Advanced - Psychology

EXAM BOARD: EDEXCEL

AIM OF THE COURSE
Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour. The course is designed to help students understand psychological theories and how they relate to contemporary issues. Throughout the course students will also develop their skills of analysis, interpretation and evaluation. Independent learning skills are essential as this course is demanding, rigorous and challenging. This course requires essay writing skills and a good application of maths skills and detailed scientific knowledge and understanding.

AS LEVEL SUMMARY
Paper 1: Social and cognitive psychology: This covers social influence and how people interact and how the memory works and memory differences and memory deficits and how this develops as the brain ages.

Paper 2: Biological psychology and learning theories: This covers the influence and impact of genes and the nervous system on the individual and the effects of conditioning, reinforcement and social learning on the individual.
Research Methods: How psychologists test a theory, data analysis and statistical techniques. A practical focus is embedded within the specification.

A LEVEL SUMMARY
Paper 1: Foundations in psychology:
This unit covers the content as described in AS Psychology.

Paper 2: Applications of psychology:
This unit looks at Clinical psychology in terms of explaining and treating mental illness. The causes of criminal and anti-social behaviour are also considered for Criminological Psychology. Finally, the impact and effects of drugs on an individual are explained in Health Psychology.

Paper 3: Psychological skills:
A detailed consideration of scientific and psychological methods including statistical and data analysis, synoptic review of studies from Year 1 and Year 2 and application of material from all of the units and applying them to psychological issues and debates.

COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Separate Sciences: Grades 6
Combined Science: Grade 6
Grade 6 or above in Maths
Grade 6 or above in English
A least a Grade 5 in four other subjects at GCSE Level.

BEYOND SIXTH FORM
The study of psychology can impact on every area of your life. It gives students an understanding of relationships and
behaviour and ideally leads to careers which involve social interaction including teaching, police force and social work,
or indeed further study to become counsellors or psychologists.

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