What do you study in A Level Psychology?
On the AQA A Level Psychology specification (7182) you study eight compulsory topics: social influence, memory, attachment, clinical psychology and mental health, approaches in psychology, biopsychology, research methods, and issues and debates in psychology. You also choose three optional topics, one from each of three groups: relationships, gender, or cognition and development; schizophrenia, eating behaviour, or stress; and aggression, forensic psychology, or addiction. Everything is examined in three 2 hour papers of 96 marks each, with no coursework. Lift College teaches every 7182 topic online with a named UK tutor, from £49.99 a month when you pay today (£59.99 after a 7-day free trial) on the Study plan of the A Level Psychology online course (exam entry is on the +Exams plan), with a 7-day free trial; it is open to anyone aged 14 or over (under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian).
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| Paper (2 hours, 96 marks, 33.3%) | What you study |
|---|---|
| Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology | Social influence; Memory; Attachment; Clinical Psychology and Mental Health (Sections A to D, 24 marks each) |
| Paper 2: Psychology in Context | Approaches in Psychology (24 marks); Biopsychology (24 marks); Research methods, covering scientific processes, data handling and analysis, and inferential testing (48 marks) |
| Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology | Issues and debates (24 marks), plus one option from each group (24 marks each): Relationships, Gender, or Cognition and development; Schizophrenia, Eating behaviour, or Stress; Aggression, Forensic Psychology, or Addiction |
Issues and debates covers gender and culture in psychology (universality and bias), free will and determinism, the nature nurture debate, holism and reductionism, idiographic and nomothetic approaches, and social sensitivity in psychological research. Every paper uses multiple choice, short answer and extended writing questions. AQA states that at least 10% of the marks test maths skills at Level 2 or above, and at least 25 to 30% assess research methods, so research methods matter well beyond Paper 2. All three papers must be sat in the same series.
Source: AQA 7182 specification at a glance, subject content and scheme of assessment, checked 17 October 2026. AQA's current specification, which AQA headlines as updated for first A Level exams in 2027, uses the topic name Clinical Psychology and Mental Health.
What is AQA A-level Psychology?
AQA A-level Psychology (specification 7182) is a linear two-year A-level assessed by three written papers. It carries UCAS points on the standard scale (A* = 56, A = 48, B = 40, C = 32, D = 24, E = 16).
Topics and assessment
Core areas include social influence, memory, attachment, clinical psychology and mental health, approaches, biopsychology, research methods, and issues and debates, plus three optional topics, one from each option group in the AQA specification.
Papers are typically 2 hours each and are sat in the May-June series at an approved exam centre.
Entry requirements and study online
Lift College has no formal academic entry requirements. A grade 5+ in GCSE English Language and confidence with extended writing are strongly recommended.
View the A-level Psychology course for current fees and enrolment.
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Related reading: Is A Level Psychology Hard?.
Ready to study? Our A Level Psychology online course is the full AQA 7182 specification with a named UK tutor, three papers and no coursework.