PSYCHOLOGY
AS and A Level
Cambridge International AS and A Level Psychology (9990)
Pearson Edexcel AS Psychology (XPS01)
Pearson Edexcel A Level Psychology (YPS01)
AQA AS Psychology (7181)
AQA A Level Psychology (7182)
Pearson Edexcel AS Psychology (XPS01)
Pearson Edexcel A Level Psychology (YPS01)
AQA AS Psychology (7181)
AQA A Level Psychology (7182)
There is no coursework component needed to complete Cambridge International AS and A Level Psychology (9990), Pearson Edexcel AS and A Level Psychology (XPS01 and YPS01), or AQA AS and A Level Psychology (7181, 7182). That is, students can attain the qualification by examination only. There are some differences in course content so make sure to choose carefully!
Each exam board uses a syllabus or specification to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, each exam board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning.
You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus or specification and online resources as needed.
I have taught Cambridge AS and A Level Psychology for many years, so I am very familiar with the syllabus content, varied teaching and learning strategies for individual students, and preparation for examinations (exams). CAIE examinations were easier for my four home educated children to access, and I have been teaching or tutoring CAIE examination subjects in school or online since 2007.
So, let me pass on what I have used, at one time or another, to teach Cambridge AS and A Level Psychology (9990). I will also give suggested resources for anyone interested in accessing AS and A Level Psychology offered by Pearson Edexcel and AQA exam boards.
Please take time to thoroughly research the AS or A Level subjects you intend to pursue. This website is intended to give you information, but each of you will have different educational journeys, and the exam boards change syllabuses and specifications often. Of course, if you need more support, please contact samantha@eddistutorial.com for questions, quotes for temporary tutorial support, or customized distance learning schedules and support.
Each exam board uses a syllabus or specification to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, each exam board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning.
You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus or specification and online resources as needed.
I have taught Cambridge AS and A Level Psychology for many years, so I am very familiar with the syllabus content, varied teaching and learning strategies for individual students, and preparation for examinations (exams). CAIE examinations were easier for my four home educated children to access, and I have been teaching or tutoring CAIE examination subjects in school or online since 2007.
So, let me pass on what I have used, at one time or another, to teach Cambridge AS and A Level Psychology (9990). I will also give suggested resources for anyone interested in accessing AS and A Level Psychology offered by Pearson Edexcel and AQA exam boards.
Please take time to thoroughly research the AS or A Level subjects you intend to pursue. This website is intended to give you information, but each of you will have different educational journeys, and the exam boards change syllabuses and specifications often. Of course, if you need more support, please contact samantha@eddistutorial.com for questions, quotes for temporary tutorial support, or customized distance learning schedules and support.
SYLLABUSES AND SPECIFICATIONS
To have the most success in final assessments (exams), read the syllabus or specification carefully. Consider this as the rule book, as it gives clear details about the subject.
Here are the links for the AS and A Level Psychology courses at CAIE, Pearson Edexcel and AQA:
Cambridge AS and A Level Psychology (9990)
www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-psychology-9990/
Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Psychology (XPS01, YPS01)
qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-international-advanced-levels/psychology-2015.html
AQA AS and A-Level Psychology (7181, 7182)
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/as-and-a-level/psychology-7181-7182
To have the most success in final assessments (exams), read the syllabus or specification carefully. Consider this as the rule book, as it gives clear details about the subject.
Here are the links for the AS and A Level Psychology courses at CAIE, Pearson Edexcel and AQA:
Cambridge AS and A Level Psychology (9990)
www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-psychology-9990/
Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Psychology (XPS01, YPS01)
qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-international-advanced-levels/psychology-2015.html
AQA AS and A-Level Psychology (7181, 7182)
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/as-and-a-level/psychology-7181-7182
PAST PAPER PRACTICE
One of the most focused ways to understand how well you will do in the final assessments (exams) is to complete some past papers, mark them and reflect on your strengths and challenges. Then repeat the process. As the art of strong AS and A Level knowledge and skills is built upon practice, you should make sure to get support from teachers, tutors or mentors as necessary. In the meantime, visit the exam board's website and look for past papers, the mark schemes (answer keys or rubrics) and the examiners' reports. All these documents will be helpful in honing your skills in this subject.
One of the most focused ways to understand how well you will do in the final assessments (exams) is to complete some past papers, mark them and reflect on your strengths and challenges. Then repeat the process. As the art of strong AS and A Level knowledge and skills is built upon practice, you should make sure to get support from teachers, tutors or mentors as necessary. In the meantime, visit the exam board's website and look for past papers, the mark schemes (answer keys or rubrics) and the examiners' reports. All these documents will be helpful in honing your skills in this subject.
SUGGESTED TEXTBOOKS
There are endorsed textbooks that are closely aligned to exam board courses and these will be the best resource to use as a scaffold for learning. Each exam board also suggests other textbooks and resources for each subject course. The choice of books for teaching and learning is yours, but I have always relied on one or two endorsed textbooks, and then used other resources to supplement my own learning and teaching.
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for AS and A Level Psychology:
Cambridge AS and A Level Psychology (9990)
Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Psychology (XPS01, YPS01)
I had some difficulty navigating the Pearson Edexcel website, but I put this down to operator error as there is a wealth of material to guide students and teachers. Go to the website and look at the Teaching and Learning Materials. Take your time to look through the documents, especially the 'Getting Started Guide' and download or take notes from the relevant material. There are many textbooks and specific studies as you do this course, so you will have to do your research. The amount of information could be overwhelming, so make sure to use the specification as a scaffold for learning, and then choose the most relevant resources to complement your educational journey. You can also use online resources for learning.
One overall textbook to help would be this one:
AQA AS and A-Level Psychology (7181, 7182)
There are endorsed textbooks that are closely aligned to exam board courses and these will be the best resource to use as a scaffold for learning. Each exam board also suggests other textbooks and resources for each subject course. The choice of books for teaching and learning is yours, but I have always relied on one or two endorsed textbooks, and then used other resources to supplement my own learning and teaching.
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for AS and A Level Psychology:
Cambridge AS and A Level Psychology (9990)
- Russell,J. et al. (2016) Cambridge International AS and A Level Psychology: Coursebook. ISBN: 9781316605691 [Endorsed]
- Russell, J. et al. (2017) Cambridge International AS and A Level Psychology: Teacher's Resource CD-Rom. ISBN: 9781316637944 [Endorsed]
- Clarke, D. & Guinness, P. (2018) Revision Guide Cambridge International AS and A Level Psychology, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9781510418394
- Roberts, C. (2016) Psychology for Cambridge International AS & A level: Revision Guide, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9780198366799
- Hill, G. (2009) AS & A Level Psychology Through Diagrams: Oxford Revision Guides. ISBN: 9780199180943
Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Psychology (XPS01, YPS01)
I had some difficulty navigating the Pearson Edexcel website, but I put this down to operator error as there is a wealth of material to guide students and teachers. Go to the website and look at the Teaching and Learning Materials. Take your time to look through the documents, especially the 'Getting Started Guide' and download or take notes from the relevant material. There are many textbooks and specific studies as you do this course, so you will have to do your research. The amount of information could be overwhelming, so make sure to use the specification as a scaffold for learning, and then choose the most relevant resources to complement your educational journey. You can also use online resources for learning.
One overall textbook to help would be this one:
- Brain, C. (2020) Pearson Edexcel A-Level Psychology: Student Guide 1: Foundations in Psychology. ISBN: 9781510472112
AQA AS and A-Level Psychology (7181, 7182)
- Saava, N. (2018) AQA Psychology: Brilliant Exam Notes: Research Methods. ISBN: 9781720164876
- Lawton, J-M. & Willard, E. (2015) AQA A-Level Psychology: Book 1. ISBN: 9781471834882 [Endorsed]
- Lawton, J-M. & Willard, E. (2015) AQA A-Level Psychology: Book 2. ISBN: 9781471835377 [Endorsed]
- Flanagan, C. et al. (2015) AQA Psychology for A-Level: Year 1 & AS. ISBN: 9781908682406 [Endorsed]
- Flanagan, C. et al. (2015) AQA Psychology for A-Level: Year 2. ISBN: 9781908682413 [Endorsed]
USEFUL WEBSITES FOR A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY
Using an endorsed textbook alongside the syllabus or specification is always my first strategy in teaching or tutoring AS and A Level Psychology. Then I look through the online resources to supplement and complement what is being learnt, and I am constantly researching new resources.
Here are a few resources you might find useful:
http://psychtutor.weebly.com/
This site is specifically for CAIE topics that are covered in the syllabus and forms a useful starting point for students. Well worth a visit even though some of the studies are old.
http://www.bps.org.uk/
The archived Research Digests are great to look through as they give ideas on some of the current or recent research. This can interest teachers and students to follow a focus topic further.
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/psychology
S-Cool is a good resource for revision topics in psychology or as a starting point. It's very readable for students.
www.psychnet-uk.com
This has a useful portal for other sites, including http://psychology.vanguard.edu/amoebaweb/ which is full of information. Well worth a look by the teachers, and then students can be guided to specific areas on the site.
www.all-about-psychology.com
One of the most useful websites on A Level Psychology. Take your time looking through the site, as it is one of the most comprehensive, to date. Thank you, to the educator and author of the site.
http://www.simplypsychology.org/a-level-psychology.html
A revision site for AQA students, with plenty of material to research.
http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/
Spark notes on psychology is always a good place to go. Bite-sized information as revision or to help consolidate notes.
NOTE: Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: June, 2020.
Copyright©2012 - 2020 All rights reserved. Eddis Tutorial Services LLC
Back to home page
Using an endorsed textbook alongside the syllabus or specification is always my first strategy in teaching or tutoring AS and A Level Psychology. Then I look through the online resources to supplement and complement what is being learnt, and I am constantly researching new resources.
Here are a few resources you might find useful:
http://psychtutor.weebly.com/
This site is specifically for CAIE topics that are covered in the syllabus and forms a useful starting point for students. Well worth a visit even though some of the studies are old.
http://www.bps.org.uk/
The archived Research Digests are great to look through as they give ideas on some of the current or recent research. This can interest teachers and students to follow a focus topic further.
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/psychology
S-Cool is a good resource for revision topics in psychology or as a starting point. It's very readable for students.
www.psychnet-uk.com
This has a useful portal for other sites, including http://psychology.vanguard.edu/amoebaweb/ which is full of information. Well worth a look by the teachers, and then students can be guided to specific areas on the site.
www.all-about-psychology.com
One of the most useful websites on A Level Psychology. Take your time looking through the site, as it is one of the most comprehensive, to date. Thank you, to the educator and author of the site.
http://www.simplypsychology.org/a-level-psychology.html
A revision site for AQA students, with plenty of material to research.
http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/
Spark notes on psychology is always a good place to go. Bite-sized information as revision or to help consolidate notes.
NOTE: Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: June, 2020.
Copyright©2012 - 2020 All rights reserved. Eddis Tutorial Services LLC
Back to home page