Lesson 3.1.3.3.1

3.1.3.3.1 Dweck's mindset theory: fixed and growth mindset Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.1.3.3.1, Dweck's mindset theory: fixed and growth mindset: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Psychology (8182), Unit 3: Development, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. In Dweck's mindset theory, what defines a fixed mindset?

    • The belief that abilities are set and cannot really be changed much
    • The belief that learning happens only in the early years of childhood
    • The belief that effort can build any ability over time with practice
    • The belief that only teachers decide how clever a child is at school

  2. In Dweck's mindset theory, what defines a growth mindset?

    • The belief that abilities can be developed through effort and learning
    • The belief that mistakes show a person has no ability in that subject
    • The belief that only natural talent produces success in any area of life
    • The belief that abilities are fixed at birth and cannot change at all

  3. A student says, 'I am just not a maths person, so I will not try.' Which mindset is shown?

    • Self-efficacy
    • Formal operational thinking
    • Growth mindset
    • Fixed mindset

  4. A student says, 'I got this wrong, so I will try a different method.' Which mindset is shown?

    • Sensorimotor thinking
    • Fixed mindset
    • Conservation of number
    • Growth mindset

  5. Which response from a teacher is most likely to encourage a growth mindset?

    • Telling a student that some people just cannot learn some subjects
    • Only praising the final answer and not the process
    • Praising the effort and strategy a student used to solve a problem
    • Praising a student only for being naturally clever

  6. Which statement best describes how a fixed mindset affects a learner facing a challenge?

    • They enjoy mistakes because they show that the task is important and worth doing
    • They always seek the hardest challenges available so they can prove their ability to others
    • They learn more quickly from failure than other students because they seek out mistakes
    • They may avoid challenges because a difficult task might show a lack of ability

  7. Which statement about Dweck's theory is most accurate?

    • Mindsets have no link to how learners respond to failure in their work
    • Mindsets are beliefs that can be shaped by the messages a learner receives
    • Mindsets are fixed personality traits that cannot be changed at all
    • Mindsets are only a feature of adult learners and not of children

  8. Which feedback is most consistent with a growth mindset?

    • 'You are clever, so you should find this easy without much effort.'
    • 'You are so naturally gifted at this subject, so it comes easily.'
    • 'Some people just cannot do this, so do not worry about trying.'
    • 'You worked hard and tried a new approach, and it paid off.'

  9. A learner with a growth mindset who fails a test is most likely to do what?

    • Blame the teacher and avoid any further revision of the topic
    • Decide that they have no ability and stop trying in the subject
    • Assume the test was unfair and never revisit the topic at all
    • Review the mistakes and plan how to improve for next time

  10. Which pair of terms is correctly matched to Dweck's theory?

    • Fixed mindset with challenges embraced, growth mindset with challenges avoided
    • Fixed mindset with abilities seen as set, growth mindset with abilities seen as developable
    • Fixed mindset with abilities seen as developable, growth mindset with abilities seen as set
    • Fixed mindset with effort seen as the key, growth mindset with talent seen as the key

  11. Why might a student with a fixed mindset find praise for intelligence harmful?

    • It can make them worry about protecting their image of ability when facing a hard task
    • It makes them enjoy every challenge without worry because they feel sure of their ability
    • It improves their resilience after every failure because they expect to be praised again
    • It makes them work harder because they fear losing the praise they have already received

  12. Which description best matches a growth-mindset approach to learning?

    • Seeing effort, strategy and practice as ways to improve
    • Seeing failure as proof that the learner cannot improve
    • Seeing learning as fixed once a certain grade is reached
    • Seeing natural talent as the only route to success

  13. A student notes that their answers improved after they tried a different revision strategy. Which mindset idea does this best support?

    • Improvement depends only on the teacher's personality
    • Improvement comes only from natural ability
    • Improvement is impossible once a student has failed once
    • Improvement comes from effort and changing strategy

  14. Which group of learners in Dweck's work would be expected to bounce back more quickly from setbacks?

    • Learners with a fixed mindset
    • Learners with a growth mindset
    • Learners who always avoid difficult tasks
    • Learners who believe mistakes prove they lack ability

  15. Which approach would a teacher use to build a growth mindset in a class?

    • Grouping pupils by fixed ability and never changing the groups at all
    • Praising strategies, offering challenges and framing mistakes as learning
    • Telling pupils that intelligence is measured only by their test results
    • Avoiding any feedback that mentions mistakes or areas for improvement

  16. Why does Dweck's theory suggest effort praise may be more useful than praise for intelligence?

    • Effort praise shows that students are naturally talented at the task
    • Effort praise reinforces that ability can be developed through work
    • Effort praise removes the need for any challenge in the lesson
    • Effort praise prevents learners from making mistakes in their work

  17. Which situation shows a learner's fixed-mindset belief affecting their behaviour?

    • A learner asks for feedback on an essay and then tries a second version of the same piece
    • A learner refuses to answer a hard question in class because they fear looking less clever
    • A learner tries a new strategy after a wrong answer and checks whether it works better
    • A learner practises a skill every day in order to improve it step by step over time

  18. Which statement about the role of mindset in education is most consistent with Dweck's work?

    • Mindset can affect how students respond to challenge and failure
    • Mindset is only relevant for students who have already failed
    • Mindset is decided entirely by the school's funding
    • Mindset has no effect on how students respond to challenge

  19. What is the best way to describe the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset in terms of challenges?

    • A fixed mindset may see challenges as threats, while a growth mindset sees them as chances to learn
    • Both mindsets see challenges as threats to their identity and self-image in the classroom
    • A fixed mindset seeks challenges out eagerly, while a growth mindset tends to avoid them altogether
    • Both mindsets see challenges as irrelevant to learning and treat them as a distraction

  20. Which example best shows a growth mindset in a sports context?

    • A player blames the coach for a poor performance and quits the team
    • A player avoids competitive games to protect their reputation with others
    • A player watches video of their technique and practises a specific fix
    • A player decides they are too old to improve and stops training

All AQA Psychology quizzes