IB Psychology Course at OFS

By OFS

April 2025

Is your child interested in pursuing a career in psychology or has shown a strength or interest in humanities subjects? If so, you may want to consider enrolling them in the IB Psychology course at Overseas Family School (OFS).

At OFS, we aim to provide students with a diverse range of subjects that cater to their differing interests and strengths. Our commitment to academic excellence means we are constantly improving our curriculum and exploring new programs to enhance student learning. One such subject that offers both intellectual challenge and real-world relevance is IB Psychology, a relatively new subject that we began offering in August 2023. Since then, we've seen a steady increase in student interest, with many eager to explore human behavior and potentially pursue further studies in Psychology at university. It is also one of the most popular undergraduate majors, with many postgraduate and career opportunities.

What is Psychology?

Psychology at its core is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour, examining both biological and environmental influences on human behaviour. The IB Psychology course is an introductory course that prepares students for university-level Psychology classes, where students will learn the three different approaches to understanding behaviour: the biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches. We also emphasize concept-based learning to foster a deep understanding of the field. The course falls under the Individuals and Societies basket of IB subjects and is offered at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).

Why study Psychology?

Psychology offers great potential for personal growth as students learn about the intertwining factors that influence human behaviour, development, and perception. Students may better understand themselves and their family, friends, classmates, and the people they interact with. It pushes them to question why people behave in the way they do and why people are the way they are. A good understanding of psychology can be beneficial in daily life, such as conflict management and relationship building.

Furthermore, psychology opens the door to diverse career opportunities, including academic research at universities, clinical psychology, and counseling. Beyond academic and clinical fields, psychology also plays a vital role in corporate settings, including talent acquisition, employee well-being and mental health, leadership development and training, consumer and market research, advertising, organizational behavior, and human resources. Additionally, psychology is highly valued in the education and social work sectors, where it contributes to student development, counseling, and community support.



Why should students take the IB Psychology Course?

Strong Psychological Foundations: A deeper understanding of core theories and research.

Critical Evaluation Skills: The ability to assess the strengths and weaknesses of psychological evidence.

Real-World Application: The capacity to analyze human behavior in everyday situations.

A Psychologist's Mindset: The ability to think and approach problems like a psychologist.

Practical Research Experience: Hands-on experience conducting and evaluating psychological research.

What are the Aims of IB Psychology?

The IB Psychology course is designed to cultivate psychological literacy in students, which entails:

Understanding Core Concepts: Grasping fundamental psychological concepts, content, and contexts.

Applying Knowledge: Interpreting and applying psychological knowledge to real-world situations.

Developing Critical Thinking: Critically analyzing and evaluating psychological theories and research, including assessing the strengths and limitations of evidence.

Enhancing Research Skills: Understanding and engaging with psychological research methodologies, including data analysis and interpretation, particularly at the Higher Level (HL).

Fostering Ethical Awareness and Cultural Competence: Understanding ethical considerations in research and practice, and incorporating diverse perspectives, including non-Western contributions.

Contextual Application: Applying psychological principles to relevant contexts like health and well-being, human development, human relationships, and learning and cognition.

Preparing for the Future: Equipping students with the skills to navigate an ever-changing world and effectively solve problems.



How will students be assessed? 

Students will be tested in two main ways:



Exams (External Assessment):

Paper 1: Students will answer questions about the core ideas in psychology (biological, cognitive, sociocultural).

Paper 2: Students will write essays applying psychology to specific topics.

Paper 3 (HL Only): Students will analyze and evaluate research methods.

Individual Research (Internal Assessment - IA):

Students will design and conduct a small experiment.

Students write a report explaining their study and findings.

This shows that students can use the research method skills that they have learnt.

IB Psychology at Overseas Family School

Our experienced teachers guide students through the complexities of psychology using engaging discussions, case studies, and research projects. If your child is curious about human behavior and enjoys analyzing patterns of thought, IB Psychology at OFS is a fantastic option to explore!

Keen to learn more? Feel free to check out our website or reach out to our admissions team for further details about the course and how it can fit into your child’s academic journey.

OFS Admissions Director

Joyce Chee

admissions@ofs.edu.sg | +65 6738 0211

Overseas Family School, Block A, Level 6

https://www.ofs.edu.sg/

Interested to know more about student life in OFS? See what’s happening in OFS by following our social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube!