The full subject covers five topics. This hub concentrates on science inquiry skills and the two externally examined topics: Social Influence and the Psychology of Learning. Topics 1–3 remain part of school assessment, with depth selected by teachers. These are original ATARMAxxing resources; ATARMAxxing is not affiliated with the SACE Board or SATAC.
Stage 2 Psychology Subject Outline · guide last reviewed . Always check the current subject outline on the SACE Board site ↗.
Stage 2 Psychology Subject Outline
School assessment contributes 70%: Investigations Folio 30% and Skills and Applications Tasks 40%. The external online examination contributes 30% and lasts 130 minutes, with no separate reading period in the verified examination model. The verified 2023–2025 e-exams carry 100 marks: Section 1 short-answer questions 70 and Section 2 extended responses 30. Question counts vary. All questions in these original practice papers are compulsory. Multiple-choice practice drills are study aids, not a replica of the e-exam.
Past papers on this subject span more than one subject outline. Papers written under an older one still work as practice, but the topics they test have changed — the index labels every paper with the subject outline it was set under.
Exams aligned with the outline introduced in 2022 · 2023–2025
The topics, one by one
Each area below lists the concepts named in the subject outline, what the SACE Board exam asks of them, and the mistake that most often costs marks.
Science inquiry skills
Topic 4: Social Influence
Topic 5: The Psychology of Learning
Area 1 of 3
Science inquiry skills
Use the biopsychosocial approach to frame questions, design experimental, observational and qualitative investigations, and interpret psychological evidence.
What the exam asks
Identify and justify variables, sampling and methods; represent data; interpret descriptive statistics; assess reliability, validity and ethical implications; communicate supported conclusions.
Where marks go missing
A correlation does not establish causation, and a large sample does not automatically remove bias or confounding.
Area 2 of 3
Topic 4: Social Influence
Explain obedience, conformity, attitudes, persuasion, prejudice and self-presentation through biological, psychological and sociocultural factors.
What the exam asks
Apply concepts to the supplied stimulus and evaluate research designs, ethical issues and the limits of claims about behaviour.
Where marks go missing
Distinguish obedience to a direct order from conformity to group pressure. Explain the mechanism in the particular scenario rather than merely naming it.
Area 3 of 3
Topic 5: The Psychology of Learning
Compare classical, operant and observational learning, including acquisition, contingency, preparedness, reinforcement schedules and applications.
What the exam asks
Identify stimuli, responses and consequences accurately; explain changes in behaviour and evaluate investigation evidence and ethical considerations.
Where marks go missing
Negative reinforcement increases behaviour through removal of an aversive stimulus. Use the outline terms aversive punishment and response cost for consequences intended to decrease behaviour.
Common questions
Does this hub replace school work on Topics 1–3?
No. Students study all five topics. Psychology of the Individual, Psychological Health and Wellbeing, and Organisational Psychology are assessed at school. Follow your teacher’s program for those topics. This hub’s examination preparation focuses on inquiry skills and Topics 4–5.
How should I write the two sections?
Section 1 responses may use note form when suitable. Section 2 requires clear, organised continuous prose. The verified recent 15-mark extended responses allocate 12 marks to content and 3 to communication; follow each practice question’s guide.
Are the linked e-exams downloadable papers?
The linked Psychology examinations open in the SACE e-exam player. They are browser-based examinations, not PDF downloads. The separate Subject Assessment Advice documents contain examiner guidance.
Are the generated questions official?
No. They are original ATARMAxxing practice with worked explanations. Official past e-exams are linked separately.
Why is there no scaling estimate?
No verified official per-subject scaling conversion is supplied here. A plausible estimate should not be substituted for official SATAC information.
Practise it against the real thing
Knowing the subject outline is the first half. The other half is seeing how SACE Board actually asks it — every official paper for Psychology is indexed by the same areas above.