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Psychology alevel help

Any advice on how to properly revise for alevel psychology? Especially Ao3?
Original post by student2585
Any advice on how to properly revise for alevel psychology? Especially Ao3?


Hello,

There are two really good ways to revise for A Level Psychology, and essentially it's by doing just what you would have learnt about in the topic of Memory. Firstly you need to keep rehearsing the content, for me that was reading out my notes out loud, particularly A03. I also used Memrise to help me memorise the key A03 points and studies.

Secondly, you need to get as much practice as possible by completing as many past papers as possible under exam conditions. This will help develop your exam technique but is also a form of active recall so you can see where your knowledge is lacking so you know where to focus in your revision.

On top of the above, Seneca Learning is also very helpful as an extra bit of revision and I would highly recommend using it alongside your other revision.

I hope this helps and if you have any further questions please do let me know.

Charlie
Law LLB Student
Reply 2
Original post by UoL Students
Hello,
There are two really good ways to revise for A Level Psychology, and essentially it's by doing just what you would have learnt about in the topic of Memory. Firstly you need to keep rehearsing the content, for me that was reading out my notes out loud, particularly A03. I also used Memrise to help me memorise the key A03 points and studies.
Secondly, you need to get as much practice as possible by completing as many past papers as possible under exam conditions. This will help develop your exam technique but is also a form of active recall so you can see where your knowledge is lacking so you know where to focus in your revision.
On top of the above, Seneca Learning is also very helpful as an extra bit of revision and I would highly recommend using it alongside your other revision.
I hope this helps and if you have any further questions please do let me know.
Charlie
Law LLB Student


Thanks 🙏 would u advice any other way such as flash cards? And is there any website that has them already made? Also do you know anywhere that has evaluations for all topics but based on issue & debate content
Original post by student2585
Thanks 🙏 would u advice any other way such as flash cards? And is there any website that has them already made? Also do you know anywhere that has evaluations for all topics but based on issue & debate content

Hello,

That is not a problem. Anything such as flashcards is good and includes all types of active revision. I am not sure of any website that has any flashcards freely. I know on the premium Seneca Learning membership they have flashcards, but also night-before courses and hyperlearning which essentially crams all the information at speed. The premium platform also has a Smart Learning algorithm which suggests what content you should cover based on the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve. I would highly recommend the premium Seneca Learning to accompany your revision.

In terms of your evaluation, I do not know anywhere which offers high-quality evaluation points. I would therefore suggest you revise what you have been given in class. For me this was PEELs, Point, Evidence, Explain and Link back to the question. Also, you do not need to revise for evaluation based on Issues and Debates, Approaches or Research Methods. Because these are all units you need to know and revise anyway you can easily make up evaluation points in the exam based on these topics.

When I did A Level Psychology I was advised when it comes to evaluation to have 5 evaluation points including:

1.

Supporting Evidence

2.

Research Methodologically Flawed

3.

Alternative Explanations

4.

Contradictory evidence/Further Supporting Evidence/Alternative Explanations/Real World Practical application etc

5.

Issues and Debates or Approaches

I would therefore recommend that if you want the higher marks to make five points and explain them well, or maybe slightly more points which are still explained but perhaps in less detail. But use the above as a general plan for evaluation. What evaluation points you use will obviously depend on the content area.

I hope this helps, again if you have any further questions or anything at all please do let me know. I am happy to help in any way I can.

Charlie
Law LLB Student
Using A-level Psychology AQA Revision Notes has helped a lot of my students over the years, some excellent advice here from Charlie too :smile:

Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador
Reply 5
Original post by UoL Students
Hello,
That is not a problem. Anything such as flashcards is good and includes all types of active revision. I am not sure of any website that has any flashcards freely. I know on the premium Seneca Learning membership they have flashcards, but also night-before courses and hyperlearning which essentially crams all the information at speed. The premium platform also has a Smart Learning algorithm which suggests what content you should cover based on the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve. I would highly recommend the premium Seneca Learning to accompany your revision.
In terms of your evaluation, I do not know anywhere which offers high-quality evaluation points. I would therefore suggest you revise what you have been given in class. For me this was PEELs, Point, Evidence, Explain and Link back to the question. Also, you do not need to revise for evaluation based on Issues and Debates, Approaches or Research Methods. Because these are all units you need to know and revise anyway you can easily make up evaluation points in the exam based on these topics.
When I did A Level Psychology I was advised when it comes to evaluation to have 5 evaluation points including:

1.

Supporting Evidence

2.

Research Methodologically Flawed

3.

Alternative Explanations

4.

Contradictory evidence/Further Supporting Evidence/Alternative Explanations/Real World Practical application etc

5.

Issues and Debates or Approaches

I would therefore recommend that if you want the higher marks to make five points and explain them well, or maybe slightly more points which are still explained but perhaps in less detail. But use the above as a general plan for evaluation. What evaluation points you use will obviously depend on the content area.
I hope this helps, again if you have any further questions or anything at all please do let me know. I am happy to help in any way I can.
Charlie
Law LLB Student


Hi! Just wondering do you have all the evaluations you used for each topic.??
Original post by student2585
Hi! Just wondering do you have all the evaluations you used for each topic.??


Hello,

Yes I do, i did AQA A Level Psychology.

Charlie
Law LLB Student
I’m a dedicated tutor specializing in GCSE and A-Level English Literature, English Language, and Psychology, and I’d love to help you feel confident and ready to achieve your best grades.

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Reply 8
Original post by UoL Students
Hello,
Yes I do, i did AQA A Level Psychology.
Charlie
Law LLB Student


Would you be able to share them with me?
Hello there!

Revising effectively for A-Level Psychology, particularly for AO3 (Analysis and Evaluation), requires a structured approach. AO3 focuses on your ability to critically evaluate theories, studies, and methods, so developing these skills is essential for achieving high marks. Here are some tips:

1.

Understand AO3 Requirements: AO3 involves evaluating psychological theories, research studies, and concepts by considering their strengths, weaknesses, and wider implications. Practice identifying key evaluation points, such as methodological issues (sample size, validity, reliability), ethical considerations, and real-world applications.

2.

Use the PEEL Structure: A common approach to structuring AO3 paragraphs is PEEL:

3.

Point: State the evaluation point (e.g., "A strength of this study is its high internal validity").

4.

Evidence: Support it with evidence or examples (e.g., This is because the study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting).

5.

Explain: Explain why this is important (e.g., "This increases confidence that the results are due to the independent variable").

6.

Link: Link back to the question or theory being discussed.

7.

Memorize Key Studies and Critiques: For each topic, create revision cards or notes summarizing core studies, their findings, and key evaluation points. Focus on aspects like methodology, ethical issues, generalizability, and cultural bias.

8.

Practice Timed Essays: Write practice essays or paragraphs focusing on AO3, using past exam questions. Time yourself to build speed and confidence, ensuring you can evaluate effectively within the exam time limits.

9.

Use Mnemonics for Evaluation Points: Create mnemonics to remember common AO3 points such as G.R.A.V.E. (Generalizability, Reliability, Application, Validity, Ethics) for studies or theories.

10.

Incorporate Wider Context: To impress examiners, include discussion of wider implications, such as how a theory has contributed to society, whether it applies across cultures, or how it has influenced policies.

11.

Active Recall and Spaced Repetition: Regularly test yourself on AO3 content using flashcards or self-quizzing apps. Use spaced repetition to revisit key evaluation points over time, reinforcing your memory.

12.

Get Feedback: Ask your teacher or peers to review your AO3 practice answers. Constructive feedback will help you identify areas to improve and refine your evaluation style.

By consistently practicing these techniques and building your confidence with AO3, you’ll develop the skills needed to effectively evaluate theories and studies, ensuring success in A-Level Psychology.

I hope this helps!
Good luck!

Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Coventry University Student Ambassadors
Hello there!
Revising effectively for A-Level Psychology, particularly for AO3 (Analysis and Evaluation), requires a structured approach. AO3 focuses on your ability to critically evaluate theories, studies, and methods, so developing these skills is essential for achieving high marks. Here are some tips:

1.

Understand AO3 Requirements: AO3 involves evaluating psychological theories, research studies, and concepts by considering their strengths, weaknesses, and wider implications. Practice identifying key evaluation points, such as methodological issues (sample size, validity, reliability), ethical considerations, and real-world applications.

2.

Use the PEEL Structure: A common approach to structuring AO3 paragraphs is PEEL:

3.

Point: State the evaluation point (e.g., "A strength of this study is its high internal validity").

4.

Evidence: Support it with evidence or examples (e.g., This is because the study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting).

5.

Explain: Explain why this is important (e.g., "This increases confidence that the results are due to the independent variable").

6.

Link: Link back to the question or theory being discussed.

7.

Memorize Key Studies and Critiques: For each topic, create revision cards or notes summarizing core studies, their findings, and key evaluation points. Focus on aspects like methodology, ethical issues, generalizability, and cultural bias.

8.

Practice Timed Essays: Write practice essays or paragraphs focusing on AO3, using past exam questions. Time yourself to build speed and confidence, ensuring you can evaluate effectively within the exam time limits.

9.

Use Mnemonics for Evaluation Points: Create mnemonics to remember common AO3 points such as G.R.A.V.E. (Generalizability, Reliability, Application, Validity, Ethics) for studies or theories.

10.

Incorporate Wider Context: To impress examiners, include discussion of wider implications, such as how a theory has contributed to society, whether it applies across cultures, or how it has influenced policies.

11.

Active Recall and Spaced Repetition: Regularly test yourself on AO3 content using flashcards or self-quizzing apps. Use spaced repetition to revisit key evaluation points over time, reinforcing your memory.

12.

Get Feedback: Ask your teacher or peers to review your AO3 practice answers. Constructive feedback will help you identify areas to improve and refine your evaluation style.

By consistently practicing these techniques and building your confidence with AO3, you’ll develop the skills needed to effectively evaluate theories and studies, ensuring success in A-Level Psychology.
I hope this helps!
Good luck!
Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador


Thanks so much ☺️

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