A Level Psychology

A-Level Psychology offers a scientific look at human behaviour, covering core topics like Social Influence, Memory, Attachment, and Clinical psychology (depression, OCD) in Year 1. Year 2 advances to Biopsychology, Schizophrenia, Relationships, and Forensic Psychology, all underpinned by essential Research Methods.

Students learn to evaluate classic studies, apply psychological theories, and develop critical thinking through essay writing and data analysis. Assessment is 100% examination-based, testing knowledge, application, and critical evaluation, preparing students with rigorous analytical skills highly valued in higher education

AQA 7182

Assessment is through three equally weighted papers each 2 hours in length. Each area is assessed through a combination of multiple choice; short answer and extended writing questions

Paper 1: Introductory topics (Year 12) 

• Memory: How memory works, forgetting, and the accuracy of eye witness testimony.

• Attachment: Stages and types of attachment, maternal deprivation.

• Social Influence: Conformity (Asch), obedience (Milgram), and resistance to social influence.

• Clinical Psychology and mental health: Definitions of mental health, explanations and treatment of phobias, depression, and OCD. 

Paper 2: Psychology in context (Year 12 and 13) 

• Approaches in Psychology: Biological, Cognitive, Psychodynamic, Behaviourist, Humanistic, SLT.

• Biopsychology: Brain structure, neurons, the endocrine system, ways of studying the brain and neural plasticity.

• Research Methods: Experimental, correlational, and observational designs, plus data analysis (including math skills). 

Paper 3: Issues and options in Psychology (Year 13) 

• Issues and Debates: Free will vs. determinism, nature vs. nurture, reductionism v holism, gender and culture bias and ethical implications.

• Optional topics studied: Relationships, Forensic Psychology, Schizophrenia