Whenever one starts a new enterprise, the question always revolves around the scope of work. What must you do? What must you know? Which skills do you need to find success?
Embarking on a new study path is no different. You must have some idea of the work ahead; that's why teachers provide course syllabuses. It helps to know how intensive the workload will be, so you can fit it into your existing study plans.
What must you know is challenging to define, particularly when studying psychology. This discipline is an extension of philosophical studies that focuses on the human brain and its workings.
This subject isn't like maths or English or chemistry. To pass these courses, you might only need to remember formulae and compositions. For high marks in psychology, you must be capable of intuitive leaps. You must draw on your patience reserves to see your research through and use your communication skills to present your findings.
Still, you need to know where to make your intuitive leaps and how to research. This is true for fieldwork and for passing your exams. In that spirit, Superprof lays out:
- the topics you must know
- the psychological concepts each of your exam papers tests you on
- effective revision methods
- test-taking strategies to ensure exam success
Key Topics to Revise
Like every other Advanced-Level (A-Level) course, psychology follows a linear structure. You'll notice this as you search your course overview. The course curriculum traces a path from basic concepts during Year 11 classes to more developed ones in your second study year.
Your Advanced Subsidiary (AS)-level courses present fundamental psychology concepts. Year 12 studies build on those foundations, presenting more advanced knowledge of the same topics in your studies the year before.
A-Level Psychology includes eight main topics and nine 'optional' ones. You'll only address the optional topics during your second study year, so we'll talk about them later. For now, let's get an overview of the key topics to revise.
| Topic Number | Topic | Sub-topics |
|---|---|---|
| Topic 1 | Social influence | Conformity Obedience Minority influence Resisting social influence Social change |
| Topic 2 | Memory | Forgetting long-term memory types Working memory model Working-score model Eyewitness testimony |
| Topic 3 | Attachment | Types of attachement Explanation of attachment Early attachment Caregiver-infant interactions Deprivation and institutionalisation Animal studies |
| Topic 4 | Approaches in psychology | Biological approach Cognitive approach Learning approaches Comparison of approaches Humanistic psychology Origins of psychology |
| Topic 5 | Psychopathology | Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Phobias Depression Disorder characteristics Definitions of abnormality |
| Topic 6 | Biopsychology | The brain Nervous system Biological rhythms Studying the brain Endocrine system Fight or flight |
| Topic 7 | Research methods | Self-report techniques Observation techniques Experimental methods Correlations and more |
| Topic 8 | Issues and debates in psychology | Gender and culture Free will and determinism Holism and reductionism Idiographic and nomothetic approaches The nature-nurture debate |
Psychological Concepts: AS and A-Level Papers
Most A-Level students choose up to five subjects to explore during their first year of study. This gives them a chance to decide which ones suit their passions and future career goals the best. And then, before starting their second year, they drop the course(s) that don't align with their vision of their future.
This is an effective strategy that gives learners the broadest possible range of future possibilities. However, they will sit AS-Level exams, even if they plan to drop the course.
Any such planning must include exam considerations. Indeed, you will know the A-Level Psychology course structure by its exam papers. Thus, we break down each one.
AS Papers
You will sit two AS-Level papers, which test you on six of the eight key topics to revise. They mostly follow in order, from Topic 1 to Topic 5. And then, you'll explore fundamentals of research. The AQA exam board distributes these topics across the two papers.
Paper I
- Social influence
- Memory
- Attachment
Paper II
- Approaches in psychology
- Psychopathology
- Research methods
AQA allows an hour and a half for each paper. Both of them present pupils with a mix of multiple-choice, essay writing, and short-answer question formats. The maximum available marks for each paper is 72.
Beware that Paper I covers around 14 questions, and Paper II presents around 11. However, a few on each paper are multipart questions, so those numbers are deceiving.
You will put your maths skills to work in some of these questions. Specifically, you need to hone in on your basic arithmetic, as well as ratios and proportions. You'll also estimate results without doing actual calculations and graph given data. In all, roughly 10% of your grade will come from maths-based questions, though your maths skills are not this paper's focus.
A-Level Papers
Your AS-Level exam tested you on basic research questions. All three A-Level papers contain questions about research, with the topics getting more complex as you progress. These questions probe your knowledge of research theory and techniques. You'll confront questions about scientific processes and inferential testing, for example.
The table in the previous segment lists elementary research concepts that you studied at the AS level. During your second year of study, you'll expand on that knowledge. You'll also study two more compulsory topics (6 and 8), and nine optional topics:
| Option I | Option 2 | Option 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relationships | Schizophrenia | Aggression |
| Gender | Eating behaviour | Forensic psychology |
| Cognitive development | Stress | Addiction |
Like your AS papers, each of these three papers present multiple-choice, essay, and short-form answer questions. Papers I and II list just under 20 questions; your third paper subjects you to around nine queries.
Paper III's format is a touch different because it includes the optional questions. You only need to select one sub-topic for each option the paper presents.
As usual, you will have a mix of question types, some of which earn more points than others. However, all the optional questions add up to the same number of points.
You'll have two hours to express your knowledge on each paper. That sounds like a generous amount of time. However, once you download and go over past papers, you'll see it's barely enough. You'll have to build time management techniques into your revision sessions.
How to Revise for A-Level Psychology
The very best way to revise for A-Level Psychology is to start the day you start class. Your first session may consist of getting your course materials and going over the syllabus. Still, that information helps you plan your study strategy.
You'll likely take copious notes as you advance through your course. You should begin categorising them immediately. Mind maps are one of the best ways to do so.
As a Year 11 student, you will only cover six topics (Topics 1-5, and 7). You might create a mind map for each topic, adding information as you progress. You needn't write entire paragraphs; a simple keyword, along with a textbook page number, will be enough.
Such a visual guide to your A-Level Psychology knowledge base will save you time as you revise. You won't need to thumb through your notes, read through highlighted sections or scour your textbooks. Simply open the topic's map, skim through your keywords and then turn to the right text- or notebook page.
The question is: how will you know what information is important enough to map? Superprof recommends downloading and going over past papers when you start your course. You may get some idea from the question papers and marking schemes. However, the examiners' reports offer more value.
These reports detail what examiners found noteworthy, good or bad, in past students' performances. They communicate examiners' expectations for each question. They also discuss what future students might do better.
With this knowledge, you can build your revision resources to favour the outcome examiners look for. If mind maps don't feel quite right for your study needs, consider flashcards. You can create one deck per topic, either with card stock or of the digital variety.
Platforms like Quizlet and Anki allow users to build their own flashcard sets once they create their account. Otherwise, you may take advantage of already-existing decks to advance your revision. However, you might not have full access to edit or arrange these decks to your liking.
The best way to overcome a challenge is to know what you're up against. Don't wait until exam revision time to discover what you must do, or scramble for resources. Prepare them - and yourself, early.
How to Maximise Your Success in Exams
Exam success doesn't just come down to what you know and how diligently you study. For example, if you don't sleep enough or eat 'brain power' foods, your exam performance will suffer. If you're stressed or lack confidence, you're more likely to blunder through your exam papers.
Being organised is one of the best ways to maximise your chances of exam success. In the previous section, you discovered how to organise your revision materials, starting from your first day in class. That will keep you from scrambling through your notes to find the information you need.
Take this model of organisation further. Keep your area tidy; writing instruments here and notepads there. Chargers for your devices in a drawer and clothes arranged for quick donning.
Go further, still. Practise time management by setting up a revision schedule and sticking to it. Download a productivity application, such as a Pomodoro timer, so you can focus on your work.
Speaking of time, do you know what an hour and a half feels like? How about two hours? You'll remember that those are the times allotted to complete your exam papers.
Running out of time in the exam room is a critical mistake. So, it makes sense to train your brain to those time limit rhythms. Planning your revision in 1.5 to 2-hour blocks is a good way to do so.
A-Level Psychology isn't hard if you can minimise your stress and focus on your work. A private tutor can help you address those two components. And then, you only need to dedicate yourself to your studies.
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