Psychology

Exam Board: AQA

Entry Requirements: Grade 6 in biology/combined science

What will you learn?

Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour. It is a multi-disciplinary subject which explores of elements of biology, sociology, research methods, psychopathology, child development and much more. You will study the following compulsory content:

• Social influence
• Memory
• Attachment
• Psychopathology
• Approaches in Psychology
• Biopsychology
• Research methods
• Issues and debates in Psychology

You will also cover optional modules ranging from eating behaviours to forensic psychology.

What does the assessment look like?

The A-level will be assessed by three examination papers. Paper 1 and 2 will cover the compulsory content with a mix of multiple-choice questions and extended answers. Paper 3 covers issues in psychology and optional content.

Choose this subject if you…

Are interested in understanding how the brain works, how we behave and the world of research.

What can an A-level in this subject lead to?

Many students who study psychology go onto to study psychology at university. However, there are a number of other university courses which utilise the skills of a psychology A-level. These include:

• Forensics
• Statistics
• Biology
• Neuroscience
• Criminology
• Medicine
• Law
• Social work
• Sports psychology
• Counselling
• Health promotion
• Marketing

Recommended reading:

• Left Neglect – Lisa Genova
• The Lucifer Effect – Phillip Zimbardo
• The Social Animal – Elliot Aronson