AS AND
A-LEVEL
PSYCHOLOGY
AS (7181)
A-level (7182)
Specifications
For teaching from September 2015 onwards
For AS exams in May/June 2016 onwards
For A-level exams in May/June 2017 onwards
Version 1.2 14 October 2021
,
,AQA AS and A-level Psychology 7181, 7182. AS and A-level exams June 2016 onwards. Version 1.2 14 October 2021
Contents
1 Introduction 5
1.1 Why choose AQA for AS and A-level Psychology 5
1.2 Support and resources to help you teach 6
2 Specification at a glance 8
2.1 AS 8
2.2 A-level 9
3 Subject content – AS 13
3.1 Introductory topics in Psychology 13
3.2 Psychology in context 14
4 Subject content – A-level 17
4.1 Introductory topics in Psychology 17
4.2 Psychology in context 18
4.3 Issues and options in Psychology 21
5 Scheme of assessment 25
5.1 Aims 25
5.2 Assessment objectives 26
5.3 Assessment weightings 27
6 General administration 29
6.1 Entries and codes 29
6.2 Overlaps with other qualifications 29
6.3 Awarding grades and reporting results 29
6.4 Re-sits and shelf life 30
6.5 Previous learning and prerequisites 30
6.6 Access to assessment: diversity and inclusion 30
6.7 Safeguarding 31
6.8 Working with AQA for the first time 31
Visit for the most up-to-date specification, resources, support and administration 3
, AQA AS and A-level Psychology 7181, 7182. AS and A-level exams June 2016 onwards. Version 1.2 14 October 2021
6.9 Private candidates 31
7 Mathematical requirements and
exemplification 33
7.1 AS 33
7.2 A-level 35
Are you using the latest version of this specification?
• You will always find the most up-to-date version of this specification on our website at
• We will write to you if there are significant changes to the specification.
4 Visit for the most up-to-date specification, resources, support and administration
1 Introduction
1.1 Why choose AQA for AS and A-level Psychology
Relevant content designed by experts
These qualifications offers an engaging and effective introduction to Psychology. Students will learn the
fundamentals of the subject and develop skills valued by Higher Education (HE) and employers, including
critical analysis, independent thinking and research.
Retaining the most popular features of our previous, market-leading qualifications, we have worked with
teachers, HE and the British Psychological Society to produce clear, up-to-date and stimulating
specifications. We have built on the success of our previous specifications by introducing some minor
amendments that reflect advances and changes in the subject and provide a coherent and holistic
programme of study.
The biggest teaching community
We are the most popular choice for AS and A-level Psychology and by choosing our specification you will be
part of the country’s largest community of psychology teachers and have access to the widest network of
support to help your teaching.
Content continuity
Our focus for these new qualifications has been on providing continuity for teachers. You will see many
familiar and popular topics from our previous specifications which include:
• approaches and methods related to the core areas of Psychology – cognitive, social, biological,
developmental, individual differences and research methods are all retained and delivered through
content similar to the previous specifications
• explanations from different approaches, along with psychological issues and debates, are retained
• A-level students can choose from a range of attractive topic options which have been arranged to
help teachers to teach to their strengths and at the same time ensure that their students experience
an interesting, diverse and coherent course of study, regardless of which topics they choose.
Visit for the most up-to-date specification, resources, support and administration 4
A-LEVEL
PSYCHOLOGY
AS (7181)
A-level (7182)
Specifications
For teaching from September 2015 onwards
For AS exams in May/June 2016 onwards
For A-level exams in May/June 2017 onwards
Version 1.2 14 October 2021
,
,AQA AS and A-level Psychology 7181, 7182. AS and A-level exams June 2016 onwards. Version 1.2 14 October 2021
Contents
1 Introduction 5
1.1 Why choose AQA for AS and A-level Psychology 5
1.2 Support and resources to help you teach 6
2 Specification at a glance 8
2.1 AS 8
2.2 A-level 9
3 Subject content – AS 13
3.1 Introductory topics in Psychology 13
3.2 Psychology in context 14
4 Subject content – A-level 17
4.1 Introductory topics in Psychology 17
4.2 Psychology in context 18
4.3 Issues and options in Psychology 21
5 Scheme of assessment 25
5.1 Aims 25
5.2 Assessment objectives 26
5.3 Assessment weightings 27
6 General administration 29
6.1 Entries and codes 29
6.2 Overlaps with other qualifications 29
6.3 Awarding grades and reporting results 29
6.4 Re-sits and shelf life 30
6.5 Previous learning and prerequisites 30
6.6 Access to assessment: diversity and inclusion 30
6.7 Safeguarding 31
6.8 Working with AQA for the first time 31
Visit for the most up-to-date specification, resources, support and administration 3
, AQA AS and A-level Psychology 7181, 7182. AS and A-level exams June 2016 onwards. Version 1.2 14 October 2021
6.9 Private candidates 31
7 Mathematical requirements and
exemplification 33
7.1 AS 33
7.2 A-level 35
Are you using the latest version of this specification?
• You will always find the most up-to-date version of this specification on our website at
• We will write to you if there are significant changes to the specification.
4 Visit for the most up-to-date specification, resources, support and administration
1 Introduction
1.1 Why choose AQA for AS and A-level Psychology
Relevant content designed by experts
These qualifications offers an engaging and effective introduction to Psychology. Students will learn the
fundamentals of the subject and develop skills valued by Higher Education (HE) and employers, including
critical analysis, independent thinking and research.
Retaining the most popular features of our previous, market-leading qualifications, we have worked with
teachers, HE and the British Psychological Society to produce clear, up-to-date and stimulating
specifications. We have built on the success of our previous specifications by introducing some minor
amendments that reflect advances and changes in the subject and provide a coherent and holistic
programme of study.
The biggest teaching community
We are the most popular choice for AS and A-level Psychology and by choosing our specification you will be
part of the country’s largest community of psychology teachers and have access to the widest network of
support to help your teaching.
Content continuity
Our focus for these new qualifications has been on providing continuity for teachers. You will see many
familiar and popular topics from our previous specifications which include:
• approaches and methods related to the core areas of Psychology – cognitive, social, biological,
developmental, individual differences and research methods are all retained and delivered through
content similar to the previous specifications
• explanations from different approaches, along with psychological issues and debates, are retained
• A-level students can choose from a range of attractive topic options which have been arranged to
help teachers to teach to their strengths and at the same time ensure that their students experience
an interesting, diverse and coherent course of study, regardless of which topics they choose.
Visit for the most up-to-date specification, resources, support and administration 4
