Should i choose psychology for A-level ?

Original post by Graviton-Pulse

I'm thinking of choosing psychology at A-level and only doing it for As (then drop it at A2).
I'm currently in year 11 and i'm doing 5 A-level next year. My definite ones are: Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Chemistry
For my fifth, i'm deciding between Geography, Biology and Psychology, and right now i'm in favor of doing psychology.
(I don't really need Psychology seeing as i only need Maths, Further Maths and Physics to do Physics at uni, but i have a free option so i thought, why not do an interesting subject like psychology? )

Well I do Human Biology, Psychology, Geography and Chemistry.
I think you should choose a subject that you are interested in for sure because A levels are very difficult and it would be good if you could have at least one subject to go to where you really enjoy it.. To sort of balance out the stress of how hard things are. If that makes sense haha!

In terms of Psychology, I could tell you about what I have studied so far in my AS units but, it always differs depending upon the exam board. So you should find out what exam board your sixth form offers and then let us know because there will definitely be someone on here who will be doing that one :smile:

Reply 2

OP

Original post by Herrington_x

Well I do Human Biology, Psychology, Geography and Chemistry. 
I think you should choose a subject that you are interested in for sure because A levels are very difficult and it would be good if you could have at least one subject to go to where you really enjoy it.. To sort of balance out the stress of how hard things are. If that makes sense haha! 
 
In terms of Psychology, I could tell you about what I have studied so far in my AS units but, it always differs depending upon the exam board. So you should find out what exam board your sixth form offers and then let us know because there will definitely be someone on here who will be doing that one <img src="images/smilies/smile.png" border="0" alt="" title=" :smile:

" smilieid="1" class="inlineimg" /> 
 
 
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I think my sixth form does OCR for psychology. For AS, the topics are cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology and individual difference - all of which I find interesting

Reply 3

Original post by Graviton-Pulse

I think my sixth form does OCR for psychology. For AS, the topics are cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology and individual difference - all of which I find interesting

Ah okay well I don't do OCR, I do AQA A Psychology.
However they are the same topics that I have studied at AS :smile:

As they are different exam boards, they are generally covering the same stuff but, there will be variations in what you have to know. So I have been told by my teachers previously anyway!

If you would like me to go into a little more detail about each topic I can.. But bare in mind that since you would be doing OCR it may be a little different :smile:

Reply 4

JJMS

Don't want to sound like I'm just being negative, but everyone that I know who does psychology and maths and science subjects hates it. I'd go for biology as it would fit in more nicely with your other subjects.

Reply 5

username845765

3

Original post by Graviton-Pulse

I'm thinking of choosing psychology at A-level and only doing it for As (then drop it at A2).
I'm currently in year 11 and i'm doing 5 A-level next year. My definite ones are: Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Chemistry
For my fifth, i'm deciding between Geography, Biology and Psychology, and right now i'm in favor of doing psychology.
(I don't really need Psychology seeing as i only need Maths, Further Maths and Physics to do Physics at uni, but i have a free option so i thought, why not do an interesting subject like psychology? )

It depends on what you want to do in the future and for uni. Your definite subjects are strong and I think it's a good idea for you to choose a softer subject as your 5th, especially if you plan on dropping it anyway (I also did Psychology for AS and planned to drop it)

I think this is a good idea...but it really depends on what you want to do for uni/job!

Reply 6

OP

Original post by Herrington_x

Ah okay well I don't do OCR, I do AQA A Psychology.
However they are the same topics that I have studied at AS :smile:

As they are different exam boards, they are generally covering the same stuff but, there will be variations in what you have to know. So I have been told by my teachers previously anyway!

If you would like me to go into a little more detail about each topic I can.. But bare in mind that since you would be doing OCR it may be a little different :smile:

On the sixth form website (psychology department) it says this:

AS LEVEL
Unit One
Cognitive Psychology
Memory: Short-term memory and long-term memory; Forgetting; Critical issue – eyewitness testimony.
Developmental Psychology
Attachment: The development and variety of attachments; Deprivation and privation; Critical issue – day care.
Research Methods: The understanding and application of scientific methods and techniques psychologists adopt when conducting research. This is integrated directly into the previous two sections.
Unit Two
Physiological Psychology
Stress: Stress as a bodily response; Sources of stress; Critical issue – stress management.
Social Psychology
Social Influence: Conformity and minority influence; Obedience to authority; Critical issue – Using conformity for social change
Individual Differences
Abnormality: Defining psychological abnormality; Biological and physiological models of abnormality; Critical issue – treatments of abnormality.

Reply 7

OP

Original post by JessicaGarlai

It depends on what you want to do in the future and for uni. Your definite subjects are strong and I think it's a good idea for you to choose a softer subject as your 5th, especially if you plan on dropping it anyway (I also did Psychology for AS and planned to drop it)

I think this is a good idea...but it really depends on what you want to do for uni/job!

i want to do Physics at uni - but i only need Maths, Further Maths and Physics to do it. Chemistry is another science which may help (in both the application process and for concepts in physics).
I have an extra option (since i have to do F. Maths as a 5th option) to do a "fun" subject.
Geography was an option for awhile since i currently do Geography, but i only enjoy physical geography (which is basically a mixture of physics, chemistry and biology - kinda!) :smile:

Original post by JJMS

Don't want to sound like I'm just being negative, but everyone that I know who does psychology and maths and science subjects hates it. I'd go for biology as it would fit in more nicely with your other subjects.

My first thought would be Biology, but there are many areas of Biology i don't find interesting, such as Plants (Botany) and Bio-geography, whereas i find almost all psychology subjects interesting (apart from research method - but that goes for all sciences).

Reply 8

username845765

3

Original post by Graviton-Pulse

i want to do Physics at uni - but i only need Maths, Further Maths and Physics to do it. Chemistry is another science which may help (in both the application process and for concepts in physics).
I have an extra option (since i have to do F. Maths as a 5th option) to do a "fun" subject.
Geography was an option for awhile since i currently do Geography, but i only enjoy physical geography (which is basically a mixture of physics, chemistry and biology - kinda!) :smile:

My first thought would be Biology, but there are many areas of Biology i don't find interesting, such as Plants (Botany) and Bio-geography, whereas i find almost all psychology subjects interesting (apart from research method - but that goes for all sciences).

in that case you should definitiely go for psychology! it's less demanding than biology and geography AND you're also interested in it! :smile:

Reply 9

Original post by Graviton-Pulse

On the sixth form website (psychology department) it says this:

AS LEVEL
Unit One
Cognitive Psychology
Memory: Short-term memory and long-term memory; Forgetting; Critical issue – eyewitness testimony.
Developmental Psychology
Attachment: The development and variety of attachments; Deprivation and privation; Critical issue – day care.
Research Methods: The understanding and application of scientific methods and techniques psychologists adopt when conducting research. This is integrated directly into the previous two sections.
Unit Two
Physiological Psychology
Stress: Stress as a bodily response; Sources of stress; Critical issue – stress management.
Social Psychology
Social Influence: Conformity and minority influence; Obedience to authority; Critical issue – Using conformity for social change
Individual Differences
Abnormality: Defining psychological abnormality; Biological and physiological models of abnormality; Critical issue – treatments of abnormality.

Well yea that is pretty much the same as what I have done but, a few of those things I don't do..

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Reply 10

Original post by Graviton-Pulse

My first thought would be Biology, but there are many areas of Biology i don't find interesting, such as Plants (Botany) and Bio-geography, whereas i find almost all psychology subjects interesting (apart from research method - but that goes for all sciences).

You should do Psychology then :smile:

Reply 11

Original post by JessicaGarlai

in that case you should definitiely go for psychology! it's less demanding than biology and geography AND you're also interested in it! :smile:

I do both Human Biology and Psychology and personally I don't think Psychology is less demanding aha! I would say its near enough the same because you have to remember a LOT of stuff for Psychology!
However it will differ from person to person :smile:

Reply 12

OP

Original post by Herrington_x

I do both Human Biology and Psychology and personally I don't think Psychology is less demanding aha! I would say its near enough the same because you have to remember a LOT of stuff for Psychology!
However it will differ from person to person :smile:

it's easier to remember things if you're interested in it - see, psychology! :biggrin:

Reply 13

iammichealjackson

18

Original post by JJMS

Don't want to sound like I'm just being negative, but everyone that I know who does psychology and maths and science subjects hates it. I'd go for biology as it would fit in more nicely with your other subjects.

I did maths, physics, psychology and english lit. Psychology essay writing is more fact based (naming studies, critiqueing them) than english lit, and is more similar to a long biology essay in some ways more than english literature. You don't need the same essay writing skills as you might in English Literature.

you've just got to know what to expect. A lot of it is memorizing study after study and memorizing criticisms of studies- so it DOES take a fair bit of revision, a similar amount to physics and maths, so it won't just be a "doss". I had to memorise more studies for A level psychology (1/4 of my A level course) than for DEGREE LEVEL psychology (at cambridge, 2/3 of my course this year), to put into perspective. Although now its much more based on being arguementative and reading alot.

Reply 14

Original post by Graviton-Pulse

it's easier to remember things if you're interested in it - see, psychology! :biggrin:

Yes you're correct :smile:

Reply 15

OP

Original post by Herrington_x

Yes you're correct :smile:

i do know a bit of psychology, like schema....and arousal level... - i've always been interested in how people work (mentally) :biggrin:

Reply 16

Original post by Graviton-Pulse

i do know a bit of psychology, like schema....and arousal level... - i've always been interested in how people work (mentally) :biggrin:

Then I'm sure you'll do well in psychology :smile:

Reply 17

Kayannk

I do Psychology (which I'm dropping at the end of this year) biology, ancient history and classics. I do a dfiferent exam board, WJEC, but I despise psychology. It's not nearly as interesting as I thought it would be and there is an absolutely ridiculous amount to remember.

I don't know if it's different with OCR but my advice would be that if you plan on taking it then be prepared for a ludicrous amount of information, dates, figures and names to remember :smile:

Reply 18

OP