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
| Paper 1: Markets and Market Failure | Paper 2: National and International Economy | Paper 3: Economic Principles and Issues |
|---|---|---|
| What’s assessed? Content 1-8 above |
What’s assessed? Content 9-14 above |
What’s assessed? Content 1-14 above |
| Assessment Written exam: 2hours 80 marks 33.3% of A Level |
Assessment |
Assessment |
| Questions Section A: data response questions requiring written answers, choice of one from two context worth 40 marks. Section B: essay questions requiring written answers, choice of one from three worth 40 marks. |
Questions |
Questions Section A: multiple choice questions worth 30 marks. Section B: case study questions requiring written answers, worth 50 marks |
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 |
|---|---|
