New Syllabi & A-level

The new (2015+) AQA A-level Psychology syllabus allows students to either take an AS-level or an A-level qualification.

This new syllabus incorporates all of the changes to the entire A-level system which have recently been introduced (see below).

A lot of students in their 6th form (Years 12 + 13) study 3 A-levels + 1 AS-level. Whereas A-levels are usually studied for 2 years and examined at the end of the 2-year course, an AS-level is a 1-year course which is examined at the end of the 1st year.
Whether you study for an AS-level or an A-level you must sit all units together in either May (AS-level) or June (A-level).

AS-LEVEL - THE SYLLABUS

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTORY TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
1 ½ hour exam. 50% of total marks
• Social Influence
• Memory
• Attachment
UNIT 2: APPROACHES IN PSYCHOLOGY.
1 ½ hour exam. 50% of total marks
• Approaches in Psychology, including Biopsychology
• Psychopathology
• Research Methods

A-LEVEL - THE SYLLABUS

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTORY TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
2-hour exam. 33.3% of total marks
• Social Influence
• Memory
• Attachment
• Psychopathology
UNIT 2: PSYCHOLOGY IN CONTEXT.
2-hour exam. 33.3% of total marks
• Approaches in Psychology
• Biopsychology
• Research Methods
UNIT 3: ISSUES & OPTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGY.
2-hour exam. 33.3% of total marks
• Gender
• Aggression
• Schizophrenia
• Issues & Debates in Psychology

(Note: there are numerous options in unit 3 – I have selected the ones I believe are most interesting and easiest to score highly in. They are also the most popular choices.)

All units in AQA Psychology AS & A-level are assessed by short, medium and long written answers, and some basic maths & problem-solving.

THE NEW A-LEVEL VERSUS THE OLD A-LEVEL

Syllabi change every few years. The old AQA Psychology syllabus ran from 2008 and is now being phased out. A new syllabus has been introduced with 1st AS exams in summer 2016 and 1st A-level exams in summer 2017. The new syllabus is part of the new A-level system.
The new syllabus and skills involved in getting an AS or A-level in Psychology are pretty much entirely different to the old syllabus. The new syllabus has a much greater variety of questions types and styles, particularly questions where you have to apply psychological knowledge to real-life situations.

The new syllabus is neither easier nor more difficult but it certainly is different and it would be disastrous to use notes or resources from the old syllabus.

Although AQA Psychology A-level can still almost entirely be passed at A* standard by memorising model answers, old syllabus model answers are now out-of-date/useless.

Only PsychLogic guarantees access to model answers for the new 2015+ syllabus.