Studying human behaviour is intrinsically interesting and examples of the questions we ask are “Can chimpanzees learn a language?”; “Is our respect for authority so great that you would kill if told to do so?”, and “Are murderers’ brains different from other brains?”
This course was chosen because it is broad and fast-paced, but also highlights the scientific rigour that is modern Psychology.

In Year 12 we look at fifteen famous case studies from Psychology covering the five areas:cognitive, social, child developmental, physiological and individual differences.

In Year 13 we look at two areas of Psychology in more detail. We are currently studying the topics Crime and Sports, but we are considering offering Health Psychology.

Methods of Teaching

Whilst there is no getting away from the fact that Psychology is an academic subject, all fifteen case studies have activities devised to give you an insight into how the research was carried out.

Assessment

AS
There are two exams. The first one in the January session is coursework and makes up 30% of the AS course. The exam in June is made up of short answers on the 15 case studies and extended answers on the key issues in Psychology.

A2

Unit 1 - Forensic Psychology and Psychology of Sport and Exercise (examined in January)
Unit 2 - Research Methods in Psychology


What We Expect From You

GCSE grades – BB in Science, B in Maths and preferably B in English. You need a willingness to use your imagination to tackle challenging ideas and of course to work appropriately outside of lessons, completing homework and organising notes.


Future Prospects

Wide range of careers: clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, health, occupational, sports and exercise.

Whilst lots of people try to specialise on entry to university, it is often the best idea to do a general
Psychology degree and specialise within the course. More details of the many careers can be found on the British Psychological Society website.