Psychology

Psychology is an exciting and increasingly popular subject, which seeks to explain human behaviour and thought processes.  A minimum of grade 4/5 in GCSE English and Mathematics indicates the necessary verbal and numerical skills required for A-Level Psychology.

Course Content

Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology

Content Assessment Questions

• Social Influence
• Memory
• Attachment
• Psychopathology
• 2 hour written exam
• 96 marks
• 33.3% of A-Level

Four compulsory sections all requiring written answers.

Paper 2: Psychology in Context

• Approaches in Psychology
• Biopsychology
• Research Methods
• 2 hour written exam
• 96 marks
• 33.3% of A-Level

Three compulsory sections all requiring written answers.

Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology Content

• Issues and Debates in Psychology
• One from:

Relationships; Gender; Cognition and Development

• One from:

Schizophrenia, Eating Behaviour; Stress

• One from:

Aggression; Forensic Psychology; Addiction

• 2 hour written exam
• 96 marks
• 33.3% of A-Level

One compulsory section. Three sections each offering a choice of three topics.

Sixth-Formers answer one question from each section.

Career Opportunities

Psychology A-Level is considered a very useful subject by universities and colleges, particularly in the fields of business & economics, marketing & advertising, child care & social work, health-related courses, occupational therapy & speech therapy, sports science, law, hotel management & tourism and teaching.  A degree in psychology opens careers in a vast range of areas where interpersonal relations and an understanding of human behaviour are essential or valuable, while offering Sixth-Formers the chance to develop a range of important transferable skills. The discipline has a number of branches that can be pursued and following the completion of relevant BPS recognised qualifications, can for instance lead to achieving a chartered status, as a Clinical, Counselling or Educational Psychologist.