Paper 2 Guide
Paper 2: Evaluating Research Methods
Paper 2 tests your ability to evaluate research methodology — both from your own class practical and from an unseen study. It is worth 20% (HL) or 25% (SL) of your final grade. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Last reviewed: 28 April 2026
Duration
1h 30 min
Weighting
20% HL / 25% SL
Total marks
35 marks
Section A vs Section B
A
Section A — Your Class Practical
- 4 compulsory questions (20 marks total)
- Based entirely on your own class practical
- Covers: describe, apply a concept, compare & contrast, design a new study
B
Section B — The Unseen Study
- 1 essay question (15 marks)
- Discuss an unseen study using 2+ specified concepts
- Concepts drawn from: bias, causality, measurement, responsibility, perspective, change
Suggested Timing
| Section | Marks | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|
| Section A — Q1 (describe) | 4 | ~8 min |
| Section A — Q2 (apply a concept) | 4 | ~8 min |
| Section A — Q3 (compare & contrast) | 6 | ~12 min |
| Section A — Q4 (design a study) | 6 | ~12 min |
| Section B — Unseen study essay | 15 | ~40 min |
| Reading / checking | — | ~10 min |
Detailed Guides
Paper 2A — Section A
Your Class Practical
All four question types with teacher's tips, top markband descriptors, and sample answers based on a real class practical.
Read Section A guide
Paper 2B — Section B
The Unseen Study Essay
The 15-mark essay: markbands, specimen question, concept-by-concept analytical toolkit, and a pre-writing checklist.
Read Section B guide