PSYCHOLOGY A-Level

Course Detail

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind; psychologists seek to understand different aspects of individual behaviour though empirical testing, statistical analysis and theoretical application. Over the two year course you will study cognitive, social, biological, clinical and criminological psychology. You will have opportunities to conduct your own psychological tests, including laboratory experiments, observations and questionnaires, and you will gain an in-depth understanding of classic and contemporary psychological research. If you are interested in understanding why you forget things, why people hold prejudiced attitudes, how mental health disorders develop or why you can’t always trust an eye-witness, then psychology is the subject for you.

The Psychology A-Level covers:

• Foundations in psychology (social, cognitive and biological psychology, and learning theories)
• Applications of psychology (clinical and criminological psychology)
• Psychological skills (review of studies and methods)

All A-Level courses are two year courses. You will sit the mock exams at the end of Year 12 and the A-Level exams at the end of Year 13. Although the mock grade will not count towards your final A-Level grade, you will need at least a grade D in Year 12 to succeed on this course in Year 13.

Additional Entry Requirements

• GCSE Combined Science grade 5-4 or a Science GCSE at grade 5
• GCSE Maths: 5
• GCSE English: 5

These requirements are in addition to the general entry requirements.

How will I be assessed?

At the end of Year 12 you will be assessed through one written examination lasting 2 hours 15 minutes. This will be the result of your final mock grade. At the end of Year 13 you will be assessed through three written examinations; two lasting 2 hours 15 minutes and one lasting 2 hours. Two of these will contribute 35% towards your final A-Level grade, the third contributing 30% towards your final A-Level grade. Each exam has a range of short answer, mid-length and essay style questions, requiring you to explain, evaluate and apply psychological theory and research. You will also be required to interpret statistics and carry out basic calculations.