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PSYCHOLOGY
Exam Board: AQA Head of Department: Julie Hoather BSc (East London) PGCE (Plymouth) PGDip (Surrey) Members of Department: Jacki Calvert BSc (Open University) MSc (Bucks) PGCE
Are you right for the course?
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This course is designed to help you understand yourself and other people. Learning about aspects of human behaviour will assist you in daily life, interactions with others, and learning and memory performance. It enhances your ability to cope with pressure and understand the cause of psychological disorders. Psychology is a science and we use the scientific approach to learn about behaviour and mental life. To help support you in the course we recommend that you demonstrate strong numeracy and data handling skills in your GCSEs and elsewhere.
What does the course consist of?
We use the AQA Psychology specification which is a linear course and so all examinations are taken during June in the second year of study. It is examination-based; there is no coursework.
Paper 1: 33.3% A Level: 2-hour written examination
This unit comprises of four sections: • Social Influence • Memory • Attachment • Psychopathology
Paper 2: 33.3% A Level: 2-hour written examination
This unit comprises of three sections: • Approaches in psychology • Biopsychology • Research methods
Paper 3: 33.3% A Level: 2-hour written examination
This unit comprises of four sections: • Issues and debates in Psychology (compulsory) Students will take one topic each from three option blocks: • Option 1 – Relationships, Gender, Cognition and Development • Option 2 – Schizophrenia, Eating behaviour, Stress • Option 3 – Aggression, Forensic Psychology and Addiction We are currently studying: Cognition and Development, Schizophrenia and Aggression.
Where will it lead you?
Psychologists enjoy a fascinating range of career options, including occupational psychology, clinical psychology, forensic/criminal psychology and health psychology. An awareness of psychology is becoming increasingly important in a wide range of disciplines, from sports and exercise psychology, business, human resources management and teaching.
Useful Websites
• https://sites.google.com/pangbourne.com/psychology-pangbourne/home • http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/as-and-a-level/psychology-7181-7182 44 | A Guide to Choosing Subjects at Sixth Form 2022-24
