Contact:
Mrs Parker
Email: kpa@ifieldcc.co.uk
Entry Requirements:
Grade 4 in GCSE English: Students will be expected to explain psychological explanations in a clear and concise manner as well as elaborate and evaluate research in extended answers and essays. A competence in communication skills is desirable.
Grade 5 in GCSE Combined Science: Students will need to comprehend complex biological processes beyond the understanding of GCSE. A firm base knowledge will put students at an advantage.
Grade 5 in GCSE Mathematics: Examinations will carry a 10% mathematical skills weighting and for this reason students will need a firm grasp of GCSE Mathematics.
Grade 4 in GCSE Psychology (if studied)
Course Overview:
Have you ever wondered why a group of individuals or a particular environment can influence your behaviour? Have you ever wondered how reliable your memory really is or why individuals develop mental disorders? Then you may wish to pursue Psychology as an A Level at ICC.
Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour. Using the scientific method, you will investigate a range of fundamental topics to develop skills in describing scientific theory, analysing research evidence and evaluating explanations.
As a psychology student you will complete a two year course spanning across a wide range of approaches including the (often unethical) laboratory studies of Social Psychology, the cognitive explanations of memory and eyewitness testimony, the explanation and treatments of psychopathology as well as an introduction into brain areas and biological explanations of abnormal behaviour such as phobias.
Due to the nature of the content in Psychology it is unlikely that you will have come into contact with the subject matter before. In addition to learning new subject content, taking psychology will help you develop wider skills including research methods, mathematics, essay writing and extended discussion.
Exam Information:
Duration: 2 years
Exam Board: AQA
Examinations are taken at the end of Year 2.
Exam 1: Introductory units in Psychology - Social Influence, memory, attachment and psychopathology
Exam 2: Psychology in Context - Approaches in psychology, research methods and biopsychology
Exam 3: Optional Units - Issues and debates, schizophrenia, relationships and aggression
Qualification Gained:
A Level Psychology
Career Opportunities:
Studying psychology gives you a broad range of skills that span both science and the arts and opens up opportunities with a variety of employers. For example, the course introduces the main approaches to ready individuals for a BSc Psychology course and a route into therapy, jobs within the NHS, becoming a social worker or training to become a chartered psychologist. As well as this, the combination of academic communication and mathematics skills means that studying psychology can compliment career paths into education, human resources, accountancy and even the police force.
Subject Links:
Sociology, Biology, Mathematics, Philosophy, Law
