King Edward’s School has a thriving Psychology department led by Head of Department, Mrs Scott Palmer. Mrs Scott Palmer is a very experienced teacher of Psychology and also a Team Leader of Examiners at the AQA. Pupils study the AQA specification A syllabus.

Pupils do not need to have studied Psychology previously. Psychology is designated as a science subject and is very much an “evidence-based” subject. Pupils need to have good written skills and an open mind.

In addition to studying the syllabus, Psychology students attend a conference each year. This has included some very notable speakers e.g. Professor Philip Zimbardo of the famous Prison Simulation and Professor David Buss, who has carried out an extensive amount of research into evolutionary  aspects of relationships. Other speakers have included Elizabeth Loftus, who has carried out an enormous amount of research into eyewitness evidence, and Richard Bowlby whose father was a famous Child Psychiatrist who focused on attachments in early life and the effects of disruptions to these attachments. Pupils are also encouraged to subscribe to Psychology Review magazine.

An overview of the syllabus

The  AS syllabus is divided into two modules. There is no coursework element. The AS contributes to 50% of an A level. Each module carries 25% of the marks.

PSYA1: Cognitive, Developmental and Research methods. 25% 

1. Cognitive Psychology: the study of models of memory, ways of improving memory, eyewitness evidence and the use of the Cognitive Interview.
2. Developmental Psychology: the study of the process of attachment, theories of attachment, consequences of disruptions to attachment and a consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of day-care.
3. Research Methods: Sampling methods, the Experimental Method, the Nature of Science, Case Studies, Surveys, Observational methods, use of correlation, basic analysis of data and use of graphs. Issues of reliability and validity.

PSYA2: Social Psychology, Biological Psychology and Individual Differences.  25% 

1. Social Psychology. The study of conformity, obedience, independent behaviour and social change.
2. Biological Psychology. The study of the stress response, the relationship between stress and illness, personality and stress, measurement of stress, coping styles and stress management techniques.
3. Individual Differences ( Abnormality ). The study of definitions of abnormality, approaches to abnormality, mental disorders and their treatment.

Examination, for both modules, is through a combination of short-answer questions and brief essays. Pupils sit the first module in January.

The A2 syllabus consists of 2 modules. Again, there is no coursework element. 

PSYA3: Topics in Psychology. Students answer essay questions on 3 topics.

The exam is 1.5 hours and comprises 25% of the marks.

The topics normally studied are Bodily Rhythms and Sleep, Gender and Relationships.

Examination is through 3 essays.

PSYA4: Psychopathology, Psychology in Action and Research Methods.

Exam: three questions in 2 hours. 25% of the marks.

Psychopathology: Students study schizophrenia in depth. The difficulties of accurate and reliable diagnosis are explored in depth. Students then go on to study both biological and psychological explanations of this disorder. Finally they assess different treatment options. Examination is by a 40 minute essay.

Psychology in Action: students study Addictive Behaviour, concentrating on smoking and gambling addictions. In terms of exam question style, there is a special emphasis on practical application of knowledge in this section. Examination is by 3-4 structured questions that will sample topics across this area.

Research Methods: Students will carry out a range of practical activities to give them a secure understanding of a variety of Research Methods together with some practical data analysis. Students are required to be able to correctly apply and interpret both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. They are also required to understand the format of writing a scientific report. They will be asked to write sections of a scientific report as part of their exam assessment. The will also be given a number of shorter answer questions.

More information about the syllabus can be found on the AQA website: www.aqa.org.uk

For a downloadable presentation of course content please click below.