Choosing your A Levels is a big decision. You may have heard that Psychology is a popular and interesting subject, but what does studying it actually involve? Many students pick Psychology because they are curious about the mind and human behaviour, but then realise there is a lot more science, research, and theory than they expected! This guide will take you through what studying A Level Psychology is really like, from the topics and exams to the skills you will gain after passing this subject. Here is what you need to know before you start preparing for the exams.

What Does A Level Psychology Involve?

A-level Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. It looks at how people think, feel, act, and interact with each other. The goal of A Level Psychology is to help you understand human behaviour through scientific research. You will learn how psychologists design experiments, collect and analyse data, and build theories to explain why we do what we do. Here are some of the big questions you will explore:

• Why do we forget things we have learned?
• What causes mental health conditions like OCD or phobias?
• Why do people conform to group pressure?
• How do babies form attachments with their caregivers?
• Can eyewitness testimony be trusted in court?

Psychology sits between science and the humanities. You will think scientifically, but also write essays to explain and evaluate ideas.

Topics You Will Study in A Level Psychology

A Level Psychology covers a wide range of fascinating topics. While each exam board, like AQA, Pearson Edexcel, or OCR, has slightly different content, most include the same core topics:

• Social Influence: Why do people obey authority? Why do we conform? You will look at famous studies like Milgram’s obedience experiments.
• Memory: How memory works, why we forget, and factors that affect how well we remember things.
• Attachment: How babies form bonds with caregivers and what happens when those bonds break. 
• Clinical Psychology and Mental Health: The causes of conditions like depression, OCD, and phobias, and how they are treated.
• Research Methods: You will learn to design experiments, analyse data, and evaluate studies, which runs throughout the course.
• Approaches in Psychology: Different ways in which psychologists explain behaviour, from biological to cognitive to behavioural approaches.

Many courses also offer optional topics like forensic psychology, relationships, eating behaviour, and schizophrenia.

How is A Level Psychology Assessed?

A Level Psychology is 100% exam-based, and there is no coursework. Most exam boards have three papers, each around 2 hours long. Here’s an example based on AQA A Level Psychology:

• Paper 1: Introductory topics such as social influence, memory, and attachment.
• Paper 2: Approaches, biopsychology, and research methods. This often includes questions on data analysis and experimental design.
• Paper 3: Optional topics and broader issues in psychology.

You will answer a mix of multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and extended essay questions. Questions range from simple definitions to longer essays, e.g., What is meant by conformity? (2 marks), Discuss the multi-store model of memory (8 marks). Outline and evaluate the cognitive approach to explaining depression (16 marks).

You will often be asked to apply your knowledge to new situations, not just recall facts. You also need a good knowledge of research methods, including how to calculate percentages, identify variables, and suggest improvements to a study.

Skills You Will Gain from A Level Psychology

Studying Psychology helps you develop a wide range of transferable skills that universities and employers value. These skills are useful in areas like healthcare, education, marketing, human resources, and management.

• Critical thinking: You will learn to evaluate theories and research, spotting strengths and weaknesses in arguments. This helps you think more analytically about the information you encounter.
• Essay writing: You will learn to write clearly, structure arguments, and use evidence effectively.
• Research skills: Students will understand how to design research studies, collect data ethically, and analyse results.
• Data interpretation: You will learn to read and interpret data, calculate percentages and means, and draw conclusions from data; these skills are useful in many careers.
• People skills: You will develop insight into human behaviour, which is useful in any job involving working with others.

Is A Level Psychology Hard?

This is one of the most common questions students ask, and it depends on your strengths. Psychology can be challenging because there is a lot of content to learn. While the material may not be as conceptually difficult as, e.g., chemistry or physics, psychology exams require a different set of skills. So whether or not you find the work hard will depend on your development of those skills. 

If you are looking for expert help in preparation for A-level Psychology, Mixt Academy is the best option. They have a team of expert A-level Psychology tutors who are ready to help you achieve your desired results.

What makes A-level Psychology challenging?

• The scientific aspect of the subject can surprise many students, as they have to learn studies, techniques, and key investigators.
• Essay writing takes practice; you need to describe and estimate theoretical concepts using investigative proof.
• Many questions analyse your application skills, not just memory.
• The terminology can feel technical at first. For example, words like ecological validity or operationalisation take time to learn.
• You will need some basic math skills, including the calculation of percentages and knowing when to use 8 different statistical tests.

What makes A-level Psychology easier?

• The content is relatable as it is often about real-life behaviour.
• If you enjoy reading, writing, and analysing ideas, you will likely do well.
• Getting help from an expert A-level Psychology tutor can help you study confidently and boost exam grades.

Bottom Line

A Level Psychology offers a fascinating look into how the human mind works and why we behave the way we do. You will learn about real studies, analyse data, and develop arguments. Moreover, students will build skills that are valuable whether they continue with psychology or not. If you are genuinely curious about the human mind and enjoy both logic and creativity, Psychology could be the perfect A Level for you. The best way to prepare for this challenging subject is regular revision and getting help from A-level Psychology tutors on an online tutoring platform like Mixt Academy. It is the fastly growing online tutoring platform that offers customized services to students of all curriculum levels and age groups.

FAQs

Do you need to be good at science to take A Level Psychology?

No, Psychology includes science and statistics, but it is less technical than subjects like chemistry or physics. If you are comfortable thinking scientifically and analysing data, you will be fine. 

Who is the best online A-level Psychology tutoring service platform?

Mixt Academy is the best online A-level Psychology tutoring service platform. They connect you with expert tutors for all educational levels and curricula, such as AP, IB, GCSE, AS/A level, and more, at affordable prices.

What GCSEs do you need to study A Level Psychology?

Most schools ask for at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English Language and Maths GCSEs. Some prefer a grade 5 or 6 in English, as there is a lot of essay writing.

Can I study Psychology at university with just A Level Psychology?

Yes, A Level Psychology is usually required or strongly recommended if you want to study Psychology at degree level. However, universities also value other subjects. Many psychology courses look for a mix of science and humanities A Levels