Psychology A level

For entry into the Sixth Form to study 3 A' Levels, students are required to achieve 5 grades at 9-5 (or where applicable A*-C) including English Language and Mathematics at Grade 4 or above.

In exceptional cases, students that do not reach the entry criteria based on their attainment in English or mathematics will be admitted to the 6th form with the addition of GCSE retake classes in the appropriate subject to their timetable. This based on 6th form discretion.

While we would encourage students to study 3 A levels, in exceptional cases and following conversation at interview we may support a student to study 4. All students will have the option to study for Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) alongside their A levels.

A grade 6 is recommended in any subject that a student wishes to continue at A Level. Students are welcome to discuss entry criteria for specific subjects and to ensure that their subject choices match their goals and aspirations.

Students wishing to study Mathematics require a grade 6 and in Further Maths require a Grade 7 in the subject at GCSE.

The A level Psychology course seeks to introduce you to the many different explanations psychologists offer for why people think, feel and behave the way they do. The course will also equip you with the practical skills to enable you to undertake psychological research and realise the application of psychology to the real world.

Course details:
We study the AQA exam board material.
The new Psychology specification follows a linear exam structure.
The A level: If students study the full two year course then they will be examined on all content taught over the two years at the end of the second year. This is assessed with 3 exam papers.
There is no coursework in the Psychology A level.


What will I be studying in A level Psychology?
The aims of the AQA A level course are to:
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychological concepts, theories, research studies, research methods and ethical issues in relation to the specified content
• Apply psychological knowledge and understanding of the specified content in a range of contexts
• Analyse, interpret and evaluate psychological concepts, theories, research studies and research methods in relation to the specified content
• Evaluate therapies and treatments in terms of their appropriateness and effectiveness.
• Outline the key approaches in Psychology and consider the strengths and limitations of these.

At A-level there are three exams, each accounts for one third of your A-level. The three exams last 2 hours and are worth 96 marks each. The exams consist of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing questions.

Paper 1 - Introductory topics in Psychology (7182/1).
This topic includes: Social Influence, Memory, Attachments and Psychopathology. Social Influence is concerned with how other people influence our behaviour, including types of conformity and why we obey authority figures. Memory which considers the nature of human memory. This includes how we learn and store information and how our memory is influenced by age, anxiety and misleading information. Attachments is the final topic and looks at how and why infants become attached to their primary carers. It also considers what happens when children do not form attachments. Psychopathology challenges definitions of “normal” and “abnormal” behaviour. It explores models of abnormality and the success of different treatments for mental health disorders including OCD.

Paper 2 - Psychology in context (7182/2).
This topic includes: Approaches in Psychology, Biopsychology and Research methods. Approaches in Psychology considers the origins of Psychology and the Behavioural, Cognitive, Biological, Psychodynamic and Humanist approaches in Psychology. Biopsychology investigates the nervous system, the endocrine system, how the brain functions including ways in which the brain is studied. The final topic is Research Methods, this topic underpins Psychology and considers how Psychologists conduct their investigations and the strengths and weaknesses of the different techniques. You will also gain knowledge of how Psychologists analyse their data using statistics.

Paper 3 - Issues and options in psychology (7182/3).
This topic includes: Issues and debates in Psychology and three optional topics. The issues and debates we consider are; gender and culture, free will and determinism, the nature/nurture debate, holism and reductionism, idiographic and nomothetic approaches and ethical implications of research. For the optional topics we are likely to choose Cognition and development, Schizophrenia and Aggression. In these topics students will be expected to define key terms, outline and evaluate key theories and research.

To complete an A Level in this subject it is necessary to achieve a Grade 5 at GCSE in a similar type of subject, although we strongly advise that students should be looking at achieving at least a Grade 6 at GCSE in a similar type of subject to have a secure platform for entry on to the course.

Where can Psychology lead you?
Psychologists develop an understanding of how certain situations and other variables influence human behaviour. The subject can be pursued as an academic subject at degree level but a grounding in psychology is also useful for those wishing to follow a career in people-centred courses such as medicine, nursing, and education.