Psychology A Level

Course Description

"Do our childhood experiences affect us as adults? Are males more obedient than females? Are phobias learnt? How many items can our memory hold?

In the Psychology Department we aim to help students to develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of the subject and how they relate to each other. Our lessons will help develop and demonstrate a deep appreciation of skills, knowledge and understanding of scientific methods as well as develop the competence and confidence in a variety of practical and mathematical skills related to psychological investigations.

Further Information about our courses including results

We are very proud of our 2025 A level results.

A*-C grades = 80% of students

Course Content and Teaching Units

Paper 1: Introductory topics in psychology

• Memory – models of memory; types of memory; explanations of forgetting, eyewitness testimony

• Attachment – caregiver interactions; animal studies; types of attachment; cultural variations; maternal deprivation; long term effects of attachments.

• Social Influence – conformity; obedience; resisting social influence; minority influence and social change

• Psychopathology - defining and explaining psychological abnormality and treating abnormality including phobias, depression, and OCD

Paper 2: Psychology in context

• Research methods - methods and techniques to study behaviour, Investigation design, data analysis and data presentation and the scientific process

• Approaches in Psychology - the origins of Psychology and the learning, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic, and biological approaches

• Bio-psychology - nervous Research system; neurons, endocrine system; fight/flight response, brain lateralisation, ways to study the brain and biological rhythms

Paper 3: Issues and options in Psychology

• Issues and debates in psychology - gender and culture in psychology, free will and determinism, nature-nurture debate, holism and reductionism, ethical implications of research studies and theory, including reference to social sensitivity

• You will also study three topics in detail:

1. Schizophrenia

2. Aggression

3. Relationships

To find out more about what you will study look at the AQA website:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/as-and-a-level

There will be three 2 hour exams in the summer term (at the end of the second year). Each exam is worth 33% of the A level with 96 marks in total. Each exam has a variety of question styles: multiple choice, short answer and extended writing.

You will be tested on both your ability to describe information and your ability to evaluate information and apply it to novel situations.

Psychology is a scientific subject so we encourage you to have

achieved at least a level 5 in your science GCSE.

Overall, at least 10% of the marks in the assessments for psychology will require the use of mathematical skills and will be at least the standard of higher tier GCSE maths

Entry qualifications:

GCSE Science – Level 6 desirable

GCSE Maths – Level 6 desirable

GCSE English Language or English Literature – Level 5

Students studying Psychology A level go on to many different university courses including:

Psychology with Criminology

Biomedical Sciences

Law

Nursing

Orthoptics

History

Childhood Studies