A-Level Psychology

Studying Psychology offers a scientific insight into human thinking and behaviour. For A-level students it is a subject which offers a brand new direction of interest and possibility. As an academic discipline it is rapidly growing in importance and complexity, offering a wide choice of future employment opportunities. Students should consider Psychology if they are interested in learning a new academic subject, have an interest in understanding people, have the motivation to work independently, and are willing to acquire new thinking skills.

Psychology has become one of the most popular subjects to study at A-level (second most popular in the summer 2022 exams) because it is so versatile in degree applications. For example, Psychology A-level is widely recognised by the majority of Biology degrees as a science subject.

Attachment

The importance of the relationship between a parent and their child. The impact of neglect on infant behaviour and the way this can influence a person when they have grown up.

Memory

An exploration of the different models used to explain how memory works and why we forget. How the cognitive interview is used by the police to increase the accuracy of witness information

Social Influence

Explanations of why we conform, obey and disobey. In what ways can a minority influence the majority. Investigating how the social roles we find ourselves in influence our behaviour.

Psychopathology

The characteristics, explanations and treatments for phobias, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Approaches

There are several approaches in Psychology, including Behavioural, Social, Cognitive, Biological, Psychodynamic and Humanistic. Students need to understand how each approach explains human behaviour.

Biopsychology

The neuron and action potentials, communication between neurons, the nervous system, the anatomy of the brain, recovery after brain damage and the influence of light and the environment on sleep.

Research methods

How data is collected through experiments, observations, questionnaires, and interviews. Scientific theory and using statistics to analyse data. Designing research studies and writing reports.

Issues and Debates

Understanding some of the big issues Psychology faces and trying to answer some of the debates, such as, whether or not people have free will.

Relationships

This module takes the student through the explanations for attraction, maintaining relationships, and theories of relationship breakdown.

Schizophrenia

Approximately 1% of the population suffer from Schizophrenia (psychosis) and this module explores this condition in detail. You will learn how doctors approach diagnosing schizophrenia; the biological and psychological explanations for why people develop schizophrenia; and how we can treat schizophrenia.

Aggression

In this interesting module you will learn about the biological, psychological and social explanations for aggression, including the causes of extreme aggression, like serial murder. You will also explore the effects of violent films and games on behaviour.

The Psychology A-level is assessed in 3 exams, each of which is two hours long. There is no coursework in this A-level.

Paper 1: Social Psychology, Memory, Attachment, Psychopathology (Phobias, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Paper 2: Approaches in psychology, Biopsychology, Research methods (collecting data and analysing data)

Paper 3: Issues and debates in Psychology, Schizophrenia, Relationships, Aggression

Students must have achieved at least five strong passes (to at least Grade 5) at GCSE level, including English Language and Maths. It is recommended that students have achieved at least a GCSE Grade 5 in Single Biology or Triple Science (Combined).

A large number of the students who have studied Psychology over the last 10 years have chosen to go on to study the subject at university. These students have gone on to work in a range of fields and a few have become doctors of Psychology. Possible careers following a psychology pathway include Clinical Psychology (working in the NHS and as a private therapist), Forensic Psychology (working with the police and crime detection agencies), Sports Psychology (working with athletes and sports teams) and Educational Psychology (working in schools supporting students with special educational needs like dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorder).

We have a strong track record of supporting students in applications to the top universities (Russell group) and can help with personal statements for degree courses and psychology degree interview practice.

A growing number of students who study Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology (as an alternative to Biology, Chemistry and Maths) have gone on to study medicine at university.