A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY

Applications Open: 14th November 2025

Applications Close: 13th March 2026

Entry Requirements: - Five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including English, and the individual subject entry requirements.

How to Apply: Please apply via the Kent Choices website.

How many subjects can you choose: - You MUST choose 3 subjects (these can be mixture of A-level or BTEC's). Please DO NOT choose anymore than 5 subjects.

Please note that if you are intending to study a course at Invicta Grammar School as part of your course choices, you can only study one Invicta course (maximum) alongside two Valley Park courses.

If you wish to make any changes, you can do so via your application page or send us a message.

Your application will be acknowledged and conditional offer letters will be sent out after the closing date.

Why are people great leaders? What makes people follow orders? If you have ever wondered about the behaviour of humans then this course is for you. The course will give you the opportunity to make informed judgements about controversial issues in society. Psychology is a well-respected subject amongst universities and employers and is useful preparation for careers in fields such as Health and Social Care, the Armed and Domestic Forces or Education. AS and A-Level Psychology are taught discreetly. You will sit two AS examinations at the end of year one, to gain the AS qualification. You who continue with the course in year 2 will be reassessed on AS content and will sit three examinations at the end of year 2, to gain the A-Level qualification. At AS, topic 1 is Social Psychology. You will examine theories that try and explain why some people will blindly follow orders even if this means causing serious injury or death to another person. In addition, you will study the different explanations of what makes an individual prejudice against other groups in society. Topic 2 of the AS is Cognitive Psychology, which involves the study of memory. You will investigate different models of memory, which aim to explain how we form, store and retrieve memories. Individual differences in memory are also debated, questioning why some people demonstrate better memory recall than others. AS Topic 3 is Biological Psychology. During this topic, you will investigate the role of hormones, brain function and neurotransmitters in explaining human behaviour, such as aggression. In addition, we will question individual differences and whether aggression is a form of brain damage. Topic 4 at AS is Learning Theories, which focuses on whether human behaviour is innate or conditioned. You will explore the role of reinforcements in modifying and shaping behaviour and how learning theories can be used to explain the acquisition and extinction of phobias. Within each topic, you will study core course content, research methods, classic and contemporary studies, a key question of relevance to today’s society and conduct your own practical investigation. In year 2, the following additional topics will be studied: Clinical Psychology, Criminological Psychology and Psychological Skills. Mathematics skills are intrinsically embedded in both years of the A-Level and a considerable proportion of the final examination will assess mathematics skills.

For the A Level, three terminal examinations at end of year 13 (100% of the grade).

Paper 1: Foundations of Psychology (2 hours)

Paper 2: Applications of Psychology (2 hours).

Paper 3: Psychological skills (2 hours).

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

- Conduct own research

- Essay writing and application of skills

- Mathematics and Statistics

- Research, evaluation and analysis skills

Grade 5 in English Literature or Language

Grade 5 in Biology or Psychology or Double Science

Grade 4 in Mathematics