Psychology AQA A PSYA3 19TH JAN 2012

OP

I just can't seem to decide which topics to cover, there are so many to decide from!

I will take a look at the ones you mentioned.

What are other people doing?

Reply 3

OP

Right I have settled on Relationships, Aggression and Eating-disorders as they seem to be the most easiest.

A bloody lot to remember however I must say; really quite scary.

Anyone have any revision notes for these? or model answers for any questions around this?

Has anyone started revising yet or just waiting on AS results still? :tongue:

Reply 4

I just did this for my A2 exams i did relationships, gender, cognition and development, addiction, phobias and research methods I cant remember what were for unit 3 or 4 but i covered these topics.. i have some A grade essays on them i did for homework so if you want them ill be happy to send
Also, i wouldnt consider topics like gender or cogntition and development.. boring and confusing!

Reply 5

OP

Original post by Summersun1

I just did this for my A2 exams i did relationships, gender, cognition and development, addiction, phobias and research methods I cant remember what were for unit 3 or 4 but i covered these topics.. i have some A grade essays on them i did for homework so if you want them ill be happy to send
Also, i wouldnt consider topics like gender or cogntition and development.. boring and confusing!

That would be great! I will send you a PM with my email address if thats ok?

Very much appreciated,

Reply 6

Original post by Mephestic

That would be great! I will send you a PM with my email address if thats ok?

Very much appreciated,

Yeah, sure thats fine ill send them later though need to sort them out first :smile:

Which did you want them for, you mentioned you were choosing relationships just for that one?

Reply 7

OP

Original post by Summersun1

Yeah, sure thats fine ill send them later though need to sort them out first :smile:

Which did you want them for, you mentioned you were choosing relationships just for that one?

I wouldnt mind all the notes, I havnt started on the other subjects yet as im still revising relationships so if your notes make it easier to do the subjects you chose i may do them instead :smile:

better to have them than not I figure,

thanks again, appreciate it,

!

:smile:

Reply 8

OP

Original post by Summersun1

Yeah, sure thats fine ill send them later though need to sort them out first :smile:

Which did you want them for, you mentioned you were choosing relationships just for that one?

Hey mate;

Any chance you could send the notes? :smile:

trying to get my head around relationships and im really struggling to understand the different elements and where the lines are drawn from one subject to another!

Reply 9

Original post by Mephestic

Hey mate;

Any chance you could send the notes? :smile:

trying to get my head around relationships and im really struggling to understand the different elements and where the lines are drawn from one subject to another!

Hii,
Sorry I haven't managed to send them yet! I went away then had my results and everything been busy! I'll send them shortly!

Reply 10

OP

Original post by Summersun1

Hii,
Sorry I haven't managed to send them yet! I went away then had my results and everything been busy! I'll send them shortly!

no worries mate,

how did you do on your results?

I did papers 1+2 for AS and got two A's!

Im being a bit lazy with revising for papers 3 + 4 at the moment...theres just so much i dont know where to begin..I may just start from the beginning and literally try memorise it all!

Reply 11

Original post by Mephestic

no worries mate,

how did you do on your results?

I did papers 1+2 for AS and got two A's!

Im being a bit lazy with revising for papers 3 + 4 at the moment...theres just so much i dont know where to begin..I may just start from the beginning and literally try memorise it all!

I got A*AAB got into my firm uni so im very happy :smile:

I messed up on pyschology though, i was expecting to because I didn't revise much but i managed to get an A in my unit 4 retake but I got an E in unit 3! lucky equalled out to a B because of high marks in the other 3 units!

Well done on your A's must be happy :smile:

Good luck with the memorising for unit 3 there is only set number of questions they can ask i would suggest making essays for each and basically memorising them as theres so many studies etc you just dont need to know

Just sorting out the essays now ill send them to your email address when im done!

Reply 12

OP

Original post by Summersun1

I got A*AAB got into my firm uni so im very happy :smile:

I messed up on pyschology though, i was expecting to because I didn't revise much but i managed to get an A in my unit 4 retake but I got an E in unit 3! lucky equalled out to a B because of high marks in the other 3 units!

Well done on your A's must be happy :smile:

Good luck with the memorising for unit 3 there is only set number of questions they can ask i would suggest making essays for each and basically memorising them as theres so many studies etc you just dont need to know

Just sorting out the essays now ill send them to your email address when im done!

Thanks mate,

By the way; do you know what questions came up in the June paper for Paper 3? for any of your topics?

Do you remember what they were so I can cross them out and focus on the others that havnt for revision! :smile:

It would really help!

thanks again mate, really appreciate it!

Reply 13

Original post by Mephestic

Thanks mate,

By the way; do you know what questions came up in the June paper for Paper 3? for any of your topics?

Do you remember what they were so I can cross them out and focus on the others that havnt for revision! :smile:

It would really help!

thanks again mate, really appreciate it!

I can't remember expect for relationships it was only one questions on the effects of early experiences on adult relationships and for gender one of the questions was on androgyny but our teacher said it was the last year they was doing it so probably why it came up

I'll post back on here if i remember anymore!

Reply 14

OP

Original post by Summersun1

I can't remember expect for relationships it was only one questions on the effects of early experiences on adult relationships and for gender one of the questions was on androgyny but our teacher said it was the last year they was doing it so probably why it came up

I'll post back on here if i remember anymore!

Thank you so much Sophie, appreciate it!! :smile:

X

It seems I may have to memorise about 10-13 essay questions just to cover all the possible ones that may come up over the 3 topics (did you try memorise that many?)

Im thinking maybe evolutionary reasons for group displays of aggression may come up...either that or how genes affect aggression...them two havnt come up yet I dont think (the genes one did in june 2010 however as a 4 marker).

god there is just so much...man...

Reply 15

OP

Model Answer - Describe and evaluate at least two evolutionary reasons for the display of aggres.doc41.5KB

Iv got a model answer I have been working on for:

Evolutionary explanations of two types of group displays of aggression.

Anyone want to take a look and give some feedback?

Im trying to summerize it and memorise it; anyone able to tell me if its any good to cover full marks (25 marks)

?

Reply 16

nikid2301

Original post by Mephestic

Alright folks!

I thought I would create this thread early for those that want to get a head start on revision.

I really found the psya1 & psya2 threads helpful and enjoyed the conversation and support we gave each other; Hopefully we can continue that in this thread.

So as mentioned in the previous threads im a private candidate working full-time and was studying the AS for psychology in every spare moment I could get.

papers 1+2 took a lot of effort juggling everything so im hoping to get an early start on papers 3+4.

I noticed however that the format of these papers are different? You dont answer all the questions but seem to specialise in certain topics and choose which area to learn?

Can someone shed some light on this for me? Being a private candidate with no teacher I have no one to really ask about this apart from you guys!

What topics do people tend to recommend also?

:smile:

Hi I am starting Psychology AS now as a private candidate. hoping to complete the AS in Jan and the A2 at the end of the year. can you give me any advice. Which ooks you used etc. also how did you find the course so far?

Reply 17

OP

Original post by nikid2301

Hi I am starting Psychology AS now as a private candidate. hoping to complete the AS in Jan and the A2 at the end of the year. can you give me any advice. Which ooks you used etc. also how did you find the course so far?

Yes for sure. Where to begin...so much to say..ok..here goes.

Studying on my own wasn't too difficult but its initially getting the structure of it all in your head that's the first step.

It seems your sitting an exam and "anything" can come up - so what do you revise? First step is getting the Specification for the papers which outlines the topics they can ask questions on.

Which exam board are you doing it with? I recommend AQA as the specification and previous past papers and mark schemes are freely available on the website.

The specification paper will tell you the topics and possible areas the questions will be based on; So for paper 1 (PSYA1) it seems its Cognitive psychology, developmental psychology and research methods.

For paper 2 (PSYA2) its Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences.

Start with paper 1 and then once you have gone over it sufficiently - move on to paper 2. Once you have learnt the topics in that - keep going over both by re-writing answers, doing past papers etc.

Now most importantly - Spend every free moment you have revising and re-writing everything - you must feel guilt every time you sit down and are doing something other than revising in your spare time.

Your aim is to get at least an hours revision done minimum every day but preferably 2 hours.

Every time you say to yourself anything to distract yourself from revising (such as i'l do it tomorrow, later etc) you need to challenge these thoughts and say (No I have to get it done now, im just being lazy etc)

That should help keep motivating yourself through it.

You start one topic at a time - keep re-writing each area until you know it by heart.

While your revising try do the past papers after you have soaked in some knowledge and check your answers against the mark scheme.

Checking the mark scheme is important as it gets you into the style of answering the questions as THEY WANT THEM as normally you would think you have put enough but it isnt usually enough for the full marks as the mark scheme wants you to elaborate - So keep practicing with that as it will get you use to answering the questions in the correct style.

As for books I used - strangely this book was enough for paper 1: http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-Psychology-Cognitive-Develpmental-Research/dp/0340966726/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1315130247&sr=8-11

but I wouldnt recommend it alone as I found out quite late on it only shows a basic layout of things - but its a good place to start.

I recommend this book along with it:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Psychology-AS-AQA-Mike-Cardwell/dp/0007255039/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1315130247&sr=8-4

Im told that one is quite good - I havnt used it myself but I have the A2 version of the book which im using alongside another for papers 3+4 and it has heeps of information it seems.

Also it can be used for paper 2 but I also got this one to supplement it: http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-Psychology-Cognitive-Develpmental-Research/dp/0340966726/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1315130247&sr=8-11

Them three should help you enough to get a decent understanding of the AS level.

It really isnt difficult at all - I pulled out two A's in 3 months revision while working full time in this way - its just about the amount of effort you put in and ensuring your mind if focused on it.

My tips on revision worked for me and I dont know how well they will work for you - but I think its pretty fool-proof if you are 100% committed which I was.

re-writing everything just keeps your mind constantly active and remembers more - while your writing things out say them out loud and try and take in what your saying - this will allow you to process things deeper and even when I was writing stuff I didn't fully understand - Saying them out loud, re-writing it constantly suddenly allowed all of it to "click" and you somehow do manage to understand what your writing simply through practice.

I think its like Schema theory - your developing a new schema of understanding and at first its difficult to comprehend but through experience (and practice) you create a one that allows for better understanding and a new viewpoint.

Let me know if you need any help, glad to help others too.

Edit:

Forgot to mention; the previous past papers will show you the 12 marker questions that have come up - try hedge your bets on what hasnt come up and its likely that may do.
The last one I believe was on Eye witness testimony and how age affects this - for paper 2 it was what factors influence independant behaviour (how people resist conforming/authority basically)

The previous threads on papers 1 and 2 were quite long but it had a lot of guesses on what may come up - might be a good idea to skim through them to see how the conversations developed on possible questions.

I think that AS book (the one with the blue eye on it) that I recommended may give an outline of possible 12 marker questions that can come up (the A2 version does) and that should help. Those other smaller books dont do that which was a big drawback but they outline things in easier to digest ways.

Oh and lastly - IT IS POSSIBLE to do this on your own and do well - your ability and potential is limited only by your imagination.

A quote I came up with :smile:

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 18

nikid2301

Original post by Mephestic

Yes for sure. Where to begin...so much to say..ok..here goes.

Studying on my own wasn't too difficult but its initially getting the structure of it all in your head that's the first step.

Oh and lastly - IT IS POSSIBLE to do this on your own and do well - your ability and potential is limited only by your imagination.

A quote I came up with :smile:

Thank you so much for the help I am doing Psychology A with AQA. (couldn't really see the difference between A and B personally)
I was going to get the books with the eye on the front but wanted to check it was the most helpful. I have got some unit books out of the library which are really helpful for a starter. having had a good look at them I think I may buy my own copies. I will buy my books and start my revision.
let me know how you find unit 3 and 4 as they seem alot more in depth.

Reply 19

OP