Welcome to Psychology

Psychology aims to provide a broad, balanced and challenging introduction to a wide range of psychological theory, research and application.

As a science subject, psychology aims to provide opportunities to develop skills of analysis, interpretation and evaluation of psychological research evidence; encouraging students to challenge their own thinking when designing and conducting their own practical investigations.

Examples of topics covered in Year 12 include research methods, social responses to people in authority and people in need, memory and attention, external factors influencing children’s behaviour and moral development, regions of the brain and brain plasticity and understanding and measuring individual differences.

Examples of topics covered in Year 13 include psychopathology and criminal psychology, plus one other from child psychology, environmental psychology or sport and exercise psychology.

Assessment

The Psychology course is comprised of three assessments, all of which are written examinations.

• Paper 1
  This is a written exam, lasting for 2 hours. This exam is worth 30% of the course certification.
• Paper 2
  This is a written exam, lasting for 2 hours. This exam is worth 35% of the course certification.
• Paper 3
  This is a written exam, lasting for 2 hours. This exam is worth 35% of the course certification.

Career & Progression Opportunities

A-level Psychology is a really versatile subject, and studying it will give you a variety of transferable skills which will be useful whether you go on to higher education, or straight into the “world of work”.

On completing A-level Psychology, you will have acquired the skills to be able to problem solve and reason scientifically to consider alternative approaches and solutions, comprehend and use data confidently by understanding, analysing and presenting complex ideas, make critical judgements and evaluations to gain different perspectives on a variety of issues, be sensitive to contextual and interpersonal factors, including behaviour and social interaction, retrieve and organise information successfully, engage in effective team work, and plan and manage your own time and space to become more independent.

Psychology students can go into a vast array of careers which are both directly and indirectly related to this subject. Typical fields include business and management, clinical psychology, counselling, educational psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology, healthcare, medicine, mental health work, occupational psychology, policing, politics, psychology, psychotherapy, sales and marketing, sports psychology and teaching.

Entry Requirements

If you’d like to study Psychology, then you must have at least a Grade 5 in GCSE English, at least a Grade 5 in GCSE Science, and at least a Grade 5 in GCSE Maths.

If you’d like to, you can download this information as a PDF file. Download the Psychology course information sheet (opens in a new tab) →