Psychology A Level Course Outline
Advanced Level 3
Awarding Body: AQA
Study Psychology
Psychology is all around you and touches on every aspect of your life! Who you are now, how you will be in the future, how you interact with family, friends, and strangers; these are all things that can be explored and better understood with A level Psychology. Furthermore, psychology offers a combination of professional, personal and academic skills beyond higher education. Among the MANY advantages of studying Psychology, the main advantages include: -
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Developing critical thinking skills
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Developing analytical skills and understanding real-world issues through the application of the scientific method
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Providing excellent job prospects in a variety of areas (both directly and indirectly)
The General entry requirements for A Level courses are six GCSEs grades 9-4 and above, including English Language.
Grade 5 English - 6 in Maths and 5 in Science
We follow the AQA exam board: Specification code: 7181 7182
We have no AS exams.
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A LEVEL
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Paper 1
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Paper 2
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Paper 3
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MEMORY
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
ATTACHMENT
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
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RESEARCH METHODS
APPROACHES
BIOPSYCHOLOGY
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ISSUES AND DEBATES
3 OPTIONAL TOPICS
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External: -
- A Level – 3 written exams in June, all 2 hour papers –
- All consist of short answer questions and extended essays covering the core themes from the syllabus.
Internal: –
- Exam assessed piece of work every fortnight under exam conditions
- Structured feedback sheets with student reflection and teacher feedback are used for assignments
A psychology A level enables you to acquire a variety of transferable skills. These include numeracy, argument synthesis, data analysis, time management, independent research, team work, report writing, presentation skills, interpersonal and communication skills, plus an evolved ability to work ethically and professionally with people. All skills are highly valued in a range of employment fields.
As a graduate, your knowledge of all areas of psychology makes you eligible for entry into any field typically open to Psychology graduates, or for further graduate training which is required for graduates wishing to work as a chartered professional Psychologist.
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Direct career opportunity areas include: - Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Neuropsychology, Occupational Psychology, Research and Academic & Forensic Psychology, Sports and Exercise Psychology
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Indirect career opportunity areas include: - Career advising, human resources, social work, market research and many more!
For a complete breakdown of these areas and jobs they offer have a look at this BPS leaflet: -
http://www.bps.org.uk/system/files/Public%20files/your_journey_jan_2014_web.pdf
"Psychology is perfect for those who are curious and constantly looking for ways to increase their understanding of human behaviour and society, psychology has taught me so much about how our understanding of behaviour has evolved, with the help of my amazing teacher who never fails to help me."
"I enjoy learning about psychology because it is a subject that really teaches you about the development of human behaviour from not only a social but a scientific standpoint, that is also applicable to real life. I’ve learnt a lot about myself personally & have been able to master my critical thinking and evaluative skills academically."
"I enjoy studying Psychology a lot, I feel like it has made me realise a lot more about why people do the things they do, and why people are the way they are. My psychology teachers have really gone out of their way to provide extra work and support for all students. Psychology has also made me improve my grades in my other 2 subjects."
"My Psychology teachers have been extremely helpful especially with the improvement of my grade. Both teachers were able to send me feedback, examiner report on my mocks, and provide a student example answer to illustrate the critical key words required to get full marks."
"Psychology was very significant in my formative years when I had just begun putting the world into context. It gave me the tools to "think out of the box"."
"The psychology course at St Charles is fantastic. You will be taught by passionate and inspiring teachers who will always put your best interests at heart."
"What I remember most fondly about Mr Gwanzura's class was the expectation to achieve. An environment is created where you are encouraged to challenge yourself, question ideas and criticise theories; these lessons are invaluable. "
"At first, when I started studying psychology I didn't think it would apply to any areas of molecular sciences. However throughout my degree, I found that it is very beneficial especially when it came to neuroscience."
