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A Level - Psychology

Course Information

Course TypeLevel 3

Duration2 Years

Awarding BodyAQA

A Level Psychology

What does the course involve?

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and human behaviour, and is studied by considering psychological research in terms of its strengths, limitations and ability to explain human experience. It is an exciting, fast-paced and challenging course that will change the way you think about every-day human behaviour.

During Year 12, you will study seven fascinating topics, including:

Social influence: why we conform or obey
Human memory: how information is stored in our memories and why we sometimes forget
Attachment theory: investigating the long-term impact of your earliest emotional relationships
Approaches in psychology: understanding of the assumptions of major areas in Psychology, such as Learning Theory and Cognitive Psychology
Biopsychology: the role of the somatic and autonomic nervous system, the endocrine system and neurons in human Psychology
Psychopathology: explanations of human mental abnormalities, such as depression, OCD and phobias
Research methods: the scientific and statistical methods that psychologists use to carry out their research.

At Year 13, as well as continuing your study of Research Methods, Biopsychology and the Approaches, the course develops by investigating:

Key issues and debates in psychology: such as the nature-nurture debate, cultural bias and determinism
Relationships: understanding the formation, maintenance and breakdown of adult sexual relationships
Schizophrenia: investigating the clinical characteristics, causes and treatments of this poorly understood disorder
Addiction: including the biological and psychological causes of smoking, gambling or alcohol addiction.

Psychology is a demanding subject that requires a broad range of skills. You will require strong mathematical and research skills to measure, analyse and interpret data (including an understanding of fractions, measures of central tendency, dispersion and statistical analyses). Similarly, as Psychology is a science, you will use complex scientific language to describe bodily processes (such as the role of genes, neurotransmitters, glands and hormones in human behaviour).

Finally, being a challenging written subject, Psychology requires you to write quickly and fluently from a range of different perspectives.

By no means easy, Psychology is an exceptionally rewarding subject for those who have a scientific interest in human behaviour, thinking and motivation.

Entry Requirements

Standard entry requirements, plus:

Grade 5 in Maths or a Science
Students should show an interest in scientific explanations of human behaviour.

Can I take additional qualifications?

Yes. This qualification is usually taken alongside other Level 3 qualifications, such as A Levels or Extended Certificate qualifications. Although students select this course from a broad range of subject areas, complementary subjects include Biology; Chemistry; English; Health and Social Care; History; Maths; Philosophy; and Sociology.