- Lessons
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Entry Requirements
- What's Next
- Skills
- Resources
- Other Subjects
- Suggested Reading
Lessons
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the science of mind and behaviour. It uses the research methods of the sciences (particularly experiments) to investigate the human mind and to find out about and make sense of human behaviour. It seeks answers to such questions as the following: Why do people behave the way they do? Would you be likely to help someone if they collapsed on a subway train? Are the brains of taxi drivers different from the brains of non-taxi drivers? Why do people develop phobias? Will children imitate aggressive behaviour?
Psychology has links with many disciplines including biological, computer and forensic science as well as humanities such as sociology, philosophy, anthropology and even literature. It involves study of theory, empirical evidence and practical applications. This mix of disciplines helps to make psychology such a fascinating subject.
The study of psychology involves reading, note-taking and essay writing. In lessons, activities can be varied and might include discussions and debates, experiments, role-play, videos and student presentations.
Year 1
Studying & Assessment - AS Level
Psychology AS Level is completely exam-based regardless of the exam board you are using. Expect to answer multiple choice questions, data analysis and interpretation question, short answer questions and extended response questions.
AQA
You'll study:
- Social influence
- Memory
- Attachment
- Approaches in Psychology
- Psychopathology
- Research Methods
You'll be examined via two written papers both of which represent 50% of your final AS grade.
OCR
The OCR AS Level is made up of two units and two exams at the end of Lower 6th, both of which are worth 50% of your final grade. These units are:
- Research Methods
- Psychological themes through core studies
In the research methods unit you'll develop a knowledge and understanding of the process of planning, conducting, analysing and reporting psychological research across a range of experimental and non-experimental methodologies and techniques
In the core studies unit you'll learn psychology through a focus on some of the key themes investigated within the subject. For each key theme, you'll learn a classic study, that has been used to shape the course of the subject, and a contemporary study, that engages in some way with the issues being explored in the classic studies they are paired with.
Edexcel
The Edexcel AS Level is made up of two units and two exams at the end of Lower 6th, both of which are worth 50% of your final grade. These units are:
- Social and cognitive psychology
- Biological psychology and learning theories
Year 2
Studying & Assessment - A Level
Psychology A-Level is completely exam-based regardless of the exam board you are using. Expect to answer multiple choice questions, data analysis and interpretation question, short answer questions and extended response questions.
AQA
- Social influence
- Memory
- Attachment
- Psychopathology
- Approaches in Psychology
- Biopsychology
- Research Methods
- Issues and debates in Psychology
You'll also take three optional modules, as chosen by your college and they could be:
- Relationships
- Gender
- Cognition and development
- Schizophrenia
- Eating behaviour
- Stress
- Aggression
- Forensic Psychology
- Addiction
At the end of Upper 6th you'll have three exams, all of which are worth a third of your final grade. There is no coursework for AQA Psychology A Level.
OCR
The OCR A-Level is made up of three units:
- Research Methods
- Psychological themes through core studies
- Applied Psychology
In the research methods unit you'll develop a knowledge and understanding of the process of planning, conducting, analysing and reporting psychological research across a range of experimental and non-experimental methodologies and techniques
In the core studies unit you'll learn psychology through a focus on some of the key themes investigated within the subject. For each key theme, you'll learn a classic study, that has been used to shape the course of the subject, and a contemporary study, that engages in some way with the issues being explored in the classic studies they are paired with.
In applied psychology you'll learn about mental health alongside another topic of your teacher's choosing. This might be: Child Psychology, Criminal Psychology, Environmental Psychology, or Sport and Exercise Psychology.
At the end of Upper Sixth you'll take three exams, one for each unit. Applied psychology and Psychological themes are worth 35% of your final grade, whilst Research Methods is worth 30%.
Edexcel
Edexcel A-Level Psychology is made up of three units:
- Foundations in psychology
- Social psychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Biological psychology
- Learning theories
- Applications of psychology
- Clinical psychology
- One of the following from:
- Criminological psychology
- Child psychology
- Health psychology
- Psychological skills
- Methods
- Synoptic review of studies
- Issues and debates
There's a written exam for each of the three units which take place at the end of Upper 6th. Foundations in psychology and Applications of psychology are worth 35% of the mark whilst Psychological skills is worth 30%.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
It's likely that you'll be required to gain a grade 5 in GCSE English language, a grade 4 in GCSE mathematics and a grade C in GCSE science.
What's Next
Next Steps
The skills and knowledge of psychology are relevant to any career involving contact with other people. Whilst they will be particularly relevant to such careers as teaching, medicine, personnel management and social work, they are also relevant to careers in business, customer relations, the police, journalism, advertising, and the law. An A level in psychology can help you both into work and as part of your preparation to university.
Psychology can be a great step into university but remember to take facilitating subjects alongside it. Also remember that if you want to study psychology at university, many ask for both a science and maths at A-level rather than psychology.
Having said this, psychology is a great subject to study, as it complements the sciences, social sciences and humanities. If you are studying science it can show that you are also adept at writing, whilst if you are studying the humanities it can show others that you can think in a logical and systematic way.
Skills
Skills
Psychology is a great A-level for skills building as it combines essay writing along with the chance to hone your research method skills. Along the way you'll develop skills including:
- Numeracy - working with numbers
- Analysis and evaluation of data
- Written communication - communicating your ideas effectively through essays
- Verbal communication - putting your point across in class and in presentations
- Problem Solving
- Listening
- Teamwork
- Constructing an argument
- Investigative skills
- Critical reasoning
Resources
Resources
Online Courses
- Forensic Psychology:Witness Investigation
- The Mind is Flat: the Shocking Shallowness of Human Psychology
- The Brain and Space
- Introduction to Clinical Psychology
- The Science of Happiness
Revision
Blogs & Websites
Journals
Other Subjects
What should I study Psychology alongside?
As Psychology is cross-curricular it complements different subject choices. Studying Psychology alongside the social sciences, such as Sociology or Economics helps you to think about your personal circumstances and role in society, whilst the Humanities such as History, Politics or Geography also complement it very well, helping you to develop your logical, analytical and problem solving skills. Psychology is also a great link to the sciences, allowing your to demonstrate your writing skills, while if you want to study Psychology at university you'll certainly have to take Maths alongside it.
Suggested Reading
Suggested Reading
Psychology books are great as there are so many popular and accessible ones that you can easily pick up in your local book shop. They often combine psychological studies, some of which you might learn for A-Level, with a story and understanding behind them.
If you're enjoying the book, make notes in the margin or stick post-it notes in your books as they are a great chance for you to go back to. Especially if you are applying to do Psychology at university you can flick through those notes for your personal statement or interview, and they will give you something to discuss. Below is a list of some of the most famous ones you might like to dip into:
- The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat - Oliver Sacks
- Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman
- The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry - Jon Ronson
- Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking - Malcolm Gladwell
- The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science - Norman Doidge
- How We Decide - Jonah Lehrer
- The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins
