The Biggest Mistakes Students Make When Using AQA Psychology Past Papers (And How to Fix Them)

by Yum Yum Mama Team December 4, 2025

Introduction

Past papers are one of the strongest predictors of A/A* grades in AQA Psychology — but most students use them in a way that doesn’t actually help them improve. In fact, some revision habits can even make students feel less confident over time.

In this guide, you’ll learn the most common mistakes students make when using past papers, why these mistakes block progress, and exactly what to do instead.
We’ll also use the Behaviourist vs Biological comparison 16-marker as a real example so you can see how top students learn from model answers.

1. Mistake 1: Jumping straight into full papers

Most students start their revision by attempting a full Paper 1 or Paper 2 with no warm-up. This leads to:

fatigue
rushed AO3
weak timing
low confidence

✔ What to do instead: Use “micro-past papers”

Practice small sections first:

1 × 4-marker
1 × 6-marker
1 × 16-marker

Once these feel comfortable, THEN attempt a full paper.

Your comparison 16-marker (Behaviourist vs Biological) is a great example to practise in a short, focused way.

👉 Read the A* Behaviourist vs Biological Essay

2. Mistake 2: Reading the mark scheme, not analysing it

Students often skim the mark scheme and move on. But mark schemes tell you:

exactly what counts as AO1
exactly what counts as AO3
what Level 4 arguments look like
how to structure a full-mark paragraph

✔ What to do instead: Extract AO1 + AO3 expectations

Before writing, check:

Which key terms MUST appear in AO1?
What counts as strong evaluation for AO3?
How many studies should be used?
What language the examiners expect?

This is especially important in comparison questions like Behaviourist vs Biological, where AO3 requires similarities AND differences.

3. Mistake 3: Writing whole essays repeatedly

Rewriting full essays is:

time-consuming
mentally draining
rarely effective

Most students improve very little using this method.

✔ What to do instead: Rewrite only the weakest paragraph

After writing a 16-marker:

Identify the weakest part using the mark scheme.
Rewrite only that paragraph.
Apply PBWC properly.
Add evidence.
Link back to the hook.

This takes 10 minutes and improves AO3 quickly.

If you want a clean place to rewrite your weakest paragraph:

👉 Use your A5 Behaviourist or Biological notebook

4. Mistake 4: Ignoring comparison essays (Approaches unit)

Students often avoid comparison 16-markers because they look “confusing”.
This means they perform poorly on:

determinism
nature vs nurture
reductionism vs holism
scientific methods

✔ What to do instead: Practise ONE comparison essay properly

Start with an A* example like:

👉 A* Behaviourist vs Biological Comparison Essay

Then break it into:

AO1 outline
similarities (PBWC)
differences (PBWC)
hook linkbacks

Students who practise just one comparison essay understand the whole Approaches unit better.

5. Mistake 5: Not rewriting AO1 clearly

Students often assume AO1 is “easy”.
But messy, vague AO1 prevents Level 4 AO3 because the argument becomes unclear.

✔ What to do instead: Rewrite AO1 as bullet points

From your comparison essay, extract:

classical conditioning
operant conditioning
biological structures
genes
hormones

Then rewrite them as:

clear
accurate
short
exam-ready

This improves AO3 directly because your evaluation paragraphs relate to stronger AO1.

6. Mistake 6: Not keeping topics separate

One of the biggest issues is losing track of notes across all approaches.
Students then confuse:

biological determinism
environmental determinism
classical conditioning
genetic explanations

✔ What to do instead: Keep each topic in its own notebook

This is the easiest way to stay organised and revise consistently.

👉 See the Approaches Notebook

7. Mistake 7: Not revisiting past papers over time

Students attempt a paper once and never revisit it.

✔ What to do instead: Use a Past Paper Tracker

Track:

what you attempted
marks
strengths
targets
rewrites
timing

👉 Download the Past Paper Tracker

Conclusion

Past papers only help when used strategically.
Avoiding these common mistakes will help you:

✔ improve your timing
✔ write strong AO3
✔ understand comparisons
✔ build better exam technique
✔ confidently aim for A/A*

Start small with one question today — the Behaviourist vs Biological 16-marker is the perfect place to begin.