Examination Board     Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA)

Syllabus Numbers   AS   1181 A2   2181

Assessment Modules for AS

Unit 1  Cognitive Psychology, Development Psychology and Research Methods
Unit 2  Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences

Assessment Modules for A2

Unit 3  Topics in Psychology
Unit 4 Psychopathology, Psychology in Action and Research Methods

Subject Entry Requirement

A GCSE grade C or above in English, Mathematics and Science

What is expected of me as a student?

You will need to have an interest in how people function in everyday life.   You must be prepared to work between lessons preparing for tests and at A2 completing essays.   You must also be prepared to be inquisitive and undertake independent learning during and outside the lesson.

Course Description

Each unit builds towards a one and a half hour examination, except Unit 4 which has a two hour examination.

Unit 1: Cognitive Psychology explores models of memory and memory in everyday life. Development Psychology examines attachment and attachment in everyday life.   Research methods looks at research methods and techniques, investigation design and data analysis and presentation.

Unit 2: Biological Psychology focuses on stress as a bodily function and stress in everyday life.   Social Psychology studies social influence and social influence on everyday life.   Individual Differences defines and explains psychological abnormality and how it can be treated.

Unit 3: Candidates will explore some of the following: Biological rhythms and sleep, relationships and eating behaviour.

Unit 4: The first part of this unit focuses on the mental illness - schizophrenia. The second section, Psychology in Action investigates the psychology of addictive behaviour and finally Psychological Research and Scientific Method covers the application of scientific method in psychology, designing psychological investigations, data analysis and reporting on investigations.