Psychology A level

Course Information

Focusing on a wide range of psychological theories, research methods and mental health issues, our psychology A level course will give you a range of skills and plenty of understanding of the subject.

After an introduction into the topic, the AS level portion of the course will see you learning about social influence, memory, attachment, psychopathology and theoretical approaches to psychology that will remain useful throughout the A level section of the course and into further study.

The A level section continues with an education in research methods and approaches, before exploring topics including gender, aggression and schizophrenia, giving you a wide understanding of some of the key subjects in the field.

The course consists of 38 lessons, 12 Tutor-marked assignments and 5 practice examination papers.  We would expect the average student to need around 700 hours of study to complete the A level.

Exam boards and assessment

The syllabus has been written for the AQA exam board’s qualification and will prepare you for examinations with a range of activities and self-assessment tasks. The syllabus numbers are:

• AS Psychology (Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Psychology): course code 7181
• A-level Psychology (Advanced GCE in Psychology): course code 7182

For the AS course, there are two 90-minute papers, while for A level, there are three two-hour exams. There are no coursework requirements for AS or A level psychology.

What can I do with a psychology A level?

There are all sorts of uses for an A level in psychology. If you think you might like a career in the field as a psychologist or researcher, the course will prepare you for further study at university. If you’re unsure of your future career though, the subject can be used in lots of other lines of work.

For instance, it can be used in clinical and counselling contexts, in order to help people with mental health issues, or in the sports world, assisting athletes break down mental barriers and improve their performance. There are also forensic applications in the police force, scientific and medical applications in the field of neuropsychology, and careers in the educational world, for instance, helping children having problems learning at school.

There are further career opportunities too; in business, marketing, or in the care sector, for example.

The skills you’ll learn and rely upon most during the course include:

• Research skills
• Crafting fluent arguments and points of view
• Essay writing
• Analytical skills
• Understanding from various perspectives
• Critical reasoning
• Conducting scientific investigations

How much does it cost?

Our Psychology A Level course fee is £475 with a £95 deposit and then eight monthly instalments of £47.50.

You will receive support from a fully-qualified tutor holding either a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or a degree in education. This support includes:

• Marking all assignments for the course
• Written answers to specific study problems
• Tutor contact by telephone, email and skype

When you begin this course, you will agree on an examination date or dates with your Student Adviser. Your support period lasts up to this examination date.

Prerequisites

We expect students to have a minimum of four good GCSEs in order to study psychology A level, ideally including a grade C or above in Maths and English.

If you feel you have other qualifications or experience that might make you suitable for the course, call one of our student advisers on 0800 0111 024 to talk about your suitability.

Sample Lessons

Psychology A level course introduction

Psychology A level course introduction

Psychology A level Sample Lesson

Psychology A level Sample Lesson

AQA examination timetable 2020

AQA examination timetable 2020

Books