Psychology
Memory, conformity, approaches and psychopathology.
1. Pick your year group
Introduction to psychology.
2. Pick a topic from Year 10
Year 10 · Psychology
Memory
How we encode, store and retrieve information.
Key things to remember
- Multi-store model: sensory, STM, LTM.
- STM ~7±2 items.
- Forgetting: decay or interference.
Worked example
How many items can short-term memory typically hold?
Approach: Miller's magic number.
Answer: 7
How to study this
- 1.Read the key points above out loud — say them in your own words.
- 2.Cover the page and re-write the key points from memory.
- 3.Attempt today's questions before peeking at hints.
- 4.Come back tomorrow — spaced repetition locks it in.
Memory hooks
- AMulti-store model: sensory, STM, LTM.
- BSTM ~7±2 items.
- CForgetting: decay or interference.
Tip: turn each letter into a single word and chain them into a silly sentence — your brain remembers weird stories.
Deep dive
Everything you need to know about Memory
How we encode, store and retrieve information. This sits inside the Year 10 Psychology curriculum and builds the foundation for the topics that follow — so getting really confident here pays off across the whole course.
Why it matters
Memory shows up in homework, class quizzes and end-of-year exams. Mastering it now means fewer silly mistakes later and a much easier time when harder topics build on it.
Where you'll see it
Expect questions in Psychology lessons, end-of-unit tests, and revision booklets. It also links to real-world situations, so examiners love wrapping it inside word problems.
Key vocabulary & ideas
Idea 1
Multi-store model: sensory, STM, LTM.
Say this out loud in your own words, then write one example that proves it.
Idea 2
STM ~7±2 items.
Say this out loud in your own words, then write one example that proves it.
Idea 3
Forgetting: decay or interference.
Say this out loud in your own words, then write one example that proves it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Rushing the question. Read it twice — underline what's actually being asked before you start writing.
- Skipping working out. Show every step. You get method marks even when the final answer is wrong.
- Forgetting key vocabulary. Use the proper terms from the key points above — examiners reward precise language.
- Not checking your answer. Estimate first, then sense-check — does the answer feel about right?
Exam & assessment tips
Read the command word
"Describe", "explain", "evaluate" and "calculate" all want different things — match your answer to the verb.
Watch the marks
1 mark = one point. 4 marks = four distinct points or steps. Don't over- or under-write.
Use specialist terms
Drop in vocabulary from this topic — that's how examiners see you actually understand it.
Leave time to check
Spend the last 5 minutes re-reading answers. Most lost marks are silly slips, not knowledge gaps.
Am I ready? Self-check
- I can explain Memory in my own words without looking at notes.
- I can list every key point above from memory.
- I got at least 7/10 on today's practice questions without peeking.
- I can teach this to someone else for 60 seconds straight.
- I've spotted where this topic links to other things I've learned.
Stretch yourself
Already confident? Push further with these challenges — perfect for top-grade revision.
- Generate +6 fresh AI questions below and aim for 100% first try.
- Write your own exam question on Memory — then mark a friend's answer.
- Make a one-page mind-map linking every key point above.
- Ask Spark to give you the hardest possible question on this topic.
Downloads
Printable study sheets
Unlock downloadable cheat sheets, help sheets and worksheets for every topic — £2.99/month.
Today's practice
1 questions. Generate unlimited brand-new ones — never repeats.
- 1
How many items can short-term memory typically hold?
Need it explained your way?
Spark can re-teach this topic in plain English, give you more questions, or help with a tricky part.
Ask Spark about Memory