|
|
|
Revision:GCE AQA A Psychology
From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > Psychology > GCE AQA A Psychology
AQA A Psychology GCEThe full specification is available here: [1] Specification (for examination in 2009): AS MODULE 1 - Cognitive Psychology- Human Memory: short-term memory and long-term memory; remembering and forgetting; Critical issue- eyewitness testimony. Developmental Psychology- Attachments in Development: the development and variety of attachments; deprivation and privation; Critical issue- day care. AS MODULE 2 - Physiological Psychology- Stress: stress as a bodily response; sources of stress; Critical issue-stress management. Individual Differences- Abnormality: defining psychological abnormality; biological and psychological models of abnormality; Critical issue- eating disorders. AS MODULE 3 - Social Psychology- Social influence: majority and minority influence; obedience to authority; Critical issue- ethical issues in psychological research. Research Methods- Quantitative and qualitative research methods; research design and implementation; data analysis. A2 MODULE 4 - A choice from; Social Psychology-Social cognition; Relationships; Pro- and anti-social behaviour. Physiological Psychology- Brain and behaviour; Biological rhythms, sleep and dreaming; Motivation and emotion. Cognitive Psychology- Attention and pattern recognition; Perceptual processes and development; Language and thought. Developmental Psychology- Cognitive development; Social and personality development; Adulthood. Comparative Psychology-Determinants of animal behaviour; Animal cognition; Evolutionary explanations of human behaviour. A2 MODULE 5 - Individual Differences- Issues in the classification and diagnosis of psychological abnormality; Psychopathology; Treating mental disorders. Perspectives- Issues/debates in Psychology; Approaches in Psychology to a novel situation or psychological phenomenon presented in stimulus material. A2 MODULE 6 - Planning an investigation
AS PsychologyI found this year fairly interesting. I initially started the course because it was a "filler" so to speak, and the only thing I could do in the blocks that i'd been given, so I wasn't intending on taking it to seriously. The ideas and concepts were easy to get my head round, and I used textbooks such as "Psychology AS The Complete Companion by Mike Cardwell" which really helped me with everything I needed to know. The marking for the AS course are slightly different for the A2 course. At AS, the examiners expect you to be achieving a third A01 marks, and two thirds A02 marks out of the total marks available per topic area. I'll explain what these are; AO1 Assessment objective one = knowledge and understanding of psychological theories, terminology, concepts, studies and methods and communication of knowledge and understanding of psychology in a clear and effective manner. AO2 Assessment objective two = analysis and evaluation of psychological theories, concepts, studies and methods and communication of knowledge and understanding of psychology in a clear and effective manner. During the AS exam, you do three modules, PYA1, PYA2, PYA3. For each module, there are two topics, and you are expected to answer one essay per topic. For each topic, you get a choice out of two questions, which are worth 30 marks each, and you pick one which you believe you are going to score the highest marks on. A specimen paper is here [2], and the corresponding mark scheme is here [3]. All the questions are parted a) b) and c). If the question is worth 3+3 marks, then it is 3 marks AO1, and 3 marks AO2. If the question is worth 6 marks, then it is 6 AO1 marks. If the question is worth 18 marks, then it is 6 marks A01, and 12 marks A02. When doing the exam, you need to take into account this, because they can only award you a maximum 12 marks for A02, so there is no point writing an entire page of evaluation exceeding 12 marks, because you will not be credited for it. To gain A01 marks, you need to write details about studies and theories, in particular the method used, and the findings drawn from the research/ or theories. During the AS course, you must also learn some APFCC's (aims, procedures, findings, conclusions and criticisms) which enable you to gain these A01 marks, so learn as many as you can. To gain A02 marks, you need to be evaluating how effective the research is, good phrases include: - This shows that... - Therefore.. - This is effective research as it.. - This research lacks ecological validity because.. - This research uses only male participants so can not be generalised because.. Per module paper, the papers are out of 60 + 2 marks for spelling and grammar etc.
A2 PsychologyI would advice you only to continue onto A2 psychology if you really enjoy the subject, because the amount you need to know does increase and it does get harder. If you can not be bothered with it then you won't get the best mark that you can achieve, and potentially just waste an A-level. But, it is fairly interesting, depending on what sections your teacher decides to teach you. But the good thing is, that your teacher will teach you about 3/4 topics, but you can choose which ones you want to learn out of the 3/4 topics, so you can focus on your strengths. Also, most of the things you learn are just building on your AS knowledge and the basic theories that you will have already come across (behavioural model, psychodynamic model) so it's not really new information. The marking criteria changes at A2 level, because they expect half A01 marks, and half A02 marks. Out of the paper, there are 5 sections (A, B, C, D, E) and you must answers 3 questions in total from 2 different sections. This means that you can either answer 2 questions from 1 section and 1 question from another, or 1 question from each of 3 different sections. On PYA4, each of the essays are out of 24 marks each, so thats a paper worth 72 marks + 4 marks for spelling grammar etc. An example of a PYA4 paper is here [4] and the corresponding mark scheme [5]. The questions for PYA4 are sometimes parted a) 12 marks, b) 12 marks, so you'd have to split your A01 marks as 6 AO1 and 6 marks AO2 per 12 mark question, but sometimes they are just straight forward 24 mark essay, so 12 AO1 marks and 12 AO2 marks. For PYA5, this paper is worth more as the essays are out of 30 marks, and the total paper is out of 94. A specimen paper is here [6] and the corresponding mark scheme is here [7]. This paper is seen as a synoptic paper, as it is bringing together all your knowledge of the entire course. You answer 1 question from section A, 1 question from section B, and 1 question from section C. Section C is lots of smaller questions that are based on a passage which you need to analyse and use your psychological knowledge to interpret.
Question papers and mark schemesQuestion papers come first, then corresponding mark scheme is next to it. PYA1: PYA2: PYA3:
PYA5:
Useful websites- http://www.s-cool.co.uk/topic_index.asp?subject_id=14 - http://www2.qeliz.ac.uk/psychology/ - http://www.revision-notes.co.uk/A_Level/Psychology/ | 
|
