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Psychology

Exam Board: AQA

Aims

The aims of the course are as follows:

  • Provide students with insight into a range of psychological concepts and topics, including those applied to the contexts of research and practice.
  • Outline key issues and debates in psychology with discussion of these issues in relation to topics covered.
  • Equip students with various skills that will be beneficial to them in both psychology and wider areas of study, including essay writing, critical analysis and evaluation.

Entry Requirements

Students should have Grade 4 or higher in GCSE English, Mathematics and Science, or the equivalent grade/mark in their national system of secondary education.

Course Structure

Year 1

  • Approaches in psychology
  • Introduction to research methods
  • Social influence
  • Memory
  • Attachment
  • Psychopathology

Year 2

  • Biopsychology
  • Research methods and statistical testing
  • Issues and debates
  • Options in psychology: Relationships; Eating Behaviour; and Addiction.

Assessment

  • Paper 1 – Introductory Topics in Psychology; Social influence, Memory, Attachment, Psychopathology.
  • Paper 2 – Psychology in Context; Approaches, Biopsychology, Research Methods.
  • Paper 3 – Issues and Options in Psychology; Issues and Debates, Relationships, Eating Behaviour, Addiction.

Each assessment is a 2 hour written exam; 96 marks in total; 33.3% of the final grade.

Core Text

Year 1

AQA Psychology for A Level Year 1 and AS Student Book, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9781912820429 – Cara Flanagan, Matt Jarvis, Rob Liddle.

Year 2

AQA Psychology for A Level Year 2 Student Book, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9781912820467 – Cara Flanagan, Matt Jarvis, Rob Liddle.

Careers and Opportunities

An insight into mainstream psychology will open up opportunities to pursue higher education in various disciplines of psychology, including counselling, forensic, sport and clinical domains, as well as careers in academic research. This course also provides detailed consideration of the many ways that psychology is relevant to everyone, in everyday situations, therefore being advantageous for a variety of careers, including any people-facing roles, such as education, business and medical environments.

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