Psychology
Psychology is the science of mind and behaviour. Essentially, Psychology is all about people. We are all amateur psychologists, every time we try and work out why someone acted the way they did or try to predict how someone might behave or react. Psychology tries to answer these questions by investigating them in a more scientific manner.
“Until you make the unconscious, conscious it will direct your life, and you will call it fate.”
Carl Jung
Entry requirements
Automatic entry onto Level 3 courses includes students achieving 4 x Grade 9-4 or equivalent at GCSE alongside a Grade 4 or above in English and/or Mathematics. Students with either English and/or Mathematics at Grade 3 or below will have individual meetings to determine the most suitable pathway within the Sixth Form.
Course description
Students will study Social Influence, Memory, Attachment, followed by Approaches in Psychology, Psychopathology and Research Methods. Students will also get involved with practical work using a variety of research methods.
Students will also learn about approaches and perspectives, such as behaviourism and you will become familiar with debates like ‘nature verses nurture’ and ‘freewill verses determinism’ and examine a range of topics covering both typical and atypical development and anti-social behaviour. During the second year students will also learn more about how research is conducted, including how data is analysed using statistical formulae to assess probability levels.
What this course leads onto
The majority of Psychology students obtain employment in areas ranging from health and social welfare occupations, such as Care Assistant and Assistant Psychologist, to commercial, professional and managerial jobs, such as Chartered Accountant and Marketing Manager. Graduates have also entered administration, information work, sales, teaching and the media.
Exam board
Past papers
www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/as-and-a-level/psychology-7181-7182/assessment-resources
Assessments
There is no coursework in Psychology. The qualification is examined via 3, 2 hour written papers, each account for one third of the A Level grade. The exams consist of a mixture of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing questions.
Ways to help my child succeed
- The topics we cover in lessons relate to all our lives, so your child will be keen to discuss all things psychology related at great length! Pleases encourage this, spending time discussing and debating any issues or topics which come up.
- They should have a strong understanding of current affairs and contemporary issues in the news, and consider the part Psychology plays within these stories. A PC or tablet device is also useful.
- Encourage your child to seek out relevant academic journals on line (see websites below).