Psychology A Level (AQA)

Sixth Form

Syllabus: AQA

Course Specification : 7181/7182

Course Overview

Psychology questions the way we think about our world and behaviour, so ask yourself this question: Are you ready to question the way we behave?

Psychology is a science and therefore you will need to study research and evidence objectively. There is also a high demand for a good biological understanding and core mathematics skills.

Psychology enables you to question human behaviour and therefore is a great subject for those wanting to work in Healthcare professions, teaching, law and business.

Course Requirements

5 GCSEs graded 9 – 5 including Maths at grade 5 and English at grade 6.

Year 1

A-Level students can choose from a range of attractive topic options ensuring that they experience an interesting, diverse and coherent course of study.

Topics are taught through a variety of approaches and methods related to the core areas of Psychology – cognitive, social, biological, developmental, individual differences and research methods, explanations from different approaches, along with psychological issues and debates:

Social influence
Memory
Attachment
Approaches in Psychology
Psychopathology
Research methods

Year 2

Gender
Schizophrenia
Forensic Psychology
Research Methods

Assessment Information

Assessments employ a variety of types of question such as multiple choice, short answer and extended writing/essays, which target the skills of knowledge and understanding, application and evaluation. Students’ understanding of research methods are gained through classroom experience of practical Psychology and will be assessed using the familiar scenario-based question style and research methods questions embedded in topics.

External assessments are taken at the end of the two year course in the following way:

Paper 1 – Introductory topics in Psychology: 96 marks, 2 hours

Paper 2 – Psychology in context: 96 marks, 2 hours

Paper 3 – Issues and Options in Psychology: 96 marks, 2 hours

Sixth Form