How to Revise Human Lifespan Development — WJEC-CBAC A-Level Health & Social Care
Define growth and development. Explain the principles of growth and development
Examiner Tips for Human Lifespan Development
- Use examples to illustrate each principle.
- Remember that growth is measurable, development is qualitative.
- Link principles to real-life scenarios.
- Use the PIES acronym to structure answers and ensure all four areas are addressed.
- For higher marks, integrate theoretical perspectives (e.g., Bandura's social learning theory) when giving examples.
- When describing development, always specify the life stage (infancy, childhood, adolescence, etc.) to demonstrate contextual understanding.
- Prepare a range of examples for each area across the lifespan to show breadth of knowledge.
- Structure descriptive answers using the PIES framework to ensure all developmental domains are addressed and to make your response easy for examiners to follow.
Common Mistakes in Human Lifespan Development
- Confusing growth with development.
- Assuming development occurs at the same pace for everyone.
- Ignoring the interconnection between physical, cognitive, and emotional development.
- Confusing emotional development with social development.
- Providing vague examples without linking to specific life stages.
- Describing only one aspect of intellectual development (e.g., memory) without mentioning problem-solving or language.
Key Marking Points
- Define growth and development correctly.
- Explain that development is sequential and cumulative.
- State that development rates differ between individuals.
- Describe how different areas of development interrelate.
- Award credit for accurately defining each area of development with appropriate terminology.
- Look for application of theory to real-life examples (e.g., Piaget for cognitive, Bowlby for social/emotional).