Keystage 5 - AS level

Psychology is an academic discipline that involves the scientific study of what people do and why they do it. It attempts to understand real-life situations using techniques and theories developed by psychologists. In many ways it is a life science. During AS psychology, students will develop new ideas and insights.

AS Level Psychology       (AQA A Specification 1181)

The AS Level is in two modules, PSYA1 and PSYA2.

There is no coursework (as current web page)

The course is 100% examination.  PSYA1 in January 2011 and PSYA2 in the Summer of 2011.  Each paper equals 25% of the overall A Level Qualification or 50% of the overall AS Level Qualification.

Term 1 Overview

PSYA1:     Cognitive Psychology and research methods

                Developmental Psychology and research methods

                Completion of research methods

                Revision

                Mock questions/mock papers

                January 2011 PSYA1 Examination

Term 2 Overview

PSYA2:     Individual Differences - abnormality

                Biological Psychology - stress

                Social Psychology - conformity and obedience

Term 3 Overview

PSYA2 continued

                Social Psychology - conformity and obedience

                Research methods

                Revision

                Mock questions/mock papers

                Summer 2011 PSYA2 Examination

Useful Websites:

• AQA - Awarding Body for A Levels, GCSEs and other exams
• PsYonline
• BBC Science and Nature: Human Body and Mind
• S-Cool Revision
• Your Amazing Brain

 Useful reading:

• AS Level Psychology 4^th Edition  Michael W Eysenck
• CGP AS Level Psychology Exam Board AQA:A  The Revision Guide
• Psychology Today - topical research
• Any news articles/documentaries related to psychology.
• A Child Called It
  The Lost Boy             David Pelzer (Attachment, development, deprivation)
  A Man Named Dave
• A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess (Conditioning)
• Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (Conditioning, ethics)
• Enduring Love - Ian McEwan (OCD)
• Lord of the Flies - William Golding (Leadership, power, groups)
• Susie Orbach on Eating - Susie Orbach (Psychodynamic approach to eating)
• Sweet Death - Claude Tardat (Eating oneself to death)
• The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin - David Nobbs (Stress, breakdown)
• Human Traces - Sebastian Faulks (Mental Illness)
• The Handmaids Tale - Margaret Atwood (Gender identity, Social Control)