sociology or psych alevel
Ok, help a girl out. Im thinking of taking the sociology or psych alevel exam this year instead of what i originally took chem and math, just cuz those are incredible headaches of a subject and from what ive heard, sociology and psych seem to be way more relaxed, especially sociology. Can anyone whose taken these subjects tell me their opinion on this situation and how you dealt with the subject; how easy was it to revise for and get all the content down. I've always been better at essay type subjects and for psych I know there's alot of content, but I also know it's not as difficult as the subjects I have taken. Can anyone note down which exam board you think is best for me to take for each of these subjects and your overall thoughts. Thank you.
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Original post by georgezra34
Ok, help a girl out. Im thinking of taking the sociology or psych alevel exam this year instead of what i originally took chem and math, just cuz those are incredible headaches of a subject and from what ive heard, sociology and psych seem to be way more relaxed, especially sociology. Can anyone whose taken these subjects tell me their opinion on this situation and how you dealt with the subject; how easy was it to revise for and get all the content down. I've always been better at essay type subjects and for psych I know there's alot of content, but I also know it's not as difficult as the subjects I have taken. Can anyone note down which exam board you think is best for me to take for each of these subjects and your overall thoughts. Thank you.
Hi, @georgezra34
I hope you are well! 😊
Thought I'd hop on here as I took both Psychology and Sociology at A-level (as well as criminology). 🙂
Both subjects are what actually led me to do Social Science at uni (I'm now going into my third year!). I really enjoyed both, and couldn't decide between them! So decided to do a mixture of all three (Sociology, Psychology, and Criminology).
Whilst I can't comment on the workload difference between Psychology, Sociology and Maths, Chemistry (because I didn't take the other two, and wasn't very good at them either🤭) I can give a bit of insight into Psychology and Sociology and the difference between them.
For Psychology, I was under AQA, and really enjoyed it! There was a lot of content, and while I'm not sure if it has changed, you were required to know key studies (aims, methods, results, and evaluation) and there were quite a lot, however, I found the content really interesting. In addition, the exams included questions on key theories, definitions, and key approaches. From my memory, I did units on research methods, memory, attachment, forensics, and the psychological approaches (Behaviourism, Psychodynamic, Biological etc). As I've said, there was quite a lot of content, and when it came to revision, there was lots to revise, but I made use of flashcards (writing down the key parts of studies and evaluations), AQA revision youtube videos, and revision sessions at school. From my memory, the exam had different sections for different topics/units, so it was required that you knew content for each of the sections.
For Sociology, I was under WJEC, and also really enjoyed it! As with Psychology, there was a lot of content, and essays to be writing, so if you like essays and longer pieces of discussion/debate, Sociology could be for you! From my memory, there were was a unit on research methods, key thinkers (e.g. Karl Marx) and one on key perspectives (e.g. Marxism, Feminism, Postmodernism, Functionalism). The exam often asked longer answer questions which needed you to know more than one perspective, and debate/discuss the question in relation to multiple perspectives (e.g. a question on what the function of education is, could draw on Functionalist, Marxist and Feminist perspectives). With Sociology, I used similar revision methods, such as using revision cards, reading textbooks for key thinkers and ideas, and overall just re-reading content to memorise it. With both Psychology and Sociology, there is a lot of content, and the essays (Sociology) and longer answer questions (Psychology) require you to be quick to recall information and write coherent and evaluative answers.
Comparing both subjects, I would say they are both on the heavy content side, and are both essay heavy, more so with Sociology. I wouldn't like to comment on what is easier! Just because each subject comes with it's difficulties, and both can be difficult to get your head around sometimes, especially with studies and research methods in psychology, and perspectives in Sociology. I would say that revision books are definitely handy though for both subjects! For Psychology, I used the AQA one, and found it really helpful! And for Sociology, I used the WJEC one. Both of which are a bit expensive new, but can be picked up second hand for much cheaper!
I would suggest thinking about what subject will suit you better, because while they are both Social Sciences, they are different and Psychology has more of a research focus I would say, and Sociology, more of a theory/perspective focus. In addition, your choice might depending on what career you would like to go into, or if you are looking to go to university.
I hope this helps! Sorry it's not a definite answer, and I can't comment on it's comparison to Chemistry or Maths, but I've really enjoyed studying both!
Please get back to me if you have any other questions!
Good luck! 😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
(edited 3 weeks ago)
Original post by University of Kent
Hi, @georgezra34
I hope you are well! 😊
Thought I'd hop on here as I took both Psychology and Sociology at A-level (as well as criminology). 🙂
Both subjects are what actually led me to do Social Science at uni (I'm now going into my third year!). I really enjoyed both, and couldn't decide between them! So decided to do a mixture of all three (Sociology, Psychology, and Criminology).
Whilst I can't comment on the workload difference between Psychology, Sociology and Maths, Chemistry (because I didn't take the other two, and wasn't very good at them either🤭) I can give a bit of insight into Psychology and Sociology and the difference between them.
For Psychology, I was under AQA, and really enjoyed it! There was a lot of content, and while I'm not sure if it has changed, you were required to know key studies (aims, methods, results, and evaluation) and there were quite a lot, however, I found the content really interesting. In addition, the exams included questions on key theories, definitions, and key approaches. From my memory, I did units on research methods, memory, attachment, forensics, and the psychological approaches (Behaviourism, Psychodynamic, Biological etc). As I've said, there was quite a lot of content, and when it came to revision, there was lots to revise, but I made use of flashcards (writing down the key parts of studies and evaluations), AQA revision youtube videos, and revision sessions at school. From my memory, the exam had different sections for different topics/units, so it was required that you knew content for each of the sections.
For Sociology, I was under WJEC, and also really enjoyed it! As with Psychology, there was a lot of content, and essays to be writing, so if you like essays and longer pieces of discussion/debate, Sociology could be for you! From my memory, there were was a unit on research methods, key thinkers (e.g. Karl Marx) and one on key perspectives (e.g. Marxism, Feminism, Postmodernism, Functionalism). The exam often asked longer answer questions which needed you to know more than one perspective, and debate/discuss the question in relation to multiple perspectives (e.g. a question on what the function of education is, could draw on Functionalist, Marxist and Feminist perspectives). With Sociology, I used similar revision methods, such as using revision cards, reading textbooks for key thinkers and ideas, and overall just re-reading content to memorise it. With both Psychology and Sociology, there is a lot of content, and the essays (Sociology) and longer answer questions (Psychology) require you to be quick to recall information and write coherent and evaluative answers.
Comparing both subjects, I would say they are both on the heavy content side, and are both essay heavy, more so with Sociology. I wouldn't like to comment on what is easier! Just because each subject comes with it's difficulties, and both can be difficult to get your head around sometimes, especially with studies and research methods in psychology, and perspectives in Sociology. I would say that revision books are definitely handy though for both subjects! For Psychology, I used the AQA one, and found it really helpful! And for Sociology, I used the WJEC one. Both of which are a bit expensive new, but can be picked up second hand for much cheaper!
I would suggest thinking about what subject will suit you better, because while they are both Social Sciences, they are different and Psychology has more of a research focus I would say, and Sociology, more of a theory/perspective focus. In addition, your choice might depending on what career you would like to go into, or if you are looking to go to university.
I hope this helps! Sorry it's not a definite answer, and I can't comment on it's comparison to Chemistry or Maths, but I've really enjoyed studying both!
Please get back to me if you have any other questions!
Good luck! 😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
I hope you are well! 😊
Thought I'd hop on here as I took both Psychology and Sociology at A-level (as well as criminology). 🙂
Both subjects are what actually led me to do Social Science at uni (I'm now going into my third year!). I really enjoyed both, and couldn't decide between them! So decided to do a mixture of all three (Sociology, Psychology, and Criminology).
Whilst I can't comment on the workload difference between Psychology, Sociology and Maths, Chemistry (because I didn't take the other two, and wasn't very good at them either🤭) I can give a bit of insight into Psychology and Sociology and the difference between them.
For Psychology, I was under AQA, and really enjoyed it! There was a lot of content, and while I'm not sure if it has changed, you were required to know key studies (aims, methods, results, and evaluation) and there were quite a lot, however, I found the content really interesting. In addition, the exams included questions on key theories, definitions, and key approaches. From my memory, I did units on research methods, memory, attachment, forensics, and the psychological approaches (Behaviourism, Psychodynamic, Biological etc). As I've said, there was quite a lot of content, and when it came to revision, there was lots to revise, but I made use of flashcards (writing down the key parts of studies and evaluations), AQA revision youtube videos, and revision sessions at school. From my memory, the exam had different sections for different topics/units, so it was required that you knew content for each of the sections.
For Sociology, I was under WJEC, and also really enjoyed it! As with Psychology, there was a lot of content, and essays to be writing, so if you like essays and longer pieces of discussion/debate, Sociology could be for you! From my memory, there were was a unit on research methods, key thinkers (e.g. Karl Marx) and one on key perspectives (e.g. Marxism, Feminism, Postmodernism, Functionalism). The exam often asked longer answer questions which needed you to know more than one perspective, and debate/discuss the question in relation to multiple perspectives (e.g. a question on what the function of education is, could draw on Functionalist, Marxist and Feminist perspectives). With Sociology, I used similar revision methods, such as using revision cards, reading textbooks for key thinkers and ideas, and overall just re-reading content to memorise it. With both Psychology and Sociology, there is a lot of content, and the essays (Sociology) and longer answer questions (Psychology) require you to be quick to recall information and write coherent and evaluative answers.
Comparing both subjects, I would say they are both on the heavy content side, and are both essay heavy, more so with Sociology. I wouldn't like to comment on what is easier! Just because each subject comes with it's difficulties, and both can be difficult to get your head around sometimes, especially with studies and research methods in psychology, and perspectives in Sociology. I would say that revision books are definitely handy though for both subjects! For Psychology, I used the AQA one, and found it really helpful! And for Sociology, I used the WJEC one. Both of which are a bit expensive new, but can be picked up second hand for much cheaper!
I would suggest thinking about what subject will suit you better, because while they are both Social Sciences, they are different and Psychology has more of a research focus I would say, and Sociology, more of a theory/perspective focus. In addition, your choice might depending on what career you would like to go into, or if you are looking to go to university.
I hope this helps! Sorry it's not a definite answer, and I can't comment on it's comparison to Chemistry or Maths, but I've really enjoyed studying both!
Please get back to me if you have any other questions!
Good luck! 😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
Thanks so much for the response, I just wanted to ask a few more things if you don't mind. So for sociology specifically, although it's content heavy, would you say the content is quite straight forward and easy to understand? For comparison, I took biology and it was also very content heavy, but in a way that was quite difficult. It was content that I actively had to make great efforts to remember because it wasn't anything particularly interesting if you know what I mean. Do you see the content in sociology as easy to remember and with the proper flashcards, you can get it down? I know you don't know me or much about my situation, but if you were able to put yourself in my shoes, would you recommend me taking sociology instead of one of my previously taken subjects, i.e. chem or math. Do you think I would be able to get down the content and come out with all As in just one year (instead of the usual two) if I stick to a strict timetable, or am I just kidding myself? I also wouldn't have the support of any teachers, it would just be me. Since I was at sixth form last year, I know a lot of year 13s don't actually begin revision until a few months before exams, which is why I somewhat feel like I do have an advantage just because I'm at home and don't have to go through the long school days that usually tire out students enough for them to not revise when they get home. But also I want the opinion from the viewpoint of someone who actually took these subjects. I have to say flashcards are my best friend and I'm not too bad at making them. Based on you and your previous classmates experience, what do you think? Also, would taking both sociology and psychology be too difficult from your stance? Same question for psych, is it difficult or just a subject that requires time and effort? Sorry, I know I'm rambling, just want to make the right choice and don't have much time to make it. I'm still debating careers and unis, and honestly I'm at a crossroads whilst also having an existential crisis. I appreciate your response though, thanks so much josie
(edited 3 weeks ago)
Original post by georgezra34
Thanks so much for the response, I just wanted to ask a few more things if you don't mind. So for sociology specifically, although it's content heavy, would you say the content is quite straight forward and easy to understand? For comparison, I took biology and it was also very content heavy, but in a way that was quite difficult. It was content that I actively had to make great efforts to remember because it wasn't anything particularly interesting if you know what I mean. Do you see the content in sociology as easy to remember and with the proper flashcards, you can get it down? I know you don't know me or much about my situation, but if you were able to put yourself in my shoes, would you recommend me taking sociology instead of one of my previously taken subjects, i.e. chem or math. Do you think I would be able to get down the content and come out with all As in just one year (instead of the usual two) if I stick to a strict timetable, or am I just kidding myself? I also wouldn't have the support of any teachers, it would just be me. Since I was at sixth form last year, I know a lot of year 13s don't actually begin revision until a few months before exams, which is why I somewhat feel like I do have an advantage just because I'm at home and don't have to go through the long school days that usually tire out students enough for them to not revise when they get home. But also I want the opinion from the viewpoint of someone who actually took these subjects. I have to say flashcards are my best friend and I'm not too bad at making them. Based on you and your previous classmates experience, what do you think? Also, would taking both sociology and psychology be too difficult from your stance? Same question for psych, is it difficult or just a subject that requires time and effort? Sorry, I know I'm rambling, just want to make the right choice and don't have much time to make it. I'm still debating careers and unis, and honestly I'm at a crossroads whilst also having an existential crisis. I appreciate your response though, thanks so much josie
Hi, @georgezra34
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you! I hope you are well!
Yes of course, questions are always welcome😊
In relation to your question about how easy Sociology is compared to other subjects, I wouldn't like to say, as people learn differently, for example, some people, like me, might prefer writing subjects to maths or science. However, I can give you my experience, and this might help if you are similar to me! Throughout school I wasn't such a good learner with numbers, and while I thought Science was interesting, I didn't do as well in it because I struggled with the content and found it hard to wrap my head around content in Chemistry, Biology, and certainly Physics, for example. So, I would say, that if you are more of a writing subject lover, and like to debate different sides of an argument, like to read, and be creative and open to different perspectives and ideas, then Sociology might be for you.
For a bit of insight into the content of Sociology, here is a WJEC perspectives of education resourse, which might give you an idea of some of the content, the difficulty of the content to understand, and how you might find teaching this to yourself, as I know you said that you wouldn't have the support of teachers.
In relation to your question about learning the content in a year, I learned the content for both Psychology and sociology in two years, with support from teachers. I would say that there is a lot of content, and there was lots of learning across the two years, so I wouldn't like to say what it would be like learning it all in a year. While not impossible, I think a lot of hours studying, revising and reading would be required to get an A. However, with that being said, if you had an effective schedule that you worked to, which included dedication, commitment, lots of breaks, and down-time, it could be possible! I suppose you may have more time than other A-Level students, as they would be in lessons etc, but it's important to have those breaks and down-time as you don't want to burnout! I would say that looking at the specifications is key to knowing what you need to learn, and practicing exam papers/looking over mark schemes for past papers is key to preparing for exams too!
Could I ask, why won't you have the support of any teachers or tutors? Don't feel that you have to answer, but it would be helpful to know if you feel comfortable sharing, as there may be other ways of getting support, like from a private tutor, or I could direct you to some useful resources that I used. 😊
In relation to your question about taking Psychology and Sociology together, I enjoyed taking both, just because i loved both subjects! I would say they are very different, and the style of writing essays was different from my experience. As I said, Psychology has a more scientific research focus, and Sociology, a more theory based approach, but I felt that they went nice together. However, I would say that the content is not transferrable between the subjects, which is something to be aware of! Lastly, again, with Sociology, I would say that with Psychology, there is some content (research methods for me, and Biopsychology) which I found tricky to get my head around. - But not impossible because I did it!
In relation to taking one or both, instead of Maths/Science, I would say go with what you are most interested in! Psychology and Sociology can be newer subjects (for example, you do maths and science primary through to secondary- and not Psychology and Sociology), so I would suggest going with the subjects you feel most confident in too, as if you are learning independently, depending on what type of learner you are, you want to be confident in understanding what you are reading.
I would definitely say that flash cards are a great resource for revision for both subjects, so that's great if you like those! Writing short, snappy, key pieces of information (such as theories, studies etc), is a great way to recall the content! With both subjects, alongside any A-Level, I think a lot of work, dedication, and revision is needed to get A grades, but this shouldn't put you off, because I'm sure that whatever you put your mind to, you will achieve!😊
I was also going to say- it's completely okay to feel at a crossroads when choosing A-level subjects, or deciding if you want to go to university. I felt like this, and wasn't sure if I even wanted to go to university! But I chose what I was most interested in, and found it so interesting that I pursued my A-level subjects at uni! So I'm sure your choices will fall into place!😊
I hope this helps, and hope I've covered all your questions! Please let me know if you have any other questions or need any other clarification! I can also dig out some youtube videos that I used for revision if this is something you are interested in. These can also be a great to watch as a taster and see if the subject is for you!- I did this when choosing my subjects.
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
Hi, sorry to jump into the conversation, but I’m at a similar crossroads. I’m a private candidate preparing for university, where I’ll be studying psychology. I have limited time to prepare and I’m unsure which subject to choose. Originally, I was considering Religious Studies, but someone told me it involves covering three separate topics, which would be hard to manage in the time I have. Although I have a background in islam.
Now, I’m torn between Sociology or Psychology. I don’t mind writing essays, but I’m not a big fan of theories. I’m feeling confused about what to do next. I want to take the subject, where I can learn and then simply apply.
Now, I’m torn between Sociology or Psychology. I don’t mind writing essays, but I’m not a big fan of theories. I’m feeling confused about what to do next. I want to take the subject, where I can learn and then simply apply.
(edited 2 weeks ago)
Original post by mxalikhxbxh
Hi, sorry to jump into the conversation, but I’m at a similar crossroads. I’m a private candidate preparing for university, where I’ll be studying psychology. I have limited time to prepare and I’m unsure which subject to choose. Originally, I was considering Religious Studies, but someone told me it involves covering three separate topics, which would be hard to manage in the time I have. Although I have a background in islam.
Now, I’m torn between Sociology or Psychology. I don’t mind writing essays, but I’m not a big fan of theories. I’m feeling confused about what to do next. I want to take the subject, where I can learn and then simply apply.
Now, I’m torn between Sociology or Psychology. I don’t mind writing essays, but I’m not a big fan of theories. I’m feeling confused about what to do next. I want to take the subject, where I can learn and then simply apply.
Hi, @mxalikhxbxh
I hope you are well! 😊
No need to say sorry! All questions are welcome, that's what the Student Room is for!
While I don't have much knowledge with Religious Studies because I did not take it at A-level, you could always look up the specification for the exams you will be sitting to see what content needs to be covered. It's hard to say about the workload as I have't studied Religious Studies, but if you have a background in Islam, then you might know some of the content already! - but it's important to check the specification first for the specifics that they want to see.
As you said that you would like to study Psychology at University, I would lean more towards studying Psychology at A-level, more than Sociology, as I found that having a background in Psychology, and knowing/being aware if the basics, has really helped me during my degree, and especially my Psychology modules (I do Social Science). From my memory, I covered quite a few different subjects at A-level in Psychology (Approaches e.g.Biopsychology, Behaviourism, Forensics, Social Influence, Attachment) which I have touched upon at university. I also touched upon research methods at A-level, which really helped with understanding studies at university, and is a big part of Psychology too. So, I would suggest that if you love Psychology, and would like to pursue it at uni, then A-level Psychology would be a great place to start to get some basic foundation knowledge.
In relation to your question about where you can learn and apply the content, I'm not too confident on this, as I did my A-levels at Sixth Form, and not as a private entrant, but I know that you can do an Access to Higher Education course at colleges, which would provide you with learning support and A-level equivalents, which you could use to apply for university. You could also check out some threads on the Student Room where students have asked about this.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
(edited 2 weeks ago)
Hi, Thankyou so much
I’m very well, hoping you are too.
By learning and applying knowledge, I mean to say that I’d like to do the subject where I can learn from the books and apply it straight away. As in I can follow a plan to make sense, sociology doesn’t have that. Apparently it can be a 30 marker where as psychology has set marks. And so does religious studies.
So now my decision lies between them all. Someone said RS is more broken up. And sociology or psychology makes more sense. Content wise, which would u say is easier to cover? I’ve got a lot of psychology knowledge already, as in application not philosophical. So at university I should be okay. However, I’m already doing a btec which is 2 a levels. So I want to do something that is easier to complete in the time I have.
Seeing as you’ve done both, which would you say? I really appreciate your input! As in this moment in time, I’m more concerned with covering the content and being able to apply it. Is the 30 marker true about sociology? I’m aware of where to do my exam, I’ve found a center. I’m just interested in seeing which subject is more relevant in the sense of knowing the knowledge and therefore straight applying it.
The only reason I need to do this a level, is because my actual course is 2 a levels only. And I want and need to do 3. Hence the concern of trying to decide which one.
I’m very well, hoping you are too.
By learning and applying knowledge, I mean to say that I’d like to do the subject where I can learn from the books and apply it straight away. As in I can follow a plan to make sense, sociology doesn’t have that. Apparently it can be a 30 marker where as psychology has set marks. And so does religious studies.
So now my decision lies between them all. Someone said RS is more broken up. And sociology or psychology makes more sense. Content wise, which would u say is easier to cover? I’ve got a lot of psychology knowledge already, as in application not philosophical. So at university I should be okay. However, I’m already doing a btec which is 2 a levels. So I want to do something that is easier to complete in the time I have.
Seeing as you’ve done both, which would you say? I really appreciate your input! As in this moment in time, I’m more concerned with covering the content and being able to apply it. Is the 30 marker true about sociology? I’m aware of where to do my exam, I’ve found a center. I’m just interested in seeing which subject is more relevant in the sense of knowing the knowledge and therefore straight applying it.
The only reason I need to do this a level, is because my actual course is 2 a levels only. And I want and need to do 3. Hence the concern of trying to decide which one.
Original post by georgezra34
Ok, help a girl out. Im thinking of taking the sociology or psych alevel exam this year instead of what i originally took chem and math, just cuz those are incredible headaches of a subject and from what ive heard, sociology and psych seem to be way more relaxed, especially sociology. Can anyone whose taken these subjects tell me their opinion on this situation and how you dealt with the subject; how easy was it to revise for and get all the content down. I've always been better at essay type subjects and for psych I know there's alot of content, but I also know it's not as difficult as the subjects I have taken. Can anyone note down which exam board you think is best for me to take for each of these subjects and your overall thoughts. Thank you.
Hey! Switching from Chem and Math to Sociology or Psych sounds like a chill move, especially if you like essay-based exams. I think that Sociology is more about understanding concepts and relating them to real-world cases, which can be super engaging if you’re into that sort of thing. It’s definitely less of a memory game compared to subjects like Biology, and more about applying ideas.
Psychology does have a fair bit of content to get through, but it’s fascinating stuff. You’ll need to remember various studies and theories, but it's not as intense as the hardcore memorization in Chem. It’s more about understanding experiments and their implications. If you’re good at essays, you’ll probably find the exam approach pretty manageable since it’s all about articulating your thoughts clearly and backing them up with evidence.
As for exam boards, I'm not too sure.
One thing I'd recommend doing is take a question from last year exams and write down a quick essay on Tilf website. Then check which subject you get a better grade for, maybe that's an indication of your starting level and gives you an idea how much work you'll have to put in in order to get top grades. Actually you can do this also across exam boards to see how the different exam baords give you different grades, and which one matches your writing style most.
Original post by lohiba
Hey! Switching from Chem and Math to Sociology or Psych sounds like a chill move, especially if you like essay-based exams. I think that Sociology is more about understanding concepts and relating them to real-world cases, which can be super engaging if you’re into that sort of thing. It’s definitely less of a memory game compared to subjects like Biology, and more about applying ideas.
Psychology does have a fair bit of content to get through, but it’s fascinating stuff. You’ll need to remember various studies and theories, but it's not as intense as the hardcore memorization in Chem. It’s more about understanding experiments and their implications. If you’re good at essays, you’ll probably find the exam approach pretty manageable since it’s all about articulating your thoughts clearly and backing them up with evidence.
As for exam boards, I'm not too sure.
One thing I'd recommend doing is take a question from last year exams and write down a quick essay on Tilf website. Then check which subject you get a better grade for, maybe that's an indication of your starting level and gives you an idea how much work you'll have to put in in order to get top grades. Actually you can do this also across exam boards to see how the different exam baords give you different grades, and which one matches your writing style most.
Psychology does have a fair bit of content to get through, but it’s fascinating stuff. You’ll need to remember various studies and theories, but it's not as intense as the hardcore memorization in Chem. It’s more about understanding experiments and their implications. If you’re good at essays, you’ll probably find the exam approach pretty manageable since it’s all about articulating your thoughts clearly and backing them up with evidence.
As for exam boards, I'm not too sure.
One thing I'd recommend doing is take a question from last year exams and write down a quick essay on Tilf website. Then check which subject you get a better grade for, maybe that's an indication of your starting level and gives you an idea how much work you'll have to put in in order to get top grades. Actually you can do this also across exam boards to see how the different exam baords give you different grades, and which one matches your writing style most.
I’m basically at square one for both those subjects to be honest with you so i don’t think i’ll do well on either of the questions but I’ll definitely give that a try thank you. Just wanted to ask if you could put you take yourself in my shoes and had to choose a subject with less content or the least amount of time to prep for, which would you go for? Keep in mind Id have two other subjects. Or would you take a risk and take both socio and psych but then these are two completely new subjects in comparison to the two you already took, and only less then a year to prepare. Honest thoughts please. And thank you so much for the help.
Original post by georgezra34
Ok, help a girl out. Im thinking of taking the sociology or psych alevel exam this year instead of what i originally took chem and math, just cuz those are incredible headaches of a subject and from what ive heard, sociology and psych seem to be way more relaxed, especially sociology. Can anyone whose taken these subjects tell me their opinion on this situation and how you dealt with the subject; how easy was it to revise for and get all the content down. I've always been better at essay type subjects and for psych I know there's alot of content, but I also know it's not as difficult as the subjects I have taken. Can anyone note down which exam board you think is best for me to take for each of these subjects and your overall thoughts. Thank you.
@georgezra34
Hi
I did a degree in one and a masters in the other, and hands down I prefer Sociology, however, a lot of this is linked to progression opportunities. To be a psychologist in the UK you need to go on and do doctorate level study, and a lot of people fall by the way side before 7 years studying is over - there is also limited opportunities. There are opportunities for management graduate programs in the private sector with big blue chip companies who seem to like psychology graduates.
Sociology is seen to be less sciency which is why a degree in that is usually a BA (Hons) rather than BSc (Hons). I found it easier, and as a subject a bit less hierarchical in the sense that psychology is often about doing experiments on people, sociology is more about observing people. There is certainly overlap between the two with social psychology thrown into the mix.
They are both pretty essay based, but going forward Universities are embracing different assessment methods a lot more
Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador
Original post by mxalikhxbxh
Hi, Thankyou so much
I’m very well, hoping you are too.
By learning and applying knowledge, I mean to say that I’d like to do the subject where I can learn from the books and apply it straight away. As in I can follow a plan to make sense, sociology doesn’t have that. Apparently it can be a 30 marker where as psychology has set marks. And so does religious studies.
So now my decision lies between them all. Someone said RS is more broken up. And sociology or psychology makes more sense. Content wise, which would u say is easier to cover? I’ve got a lot of psychology knowledge already, as in application not philosophical. So at university I should be okay. However, I’m already doing a btec which is 2 a levels. So I want to do something that is easier to complete in the time I have.
Seeing as you’ve done both, which would you say? I really appreciate your input! As in this moment in time, I’m more concerned with covering the content and being able to apply it. Is the 30 marker true about sociology? I’m aware of where to do my exam, I’ve found a center. I’m just interested in seeing which subject is more relevant in the sense of knowing the knowledge and therefore straight applying it.
The only reason I need to do this a level, is because my actual course is 2 a levels only. And I want and need to do 3. Hence the concern of trying to decide which one.
I’m very well, hoping you are too.
By learning and applying knowledge, I mean to say that I’d like to do the subject where I can learn from the books and apply it straight away. As in I can follow a plan to make sense, sociology doesn’t have that. Apparently it can be a 30 marker where as psychology has set marks. And so does religious studies.
So now my decision lies between them all. Someone said RS is more broken up. And sociology or psychology makes more sense. Content wise, which would u say is easier to cover? I’ve got a lot of psychology knowledge already, as in application not philosophical. So at university I should be okay. However, I’m already doing a btec which is 2 a levels. So I want to do something that is easier to complete in the time I have.
Seeing as you’ve done both, which would you say? I really appreciate your input! As in this moment in time, I’m more concerned with covering the content and being able to apply it. Is the 30 marker true about sociology? I’m aware of where to do my exam, I’ve found a center. I’m just interested in seeing which subject is more relevant in the sense of knowing the knowledge and therefore straight applying it.
The only reason I need to do this a level, is because my actual course is 2 a levels only. And I want and need to do 3. Hence the concern of trying to decide which one.
Hi,
I hope you are well! Sorry for the delay in replying!
Yes, so from my memory, in Sociology, there were much longer essay questions, some reaching 30 marks, and I suppose this could be more difficult to navigate when learning and applying content. While I would check the up to date specifications, and exam formats, as they may have changed since I completed my A-levels, I would say that Sociology has a less specific list of required answers when writing essays. For example, a question on the functions of education could include multiple perspective (e.g. Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism etc), so there is a bit more originality with your answer, and I found that if you added more theories/arguments in that were well-thought through and original, the more marks you achieved. While there are some expected perspectives, theories etc which markers are looking to be included in Sociology, I would say there is more freedom with writing answers than Psychology. There are set marks in both subjects, but Sociology has more longer answer/higher mark questions.
With Psychology, there were questions which required definitions (which would need to be specific, and include key words), medium answer questions which might look at a topic (e.g. social influence), and questions which ask you to apply knowledge to a scenario. With that being said, the mark schemes include more specifics which students need to include to gain marks, especially with applied questions, and relating them to the scenario. I would say that you need to have a good knowledge base to answer questions in Psychology (to get full/near full marks), and be aware of what the specification is asking you to know, and be aware of what examiners are looking for in different types of questions (e.g. applying knowledge to scenarios in applied questions, evaluation and content in essay-like discussion questions, specific definitions and key words in outlines and definitions).
Lastly, revision books and YouTube videos by AQA are a great resource for Psychology, and I found these really helpful to revise and get content down. All of my content came from the AQA revision book. In addition, tutor2u have some good videos on YouTube which I used too, but you would need to check up-to-date specifications and exam formats so you know you are revising the right content, as specifications may have changed since I completed my A-levels.
With a background in Psychology, it might be a good idea to take Psychology, as you would have some foundation knowledge anyway, and will know the types and styles of questions being asked. The content, and exam style in Psychology and Sociology are quite different, and the content is not transferrable, so I would suggest checking out some past papers and mark schemes for both to see the difference in what examiners are looking for.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions! And if I missed anything🙂
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
(edited 2 weeks ago)
Original post by georgezra34
I’m basically at square one for both those subjects to be honest with you so i don’t think i’ll do well on either of the questions but I’ll definitely give that a try thank you. Just wanted to ask if you could put you take yourself in my shoes and had to choose a subject with less content or the least amount of time to prep for, which would you go for? Keep in mind Id have two other subjects. Or would you take a risk and take both socio and psych but then these are two completely new subjects in comparison to the two you already took, and only less then a year to prepare. Honest thoughts please. And thank you so much for the help.
Hi,
I hope you're well! Sorry for the delay in replying!
I know it's not the answer you are looking for, but I wouldn't like to say which subject is harder, easier or quicker to revise for. I took both subjects and found different units harder/easier to revise and get my head around. The content side of both is about the same I would say, at least it was in my experience, and some Psychology units, like Biopsychology, were difficult for me to get my head around, alike some theories in Sociology.
I would suggest looking at some past exam papers, mark schemes, and the specifications for both subjects to get a taster into the content and what is going to be expected of you in exams. With the time you have, and your learning style, I think it would be best to assess what you think would be best for you, as people all learn differently, have different interests, strengths and weaknesses, so I wouldn't like to suggest something and lead you in the wrong direction. In addition, I don't have any experience with learning the content in a year, apposed to the two I learned in, but would say that there is quite a lot of content to get through for both subjects (as with any subject), so I would look into specifications etc and plan which subjects you take together, to help with your workloads.
I'm really sorry this isn't the straightforward answer you might have been looking for, but I hope this helps!
Please let me know if you have any other questions! Or if I have missed anything😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
Original post by University of Kent
Hi,
I hope you're well! Sorry for the delay in replying!
I know it's not the answer you are looking for, but I wouldn't like to say which subject is harder, easier or quicker to revise for. I took both subjects and found different units harder/easier to revise and get my head around. The content side of both is about the same I would say, at least it was in my experience, and some Psychology units, like Biopsychology, were difficult for me to get my head around, alike some theories in Sociology.
I would suggest looking at some past exam papers, mark schemes, and the specifications for both subjects to get a taster into the content and what is going to be expected of you in exams. With the time you have, and your learning style, I think it would be best to assess what you think would be best for you, as people all learn differently, have different interests, strengths and weaknesses, so I wouldn't like to suggest something and lead you in the wrong direction. In addition, I don't have any experience with learning the content in a year, apposed to the two I learned in, but would say that there is quite a lot of content to get through for both subjects (as with any subject), so I would look into specifications etc and plan which subjects you take together, to help with your workloads.
I'm really sorry this isn't the straightforward answer you might have been looking for, but I hope this helps!
Please let me know if you have any other questions! Or if I have missed anything😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
I hope you're well! Sorry for the delay in replying!
I know it's not the answer you are looking for, but I wouldn't like to say which subject is harder, easier or quicker to revise for. I took both subjects and found different units harder/easier to revise and get my head around. The content side of both is about the same I would say, at least it was in my experience, and some Psychology units, like Biopsychology, were difficult for me to get my head around, alike some theories in Sociology.
I would suggest looking at some past exam papers, mark schemes, and the specifications for both subjects to get a taster into the content and what is going to be expected of you in exams. With the time you have, and your learning style, I think it would be best to assess what you think would be best for you, as people all learn differently, have different interests, strengths and weaknesses, so I wouldn't like to suggest something and lead you in the wrong direction. In addition, I don't have any experience with learning the content in a year, apposed to the two I learned in, but would say that there is quite a lot of content to get through for both subjects (as with any subject), so I would look into specifications etc and plan which subjects you take together, to help with your workloads.
I'm really sorry this isn't the straightforward answer you might have been looking for, but I hope this helps!
Please let me know if you have any other questions! Or if I have missed anything😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
Hello, thank you so much for the advice, very much appreciated. Final question (sorry to pester you), but do you think there are enough resources online for both subjects, as I'm studying alone with no support from any teachers. I'm pretty set on sociology, so do you think I'll have access to enough resources to ensure I get the highest grade I can possibly get? Thanks again.
Original post by University of Kent
Hi,
I hope you are well! Sorry for the delay in replying!
Yes, so from my memory, in Sociology, there were much longer essay questions, some reaching 30 marks, and I suppose this could be more difficult to navigate when learning and applying content. While I would check the up to date specifications, and exam formats, as they may have changed since I completed my A-levels, I would say that Sociology has a less specific list of required answers when writing essays. For example, a question on the functions of education could include multiple perspective (e.g. Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism etc), so there is a bit more originality with your answer, and I found that if you added more theories/arguments in that were well-thought through and original, the more marks you achieved. While there are some expected perspectives, theories etc which markers are looking to be included in Sociology, I would say there is more freedom with writing answers than Psychology. There are set marks in both subjects, but Sociology has more longer answer/higher mark questions.
With Psychology, there were questions which required definitions (which would need to be specific, and include key words), medium answer questions which might look at a topic (e.g. social influence), and questions which ask you to apply knowledge to a scenario. With that being said, the mark schemes include more specifics which students need to include to gain marks, especially with applied questions, and relating them to the scenario. I would say that you need to have a good knowledge base to answer questions in Psychology (to get full/near full marks), and be aware of what the specification is asking you to know, and be aware of what examiners are looking for in different types of questions (e.g. applying knowledge to scenarios in applied questions, evaluation and content in essay-like discussion questions, specific definitions and key words in outlines and definitions).
Lastly, revision books and YouTube videos by AQA are a great resource for Psychology, and I found these really helpful to revise and get content down. All of my content came from the AQA revision book. In addition, tutor2u have some good videos on YouTube which I used too, but you would need to check up-to-date specifications and exam formats so you know you are revising the right content, as specifications may have changed since I completed my A-levels.
With a background in Psychology, it might be a good idea to take Psychology, as you would have some foundation knowledge anyway, and will know the types and styles of questions being asked. The content, and exam style in Psychology and Sociology are quite different, and the content is not transferrable, so I would suggest checking out some past papers and mark schemes for both to see the difference in what examiners are looking for.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions! And if I missed anything🙂
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
I hope you are well! Sorry for the delay in replying!
Yes, so from my memory, in Sociology, there were much longer essay questions, some reaching 30 marks, and I suppose this could be more difficult to navigate when learning and applying content. While I would check the up to date specifications, and exam formats, as they may have changed since I completed my A-levels, I would say that Sociology has a less specific list of required answers when writing essays. For example, a question on the functions of education could include multiple perspective (e.g. Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism etc), so there is a bit more originality with your answer, and I found that if you added more theories/arguments in that were well-thought through and original, the more marks you achieved. While there are some expected perspectives, theories etc which markers are looking to be included in Sociology, I would say there is more freedom with writing answers than Psychology. There are set marks in both subjects, but Sociology has more longer answer/higher mark questions.
With Psychology, there were questions which required definitions (which would need to be specific, and include key words), medium answer questions which might look at a topic (e.g. social influence), and questions which ask you to apply knowledge to a scenario. With that being said, the mark schemes include more specifics which students need to include to gain marks, especially with applied questions, and relating them to the scenario. I would say that you need to have a good knowledge base to answer questions in Psychology (to get full/near full marks), and be aware of what the specification is asking you to know, and be aware of what examiners are looking for in different types of questions (e.g. applying knowledge to scenarios in applied questions, evaluation and content in essay-like discussion questions, specific definitions and key words in outlines and definitions).
Lastly, revision books and YouTube videos by AQA are a great resource for Psychology, and I found these really helpful to revise and get content down. All of my content came from the AQA revision book. In addition, tutor2u have some good videos on YouTube which I used too, but you would need to check up-to-date specifications and exam formats so you know you are revising the right content, as specifications may have changed since I completed my A-levels.
With a background in Psychology, it might be a good idea to take Psychology, as you would have some foundation knowledge anyway, and will know the types and styles of questions being asked. The content, and exam style in Psychology and Sociology are quite different, and the content is not transferrable, so I would suggest checking out some past papers and mark schemes for both to see the difference in what examiners are looking for.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions! And if I missed anything🙂
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
Heyy,
im well thankyou, hoping you are too.
thank you so much!!!!!!
ive deicded to go with rs, now I need to find resources
Original post by University of Kent
Hi,
I hope you're well! Sorry for the delay in replying!
I know it's not the answer you are looking for, but I wouldn't like to say which subject is harder, easier or quicker to revise for. I took both subjects and found different units harder/easier to revise and get my head around. The content side of both is about the same I would say, at least it was in my experience, and some Psychology units, like Biopsychology, were difficult for me to get my head around, alike some theories in Sociology.
I would suggest looking at some past exam papers, mark schemes, and the specifications for both subjects to get a taster into the content and what is going to be expected of you in exams. With the time you have, and your learning style, I think it would be best to assess what you think would be best for you, as people all learn differently, have different interests, strengths and weaknesses, so I wouldn't like to suggest something and lead you in the wrong direction. In addition, I don't have any experience with learning the content in a year, apposed to the two I learned in, but would say that there is quite a lot of content to get through for both subjects (as with any subject), so I would look into specifications etc and plan which subjects you take together, to help with your workloads.
I'm really sorry this isn't the straightforward answer you might have been looking for, but I hope this helps!
Please let me know if you have any other questions! Or if I have missed anything😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
I hope you're well! Sorry for the delay in replying!
I know it's not the answer you are looking for, but I wouldn't like to say which subject is harder, easier or quicker to revise for. I took both subjects and found different units harder/easier to revise and get my head around. The content side of both is about the same I would say, at least it was in my experience, and some Psychology units, like Biopsychology, were difficult for me to get my head around, alike some theories in Sociology.
I would suggest looking at some past exam papers, mark schemes, and the specifications for both subjects to get a taster into the content and what is going to be expected of you in exams. With the time you have, and your learning style, I think it would be best to assess what you think would be best for you, as people all learn differently, have different interests, strengths and weaknesses, so I wouldn't like to suggest something and lead you in the wrong direction. In addition, I don't have any experience with learning the content in a year, apposed to the two I learned in, but would say that there is quite a lot of content to get through for both subjects (as with any subject), so I would look into specifications etc and plan which subjects you take together, to help with your workloads.
I'm really sorry this isn't the straightforward answer you might have been looking for, but I hope this helps!
Please let me know if you have any other questions! Or if I have missed anything😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
Heyy, i hope your okay!!
I was reading the responses that you gave to other people in this post, and honestly the advices you gave are great! I'm wondering if it's okay if u can just give me a bit of advice. I'm in my first year of a levels (year 12), and feel like everyone has their life figured out, but me.I've took sociology, psychology and business (similar to u), and am really enjoying it. Thing is, I really don't know what i wanna do after A levels, and which pathway to go to. I feel more towards the university pathway, but have no clue on what course to take.
After reading your responses, i saw that you took social science, and was my first time hearing about it. I really do enjoy sociology and psychology (took sociology for gcse), and I'm into the human resources side. Obviously i'm gonna have to do more research on this course, but i was wondering if you have any advice on my current situation rn.
Is there also any other courses that will link in with the a levels that i have taken, or any course that you yourself kept as a backup option. ((I would really appreciate advice
))
Original post by s4yy3da
Heyy, i hope your okay!!
I was reading the responses that you gave to other people in this post, and honestly the advices you gave are great! I'm wondering if it's okay if u can just give me a bit of advice. I'm in my first year of a levels (year 12), and feel like everyone has their life figured out, but me.I've took sociology, psychology and business (similar to u), and am really enjoying it. Thing is, I really don't know what i wanna do after A levels, and which pathway to go to. I feel more towards the university pathway, but have no clue on what course to take.
After reading your responses, i saw that you took social science, and was my first time hearing about it. I really do enjoy sociology and psychology (took sociology for gcse), and I'm into the human resources side. Obviously i'm gonna have to do more research on this course, but i was wondering if you have any advice on my current situation rn.
Is there also any other courses that will link in with the a levels that i have taken, or any course that you yourself kept as a backup option. ((I would really appreciate advice))
I was reading the responses that you gave to other people in this post, and honestly the advices you gave are great! I'm wondering if it's okay if u can just give me a bit of advice. I'm in my first year of a levels (year 12), and feel like everyone has their life figured out, but me.I've took sociology, psychology and business (similar to u), and am really enjoying it. Thing is, I really don't know what i wanna do after A levels, and which pathway to go to. I feel more towards the university pathway, but have no clue on what course to take.
After reading your responses, i saw that you took social science, and was my first time hearing about it. I really do enjoy sociology and psychology (took sociology for gcse), and I'm into the human resources side. Obviously i'm gonna have to do more research on this course, but i was wondering if you have any advice on my current situation rn.
Is there also any other courses that will link in with the a levels that i have taken, or any course that you yourself kept as a backup option. ((I would really appreciate advice
))Hiya! I'm not the other person who gave advice but I'm in Year 13. I was in the same position at the start of Year 12, i wasn't really majorly passionate about anythin and had no idea whether i wanted to go to uni. By the end of the year i had enjoyed my subjects so much that i had decided i definitely wanted to study law (which is one of my a levels - i also do environmental science and sociology).. It is likely you will have a better idea of what you want to study as this year goes by, go to uni open days and look at a wide range of courses related to your subjects (e.g. sociology, criminology) to see what you like the look of. Or look into apprenticeships online. I hope this helps a bit! You are not alone! 🙂
Original post by georgezra34
Hello, thank you so much for the advice, very much appreciated. Final question (sorry to pester you), but do you think there are enough resources online for both subjects, as I'm studying alone with no support from any teachers. I'm pretty set on sociology, so do you think I'll have access to enough resources to ensure I get the highest grade I can possibly get? Thanks again.
Hi,
No need to say sorry, ask away! 😊
While I had the support of teachers, and their lessons/Powerpoints, I used some other resources too, but it's really important to check that they include the right content, so always check the content, and specification for your exam board first!
I used other materials, such as textbooks (I used the WJEC Sociology revision textbooks), revision videos on YouTube, we also used Quizlet (we made our own accounts and searched for WJEC Sociology quizzes that others/my teacher had made), and Kahoot to test ourselves, and past papers + their mark schemes- these are really useful sources of revision to see what examiners are looking for in example questions/answers.
I've just had a look online, and have found some WJEC Knowledge Organisers, for the different topics, but I would check your up to date specification first to ensure the knowledge is all relevant, and I also used Tutor2u revision videos on YouTube, but be careful as I believe these are tailored more to the AQA specification, so just check that the content is meeting the content you need to be revising!
There are lots of resources out there which I found super helpful! But just check before you use them to make sure the content is relevant! For practice exam questions, specifications, and past papers, always go to the exam board you are with, as exam boards will differ!
I hope this helps! Best of luck! And I'm really glad that you're set on Sociology! I loved Sociology and still do, so hope you do too!😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
Original post by mxalikhxbxh
Heyy,
im well thankyou, hoping you are too.
thank you so much!!!!!!
ive deicded to go with rs, now I need to find resources
im well thankyou, hoping you are too.
thank you so much!!!!!!
ive deicded to go with rs, now I need to find resources
Hi,
Amazing, sounds like a great choice! I'm glad I could help! 😊
I wish I could direct you to some resources, but I haven't studied Religious Studies before so wouldn't like to suggest any as I wouldn't know which is appropriate or helpful😞
However, you could always see if anyone else is currently studying Religious Studies on the Student Room, or if anyone has any advice or revision tips, by searching for Religious Studies A-Level threads!
I'm so glad that you have decided on a subject though! I wish you the best of luck with your studies! 😊🍀
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
Original post by Yellowcatz
Hiya! I'm not the other person who gave advice but I'm in Year 13. I was in the same position at the start of Year 12, i wasn't really majorly passionate about anythin and had no idea whether i wanted to go to uni. By the end of the year i had enjoyed my subjects so much that i had decided i definitely wanted to study law (which is one of my a levels - i also do environmental science and sociology).. It is likely you will have a better idea of what you want to study as this year goes by, go to uni open days and look at a wide range of courses related to your subjects (e.g. sociology, criminology) to see what you like the look of. Or look into apprenticeships online. I hope this helps a bit! You are not alone! 🙂
Hi,
I'm okay thank you! I'm really sorry for the delay in responding. Of course! Ask any questions you like😊
It's completely normal to feel this way! In fact, I felt this way and didn't even know what I wanted to do post A-levels until year 13! Some things which I found helpful were:
•
Speaking to teachers at my school to find more about what they studied at school, and how they got into teaching as this was something I was interested in.
•
I also had a meeting with my careers advisors at school, who helped me search for potential careers, and university courses. They were also super helpful when I decided to apply to university as they were able to guide me through the UCAS application process (which was a bit daunting for me🤭) and helped with my personal statement too!
•
Especially if you are interested in the Human Resources side, a careers advisor or teacher would be a great place to start as you may not even have to go to university to get a job like this! And don't forget there are degree apprenticeships and apprenticeships available too- university is not your only option!
•
Also, try not to feel pressured! Lots of students will feel the same as you! And even if some have their heart set on a career/university degree, they might change their mind, or their career in their lifetime, like most people! So don't put too much pressure on yourself to know right now!🙂
As with your current subjects, UCAS is a great place to have a look at potential degrees, and this is what I did to see what was available! I've linked each of your A-level subjects below, where you will find some course suggestions under 'what you could study', which you could then have a look at on UCAS, to see what courses universities are offering in those areas! There are also some career options and additional useful info to look through. For example, with Psychology, you could study Clinical, or Child Psychology.
Another feature on UCAS which I think is great is Unibuddy, which is another forum where you can speak to students from different universities studying different degrees. This would be a great idea, alongside chatting to students on the Student Room, if you find a specific course/university that you like/would like to know more about!
Or, if you're anything like me, and couldn't decide between three subjects, you could study all three! So, Social Science is a combination of Psychology, Sociology, and Criminology, but also includes aspects of Social Policy, Politics, People and Places. I'm going into my third year, and I've really enjoyed studying Social Science!
•
From the Psychology side, some modules I've done so far include Quantitative Methods (research methods), Human Cognition, Forensic Psychology, and an introductory module into Psychology more generally too. I have also had friends who have taken Psychopathology, and Social Psychology.
•
From the Sociology side, I have taken modules in Sociological Perspectives/Concepts (e.g.key theories and thinkers), Emotions and Society, and Social Practices and Institutions (e.g. the education system, the media), and have a friend who took a module on Urban Spaces/environments.
•
From the Criminology side, I have taken modules on Crime and Punishment, and Criminological Perspectives.
•
The reason that I have taken a different number of modules from each discipline is because I've enjoyed more of the Social Policy, Politics, Psychology, and Sociology related modules. And while there are some compulsory modules, including research methods (Qualitative and Quantitative), as well as introductions into Psychology and Criminology, I have had the opportunity to take lots of optional modules which I found the most interesting.
For a back up, I chose Sociology and Criminology at the University of Kent too! If you would like any information about any related courses at Kent I would be very happy to help! In addition, at Kent, and other universities you can take more than one subject e.g. Sociology and Criminology, so this is great if you are like me and can't pick one!🙃
Lastly, just thought I'd mention this, as you may be interested as you study both Psychology and Business, a friend of mine is currently studying Psychology at Kent, and wants to go into marketing, and use her Psychological knowledge of consumerism to inform business branding etc. So this may be of interest to you, and is something I've thought about recently as I thought it sounded like an interesting career too!
I hope this helps! Please let me know if I have missed anything or if you have any other questions! 😊
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
(edited 2 weeks ago)
Original post by Yellowcatz
Hiya! I'm not the other person who gave advice but I'm in Year 13. I was in the same position at the start of Year 12, i wasn't really majorly passionate about anythin and had no idea whether i wanted to go to uni. By the end of the year i had enjoyed my subjects so much that i had decided i definitely wanted to study law (which is one of my a levels - i also do environmental science and sociology).. It is likely you will have a better idea of what you want to study as this year goes by, go to uni open days and look at a wide range of courses related to your subjects (e.g. sociology, criminology) to see what you like the look of. Or look into apprenticeships online. I hope this helps a bit! You are not alone! 🙂
Hi,
I'm so glad that you've found the course that you want to study! That's amazing! 😊
And yes! Some great advice here too! Open days are a great way to get a feel for different universities, courses and of course apprenticeships are an option too, alongside degree apprenticeships, so there are lots of options out there to explore! 😊
And you're definitely right too, I didn't know what I wanted to do until year 13, so there's no pressure to know straight away, but having a look at courses, attending open days, and pursuing your interests is a great place to start!😊
Best of luck for your studies! And UCAS applications! Law sounds so interesting and exciting🎓️
Best wishes,
Josie
Uni of Kent Student Rep🎓️
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