly without burnout.

Conclusion

Examiners don’t reward long essays.
They reward:

✔ clarity
✔ accuracy
✔ strong AO1
✔ structured AO3
✔ evidence
✔ counterarguments
✔ linkbacks to the question

Using the mark scheme properly is the easiest way to upgrade your answers to A/A* standard.

Start by analysing one question today — and use the Humanistic example to guide your structure.