A Level Psychology Years 12 and 13
Specification
AQA - The specification and assessment structure can be found at the link: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/as-and-a-level
The Psychology course has been designed to provide a broad and engaging introduction to the scope and nature of Psychology as a science. The emphasis is on applying knowledge and understanding rather than just acquiring knowledge, thereby developing students’ transferable skills of analysis, evaluation and critical thinking.
Year
In year 1, the specification includes approaches and methods related to the core areas of Psychology – cognitive, social, biological, developmental, individual differences and research methods.
| Topic | Further details about the topic |
|---|---|
| Social Influence |
Conformity Obedience Explanations of resistance to social influence Minority influence The role of social influence processes in social change. |
| Memory |
Models of memory Explanations for forgetting Factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony Improving the accuracy of eyewitness testimony |
| Attachment |
Caregiver-infant interactions in humans Explanations of attachment Types of attachment Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. Effects of institutionalisation. The influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships |
| Psychopathology |
Definitions of abnormality Phobias, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias The cognitive approach to explaining and treating depression. The biological approach to explaining and treating OCD |
| Approaches |
The behaviourist approach The cognitive approach The biological approach The psychodynamic approach Humanistic Psychology |
| Biopsychology |
The divisions of the nervous system The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons The function of the endocrine system Ways of studying the brain Biological rhythms |
| Research methods |
The scientific process Data handling and analysis Inferential testing |
Year 2
In year 2, there is a range of topic-based options which bring together explanations from different approaches and engage students in issues and debates in contemporary Psychology.
| Topic | Further details about the topic |
|---|---|
| Issues and debates |
Gender and culture in Psychology Free will and determinism The nature-nurture debate Holism and reductionism Idiographic and nomothetic approaches to psychological investigation. Ethical implications of research studies and theory |
| Schizophrenia |
Classification of schizophrenia Biological explanations for schizophrenia Psychological explanations for schizophrenia: Drug therapy Cognitive behaviour therapy and family therapy The diathesis-stress model. |
| Relationships |
The evolutionary explanations for partner preferences Factors affecting attraction in romantic relationships Theories of romantic relationships Virtual relationships in social media Parasocial relationships |
| Aggression |
Neural and hormonal mechanisms in aggression The ethological explanation of aggression Social psychological explanations of human aggression Institutional aggression in the context of prisons Media influences on aggression |
Examinations
Paper 1 - 96 marks (2 hours)
Memory, attachment, social influence and psychopathology.
Paper 2 – 96 marks (2 hours)
Approaches, biopsychology, research methods.
Paper 3 – 96 marks (2 hours)
Issues and debates, schizophrenia, aggression, relationships
Examination Assessment Overview
Assessment objectives
Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual and are the same across all AS and A-level Psychology specifications and all exam boards.
The exams will measure how students have achieved the following assessment objectives.
- AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures.
- AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures:
- in a theoretical context
- in a practical context
- when handling qualitative data
- when handling quantitative data.
- AO3: Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific information, ideas and evidence, including in relation to issues, to:
- make judgements and reach conclusions
- develop and refine practical design and procedures.
Weighting of assessment objectives for A-level Psychology
t least 10% of the overall assessment of Psychology will contain mathematical skills equivalent to Level 2 or above.
At least 25–30% of the overall assessment will assess skills, knowledge and understanding in relation to research methods.
Assessment weightings
The marks awarded on the papers will be scaled to meet the weighting of the components. Students' final marks will be calculated by adding together the scaled marks for each component. Grade boundaries will be set using this total scaled mark. The scaling and total scaled marks are shown in the table below.
A level
| Component | Maximum raw mark |
| Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology | 96 |
| Paper 2: Psychology in Context | 96 |
| Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology | 96 |
Year 12
| Topic | Further details about the topic | Skills | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | |||
| 1 & 2 |
Social Influence |
Conformity
|
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychological concepts, theories, research studies, research methods and ethical issues Apply psychological knowledge and understanding Analyse, interpret and evaluate psychological concepts, theories, research studies and research methods Evaluate therapies and treatments including in terms of their appropriateness and effectiveness. |
| 1 & 2 |
Memory |
Models of memory
|
As above |
| 1 & 2 | Attachment |
Caregiver-infant interactions in humans Animal studies of attachment Explanations of attachment Types of attachment Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. Effects of institutionalisation. The influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships |
As above |
| 2 & 2 |
Psychopathology |
Definitions of abnormality
|
As above |
| Spring Term | |||
| 1 & 2 |
Approaches |
The behaviourist approach The cognitive approach The biological approach The psychodynamic approach Humanistic Psychology Comparison of approaches |
As above |
| 1 & 2 | Biopsychology |
The divisions of the nervous system The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons The function of the endocrine system Ways of studying the brain Biological rhythms |
As above |
| 1 & 2 |
Research methods |
The scientific process Data handling and analysis Inferential testing |
As above |
| Summer Term | |||
| 1 & 2 |
Memory Biopsychology Research methods Revision of topics Introduction to year 2 |
Models of memory Explanations for forgetting Factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony Improving the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. The divisions of the nervous system The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons The function of the endocrine system Ways of studying the brain Biological rhythms |
As above |
Year 13
| Topic | Further details about the topic | Skills | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | |||
| 1 & 2 |
Issues and debates |
Gender and culture in Psychology Free will and determinism The nature-nurture debate Holism and reductionism Idiographic and nomothetic approaches to psychological investigation. Ethical implications of research studies and theory |
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychological concepts, theories, research studies, research methods and ethical issues Apply psychological knowledge and understanding Analyse, interpret and evaluate psychological concepts, theories, research studies and research methods Evaluate therapies and treatments including in terms of their appropriateness and effectiveness. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research methods, practical research skills and mathematical skills |
| 1 & 2 |
Schizophrenia |
Classification of schizophrenia Biological explanations for schizophrenia Psychological explanations for schizophrenia: Drug therapy Cognitive behaviour therapy and family therapy The diathesis-stress model. |
As above |
| Spring Term | |||
| 1 & 2 |
Relationships |
The evolutionary explanations for partner preferences Factors affecting attraction in romantic relationships Theories of romantic relationships Virtual relationships in social media Parasocial relationships |
As above |
| 1 & 2 |
Aggression |
Neural and hormonal mechanisms in aggression The ethological explanation of aggression Social psychological explanations of human aggression nstitutional aggression in the context of prisons Media influences on aggression |
As above |
| Summer Term | |||
| 1 | Revision | ||
Assessments
| Resources | Topic | Type of assessment |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 1 | Research methods/social influence/memory | Past paper questions from AQA |
| CAT 2 | Research methods/ attachment/psychopathology | Past paper questions from AQA |
| CAT 3 | Research methods/social influence/approaches/attachment/ psychopathology/memory. | Mock examination |
| CAT 4 | All year 1 topics plus issues and debates and schizophrenia. | Past paper questions from AQA |
| CAT 5 | All year 1 topics plus schizophrenia/issues and debates/aggression. | Past paper questions from AQA |
Main Resources
| Resource | Details | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Text books and support materials |
AQA psychology for A level Year 1 and AS (978-1-908682-40-6) Flanagan et al AQA psychology for A level Year 2 (978-1-908682-41-3) Flanagan et al |
All |
| Recommended reading |
Psychology Review magazine accessed through Frog or at https://my.dynamic-learning.co.uk/ |
All |
| Recommended websites |
AQA (http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/as-and-a-level/psychology) Brain Freeze psychology |
All |
Enrichment opportunities
| Activity | Day and time or term |
|---|---|
