📚 Year 10 Cambridge Psychology: 2026 Exam Changes and Trends | Year 10 Cambridge 心理学：2026年考试变化与趋势
As Year 10 students prepare for their Cambridge IGCSE Psychology exams, understanding the subtle yet important changes expected for 2026 is crucial. The syllabus may look familiar, but examiners are refining what they reward. This article unpacks the key trends, shifts in emphasis, and practical ways to sharpen your performance so you walk into the exam hall confident and well-prepared.
对于正在备考 Cambridge IGCSE 心理学的 Year 10 学生来说，了解预计在 2026 年出现的微妙但重要的变化至关重要。考纲看起来也许很熟悉，但考官正在微调他们给分的侧重点。本文将剖析关键趋势、重点的转移以及提升表现的实用方法，让你充满信心、准备充分地走进考场。
1. Understanding the 2026 Exam Landscape | 理解2026年考试格局
The Cambridge IGCSE Psychology (0990) qualification continues to be assessed through two written papers with no coursework. Paper 1 covers core studies across biological, cognitive, social, learning and developmental psychology, while Paper 2 focuses exclusively on research methods. The 2023-2025 syllabus framework will remain in place for 2026, but the way marks are allocated is evolving towards deeper application.
Cambridge IGCSE 心理学（0990）资格考试继续通过两份笔试试卷进行评估，不设课程作业。试卷一涵盖生物、认知、社会、学习和发展心理学等领域的核心研究，试卷二则完全聚焦研究方法。2023-2025 年的考纲框架将延续至 2026 年，但评分的方式正逐步向更深层次的应用演变。
Snapshot of Expected Exam Shifts
| Aspect | Stable Feature | 2026 Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 structure | 60 marks, 1h 30min, core studies questions | More comparison and 'Discuss' items |
| Paper 2 structure | 80 marks, 1h 45min, research methods | Heavier weighting on experimental design and ethics |
| AO3 evaluation | Roughly 25% of total marks | Targeting around 30% with clearer cues to evaluate |
| Command word use | Describe, Explain, Evaluate | 'Discuss' and 'To what extent' appearing more frequently |
These trends reflect Cambridge's wider move to test not just recall but how well students can apply psychological knowledge to novel scenarios and critique research evidence. For Year 10 learners, this means building habits of analysis and evaluation from the start of the course.
这些趋势反映了 Cambridge 更广泛的转向，即不仅仅考查记忆，还检验学生对心理学知识的应用能力以及对研究证据的批判能力。对 Year 10 学生来说，这意味着从课程一开始就要养成分析和评价的习惯。
2. Core Studies: Evolution, Not Revolution | 核心研究：演变而非革命
The set of twenty core studies across five psychological domains remains the backbone of Paper 1. In 2026, examiners are expected to probe more deeply into how studies connect with each other. You might be asked to compare Dement and Kleitman (sleep and dreaming) with another biological study, explaining which offers stronger ecological validity.
五个心理学领域的二十项核心研究仍然是试卷一的骨干。在 2026 年，考官预计会更深入地探究各项研究如何相互联结。你可能会被要求将 Dement 和 Kleitman（睡眠与梦境）与另一项生物心理学研究进行比较，并解释哪一项研究具有更强的生态效度。
Instead of simply describing aims and procedures, students will need to highlight contrasts in methodology, sample size and cultural considerations. This shift rewards a synoptic understanding, where you see the whole syllabus as an interconnected web of ideas rather than isolated chunks.
学生不再只是简单描述目的和步骤，还需要突出方法、样本量以及文化考量方面的对比。这种转变奖励的是综观理解，即你将整个考纲视为一个相互关联的思想网络，而不是彼此孤立的模块。
Some core studies are also being refreshed in teacher guidance materials, so while the official list remains unchanged, the exemplar questions increasingly use applied contexts, such as a real-life case study to which you must link the core research.
教学指导材料中的一些核心研究也在更新，因此尽管官方列表保持不变，但示例题目越来越多地使用应用情境，例如你必须将核心研究与之联系起来的真实案例。
3. Research Methods: The Heart of the Syllabus | 研究方法：考纲的核心
Paper 2 has always been the skills-focused paper, but the 2026 trend pushes research methods into the spotlight even more. Candidates will face longer, multi-step questions about designing experiments, choosing sampling strategies and handling data. The typical six-mark design-a-study item could stretch to eight or ten marks, demanding fuller justification of every decision.
试卷二历来是考查技能的试卷，但 2026 年的趋势使研究方法更加引人注目。考生将面对关于设计实验、选择抽样策略和处理数据等更长、多步骤的问题。典型的 6 分设计研究题可能扩展到 8 到 10 分，要求对每项决定做出更充分的理由说明。
A noticeable emphasis is on ethical reasoning: you will need to discuss how you would obtain informed consent, protect participants from harm and ensure confidentiality in your proposed study. Simple checklists of ethical guidelines are no longer sufficient; you must apply them contextually.
一个明显的侧重点在伦理推理上：你需要论述在你提议的研究中，如何获取知情同意、保护参与者免受伤害以及确保机密性。简单罗列伦理准则清单已不再足够；你必须结合情境加以应用。
Data analysis questions are also evolving. Raw data tables will be presented, and you must calculate measures of central tendency or percentages, then interpret what the numbers mean for the hypothesis. Hone your skills with mean, median, mode and range well before Year 11.
数据分析题也在演变。试题会给出原始数据表格，你需要计算集中量数或百分比，然后解释这些数字对假设意味着什么。在 Year 11 之前就要熟练平均数、中位数、众数和极差的计算。
4. Assessment Objectives: What Examiners Are Looking For | 评估目标：考官在寻找什么
The Cambridge syllabus defines three assessment objectives: AO1 (knowledge and understanding), AO2 (application) and AO3 (analysis and evaluation). In 2026, the balance is tilting further towards AO2 and AO3. Mark schemes increasingly reserve top band marks for responses that weave evaluation throughout rather than bolting it on at the end.
Cambridge 考纲定义了三个评估目标：AO1（知识与理解）、AO2（应用）和 AO3（分析与评价）。2026 年，天平进一步向 AO2 和 AO3 倾斜。评分方案越来越多地将最高分档给予全程贯穿评价而非仅在末尾附加评价的回答。
For AO2, examiners want to see you transfer knowledge to unfamiliar situations. For instance, a question might describe a school trying to improve student motivation using rewards, and you must apply operant conditioning principles from the learning core study by Bandura or others. Vague reference will not score well; specific terminology and mechanisms are essential.
对于 AO2，考官希望看到你将知识迁移到陌生情境中。例如，题目可能描述一所学校尝试用奖励提高学生的学习动力，你必须运用学习心理学核心研究（如 Bandura 等人的操作性条件反射原理）来解答。笼统的提及得分不高；特定的术语和机制必不可少。
AO3 is the key differentiator. High-achieving candidates will not only state a strength but also explain why it is a strength in that specific study, often by linking issues like validity, reliability or ethics back to the aim of the research.
AO3 是关键的分化点。高分考生不仅会指出一项优点，还会解释为什么在具体研究中它是优点，通常会将效度、信度或伦理等问题与该项研究的目的联系起来。
5. Command Words and Question Styles | 命令词与题目风格
Understanding command words such as 'describe', 'explain', 'evaluate' and 'discuss' is non-negotiable. For 2026, 'discuss' is becoming the highest tariff command, typically demanding two sides of an argument and a reasoned conclusion. Expect to see more 'Discuss the usefulness of...' or 'Discuss the ethical issues in...' on Paper 1.
理解 'describe'、'explain'、'evaluate' 和 'discuss' 等命令词是无可妥协的。在 2026 年，'discuss' 正成为分值最高的指令，通常需要呈现争论的正反两面并给出有理有据的结论。预计试卷一中会出现更多 'Discuss the usefulness of...' 或 'Discuss the ethical issues in...' 的题目。
'To what extent' questions are also on the rise, requiring you to weigh evidence and reach a judgment. These questions prevent a one-sided narrative and demand nuanced thinking, so practise structuring a balanced argument with a clear final verdict.
'To what extent' 类问题也在增多，要求你权衡证据并作出判断。这类问题避免了一边倒的叙述，要求细致入微的思考，因此应练习构建一个观点平衡、最终有明确裁定的论证结构。
Short-answer questions will continue to test precise knowledge, but you may notice that even two-mark items expect an example or a link to a study. Treat every command word as an invitation to give a focused, named example wherever possible.
简答题将继续考查精确的知识，但你可能会注意到，即使是 2 分题也期望给出一个例子或与研究建立联系。尽可能将每一个命令词都看作是一次给出聚焦且具体命名的例子的邀请。
6. The Shift Towards Critical Evaluation (AO3) | 向批判性评价的转变 (AO3)
If there is one skill that will define success in the 2026 exam, it is critical evaluation. Examiners report that many candidates lose marks by simply listing generic strengths and weaknesses such as 'the sample was small'. Instead, you must explain why a small sample matters in that particular study and how it limits generalisability.
如果有一项技能能决定 2026 年考试的成败，那就是批判性评价。考官报告显示，许多考生只是列举诸如 '样本量小' 之类笼统的优点和缺点而失分。相反，你必须解释为什么样本量小在那项特定研究中很关键，以及它如何限制了可推广性。
Evaluation is now expected across the whole paper. Even in questions that do not explicitly ask for evaluation, a brief evaluative comment can lift your answer into the highest level. Think in terms of 'GRAVE' – Generalisability, Reliability, Application, Validity and Ethics – and use these headings to structure your thinking.
如今整张试卷都期望进行评价。即使是未明确要求评价的问题，简短的评述也能将你的回答提升到最高等级。可以运用 'GRAVE' 思维框架——可推广性、信度、应用性、效度和伦理——以这些方面来组织你的思维。
Comparative evaluation is gaining ground too. You might be asked which of two studies provides stronger evidence for the nature side of the debate. This requires not only knowing both studies but also justifying your choice using methodological criteria.
比较性评价也在日益突出。你可能会被问及两项研究中哪一项为先天论提供了更有力的证据。这不仅需要了解两项研究，还需要运用方法论标准来证明你的选择。
7. Digital Assessment: A Glimpse into the Future | 数字化评估：未来一瞥
While 2026 IGCSE Psychology will still be pencil-and-paper, Cambridge is piloting digital assessments in several subjects. Psychology may introduce digital mock papers or on-screen sample tests to gauge student readiness. Familiarity with reading extended texts on a screen and typing short answers will be beneficial.
尽管 2026 年 IGCSE 心理学仍将采用纸笔考试，但 Cambridge 正在多门科目中试行数字化评估。心理学可能会推出数字化模拟试卷或屏幕样本测试，以评估学生的准备情况。习惯在屏幕上阅读长文本并输入简短答案将大有裨益。
Digital literacy extends to understanding how to interpret online research abstracts, which mirrors the skill of reading study summaries in Paper 2. Practise extracting aims, methods, results and conclusions quickly from digital sources, as this skill mirrors the rapid analysis needed in the exam.
数字素养还延伸到理解如何解读在线研究摘要，这与试卷二中阅读研究总结的技能相似。练习从数字化资料中快速提取目的、方法、结果和结论，因为这项技能与考试所需的快速分析相似。
No official announcement has been made about a full digital switch for Psychology, but trend-watchers note that the style of question rubrics is being written to be 'platform-neutral', meaning they could migrate to screen with minimal rephrasing.
官方尚未宣布心理学完全转向数字化的消息，但趋势观察者注意到，题目评分细则的措辞正变得 '平台中性'，这意味着它们只需极少的改写就能迁移到屏幕上。
8. Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them | 常见陷阱及如何避免
One frequent error is confusing studies from different approaches. For example, writing about Milgram's study in a question on cognitive psychology. Create a visual map with approach labels to cement which study belongs where, and note each study's key methodological features.
一个常见错误是混淆不同取向的研究。例如，在认知心理学的题目中写 Milgram 的研究。制作一张带取向标签的视觉导图，以巩固每项研究所属的领域，并记下每项研究关键的方法论特征。
Another pitfall is neglecting the command word. Many candidates 'describe' when asked to 'explain', omitting the 'why' layer. Underline the command word in every question and mentally check what the examiner specifically wants: a list of facts, a reasoned cause, or an argument.
另一个陷阱是忽视命令词。许多考生在要求 'explain' 时却在 'describe'，遗漏了 '为什么' 这一层。在每道题中划出命令词，并在心里检查考官具体想要什么：一系列事实、有依据的原因还是一个论点。
Timing on Paper 2 can be a challenge because the design-a-study question is so time-consuming. Allocate a strict number of minutes to each section and leave the final 10 minutes for checking data calculations and ethical commentary.
试卷二的时间分配可能具有挑战性，因为设计研究题非常耗时。为每个部分严格限定分钟数，并留出最后 10 分钟检查数据计算和伦理评述。
Finally, avoid writing lengthy introductions. There are no marks for context-setting. Jump straight into the psychological content, using key terms early, to signal to the examiner that you are focused and knowledgeable.
最后，避免写冗长的引言。没有分数是给背景介绍的。直接进入心理学内容，尽早使用关键术语，向考官表明你思路清晰且知识扎实。
9. Effective Revision Strategies for 2026 | 2026年高效复习策略
Active recall trumps passive reading. Use flashcards that ask you to identify the aim, method, results and conclusion of each core study, and then flip them to add two evaluation points. The extra step of writing evaluation without prompts builds the AO3 reflex you need.
主动回忆胜过被动阅读。使用抽认卡，要求你识别每项核心研究的目的、方法、结果和结论，然后翻转卡片补充两点评价。在没有提示的情况下写出评价这个额外步骤，将培养你所需的 AO3 直觉。
Practise planning answers to discuss-style questions. Spend five minutes writing a quick bullet outline: one paragraph for the supporting side, one for the opposing side, and a short conclusion that weighs which side is stronger and why.
练习规划 discuss 型问题的答案。花五分钟写一个简短的要点提纲：一段支持方，一段反对方，以及一个权衡哪一方更强及原因的简短结论。
Past papers remain the gold standard, but when using them, focus on the 2023-2025 specimen papers and any 2026 sample materials released by Cambridge. Time yourself realistically and mark strictly using the mark scheme, then rewrite low-scoring answers after a day to embed improvement.
历年真题依然是黄金标准，但在使用时，应专注于 2023-2025 年的样卷以及 Cambridge 公布的任何 2026 年样卷材料。逼真计时并严格根据评分方案评分，然后在一天后重写低分答案，以巩固改进。
10. Resources You Can Trust | 可信赖的资源
Start with the official Cambridge IGCSE Psychology 0990 syllabus and learner guide, which map out every topic and command word. Supplement this with the endorsed textbook that aligns with the 2023-2025 and ongoing specification, and use the summary questions to test yourself regularly.
从官方的 Cambridge IGCSE 心理学 0990 考纲和学习者指南开始，这些材料详细列出了每个主题和命令词。用与 2023-2025 及现行规范相匹配的指定教科书作为补充，并利用章节小结问题来定期自我测验。
Online platforms like TutorHao offer revision notes, mind maps and video walkthroughs specifically designed for the 2026 trends. Regularly engaging with concise, exam-focused content helps you internalise what examiners look for in top-grade responses.
TutorHao 等在线平台提供专门针对 2026 年趋势设计的复习笔记、思维导图和视频解析。经常接触简洁且以考试为导向的内容，有助于你将考官在最高分答案中所寻找的要点内化于心。
Join study groups where you can practise verbalising evaluations. Explaining to a peer why a study lacks ecological validity often reveals gaps in your own understanding and forces you to clarify your thinking.
加入学习小组，练习口头表达评价。向同伴解释某项研究为什么缺乏生态效度，往往会暴露你自己理解上的漏洞，并迫使你理清思路。
11. Final Tips for Success | 成功小贴士
Start Year 10 by building a glossary of key terms and updating it weekly. Psychology has a dense vocabulary, and examiners expect you to use terms such as 'operationalised variable', 'standardised procedure' and 'counterbalancing' accurately and naturally.
在 Year 10 开始时建立一份关键术语表并每周更新。心理学词汇密集，考官期望你准确自然地使用诸如 '可操作化变量'、'标准化程序' 和 '平衡法' 等术语。
Balance your preparation between Paper 1 and Paper 2 from the outset. Many students underestimate the research methods paper until late in the course, but the skills take time to mature. Carve out one study session per week dedicated solely to methodology questions.
从一开始就平衡试卷一和试卷二的准备。许多学生在课程后期才重视研究方法卷，但这些技能需要时间才能成熟。每周专门安排一次学习时段只做方法论题目。
Guard your wellbeing. Psychology can open up sensitive topics. Approach them with curiosity and respect, and if you find any study distressing, talk to your teacher. A clear, calm mind retains information far better than a stressed one.
守护好自己的身心健康。心理学可能会触及敏感话题。以好奇和尊重的态度去接触它们，如果任何研究让你感到不安，就和老师聊聊。清醒、平静的头脑比倍感压力的头脑能更好地记住信息。
Believe in the growth of your evaluation muscle. Critical thinking is not a fixed talent; it improves every time you ask 'But how good is that evidence?' and push yourself to find a balanced answer. Your exam preparation is the perfect training ground.
相信你的评价能力会不断增长。批判性思维不是一种固定不变的才能；每一次你问 '但这个证据有多可靠？' 并促使自己找到平衡的答案时，它都在进步。你的备考过程就是最好的训练场。
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