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GCSE On the Ofqual register · 8182From £39.99/mo

GCSE Psychology Online Course

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Study the AQA GCSE (9 to 1) Psychology 8182 online with a named UK tutor, and sit the same GCSE taken in UK schools at a Tutors & Exams centre near you. Two written papers covering memory, perception, development, social influence, the brain and research methods.

Course facts
QualificationGCSE Psychology
LevelLevel 1/2, grades 9 to 1
Awarding bodyAQA
Qualification number603/0932/5
ExamsExam entry and seat booking are through Tutors & Exams, and only on the +Exams plan.
Price£39.99 a month, or £407.99 in total
Typical duration12 to 18 months, or faster if you study more each week
AgeOpen to anyone aged 14 or over. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support.
Who it suitsYou are curious about why people think and behave as they do and want a science-based GCSE that leads towards health, care, education or A Level Psychology.

Can adults take GCSE Psychology online and sit the exam?

Yes. Adults of any age can study AQA GCSE Psychology 8182 online with Lift College and sit the same two papers as school candidates, as a private candidate at a Tutors & Exams centre. There are no formal entry qualifications and no upper age limit. Adults often choose it as a science-based GCSE that leads towards health, care, education or A Level Psychology. The two written papers are 1 hour 45 minutes each, untiered, and cover memory, perception, development, social influence, the brain and research methods. There is no coursework. Psychology is examined once a year, in the May/June series only, so plan your study back from that date. Most adults study 6 to 12 hours a week and finish in 12 to 18 months. On +Exams we enter you before the AQA deadline and book your seat; exam entry is only on +Exams. Our guide on sitting GCSEs as a private candidate explains the process.

How much does an online GCSE Psychology course cost?

GCSE Psychology at Lift College costs £39.99 a month on Study or £69.99 a month on +Exams. Paying annually saves 15%: £407.99 a year for Study or £713.99 a year for +Exams. Study gives you the full course, your named UK tutor and marked practice; exam entry is only on +Exams. +Exams adds your AQA exam entry and Tutors & Exams centre fees, with your seat booked for you. Monthly +Exams has a 9-month expected term because exam fees are built in: you can cancel any time with no exit fee, but unused exam credit is forfeited. Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial, with nothing charged until day 8, no contract, no credit check and a 14-day money-back guarantee on every payment. Start now without the trial and every payment is 15% lower for life.

Comparing providers? Our guide to the best online GCSE Psychology courses in the UK sets Lift College alongside the other main providers.

How exams work£0 today. Nothing is charged until day 8. Cancel any time from your account.
AQA
Awarded by AQAQualification number 603/0932/5. Same papers, same certificate as school candidates.
Tutors and Exams, exam centre partner
Exams at 10 Tutors & Exams centresOur official exam centre partner. On +Exams we enter you and book your seat.
Independent reviewsEvery review on our Trustpilot page is from a Lift College learner.
AQA
Awarding
body
When do you want to start?
£69.99/month · +Exams
Start 7-day free trial
£0 today. Nothing is charged until day 8. Cancel any time from your account.
7-day free trial
14-day money back on every payment
No contract, cancel any time from your account
No credit check
Exams sat at 10 Tutors & Exams centres
LevelLevel 1/2, grades 9 to 1
SpecificationAQA 8182
Exams2 written papers, 1 hour 45 minutes each
TiersUntiered, grades 9 to 1
Exam seriesMay/June
Typical duration12 to 18 months
CourseworkNone. 100% examined
How paying works

Try it free. Stay while it works for you. Leave whenever you like.

There is no course fee to find, no finance agreement to sign and no debt to worry about. Your first 7 days are free, then you pay for the month you are in, and every payment is covered by the 14-day money back guarantee. Prefer to start now? Pay today instead of taking the trial and every payment is 15% lower for life, with the same 14-day guarantee.

+Exams and +Exams & CPAC on Monthly: Monthly comes with a 9-month expected term because exam fees are built in. Cancel any time, no exit fee; exam credit you have not used is forfeited and unbooked exams are void. Pay annually and no term applies.

The Lift College promise

You never sign a credit agreement with us, so there is no debt and nothing for anyone to chase. If you stop paying, you simply stop studying. No finance company, no loan and no letters.

Start your free trial
Your exams, handled

Ten centres across England. One partner. Your seat booked for you.

The hardest part of studying a GCSE outside school has always been the exam. Lift College and Tutors & Exams remove it: you study online with us, and you sit the same AQA papers as any school candidate at a professional Tutors & Exams centre, with your entry, venue and invigilation arranged through the partnership.

Tutors and Exams, exam centre partner
Specialist private-candidate exam centres. Lift College's official exam centre partner.
10dedicated exam centres across England, 10 approved for GCSEs
95%+of GCSE and A Level specifications assessed
63%of UK adults live within reach of a centre
DBSevery centre staff member trained and enhanced DBS checked
JCQ compliant and approved by
JCQ, Joint Council for QualificationsAQAPearson EdexcelCambridge OCREduqas, part of WJECCambridge International Education
Figures and approvals published by Tutors & Exams, tutorsandexams.uk, September 2026.
May/June seriesMay to June

Runs from May to June. The one series each year; all papers are sat in the same series.

On +Exams we enter you before AQA's deadline for the series you choose.

1
Enrol and study online

Start your free trial, meet your named UK tutor and work through the AQA specification at your own pace.

2
We enter you and book your seat

On +Exams, Lift College submits your AQA entry and books your place at the Tutors & Exams centre you choose, before the entry deadline.

3
Sit the same papers, get the same certificate

Trained invigilators, a room built for formal assessment, and a AQA certificate identical to a school candidate's.

BirminghamBoltonCoventryDoncasterHigh WycombeMitchamNewcastleRomfordSt NeotsTauntonFind your nearest centre →
On +ExamsYour AQA entry fee and centre fee are included in the monthly price. We enter you before the deadline and confirm your seat by email.
Access arrangementsExtra time, a reader or scribe, rest breaks or a separate room are arranged by Tutors & Exams' in-house SEN team, free at the point of delivery, with evidence of your normal way of working.
“The one thing we could not control was the exam day itself, and now we can. Our learners are in the safest possible hands.”Kate Strohm, Managing Director, Lift College
“No learner should find their opportunities limited simply because they study outside of a traditional school or college setting.”Ben Connors, Managing Director, Tutors & Exams
Who this is for

This course is for you if

  • You are curious about why people think and behave as they do and want a science-based GCSE that leads towards health, care, education or A Level Psychology.
  • You want a GCSE that teaches research methods and evaluation, skills that carry into any Level 3 course.
  • You are home educating and want a full GCSE with a named tutor, marked work and your exam seat booked for you.
  • You are an adult returning to study who wants a recognised GCSE at your own pace, with a tutor who marks your work and a resit route if you need one.
What you will need

Entry requirements

  • Open to anyone aged 14 or over. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support. There are no formal entry qualifications.
  • Recommended starting point: comfortable reading and basic arithmetic, because research methods includes simple percentages, averages and graphs. This is recommended, not required.
  • A computer, tablet or phone with internet access, and a notebook or a way to write and upload your practice answers. A calculator is allowed in both papers.
  • The ability to attend a Tutors & Exams centre in England for your written papers.

There is no minimum study time. Most learners spend 6 to 12 hours a week and finish in 12 to 18 months, or faster if you study more each week. Assignments are for feedback and do not count towards your grade; the qualification is 100% examined.

Studying this at home?

Home education from age 14

  • From age 14 with a parent or guardian's permission; the parent holds the account.
  • Exams booked for you at a named Tutors & Exams centre on +Exams.
  • Your named tutor can be your UCAS referee.
What you'll study

Every topic in the AQA 8182 specification, in one course

The AQA 8182 specification has two content areas, each examined by one paper. Research methods runs through the whole course. Open each content area to see what it covers.

Two equally weighted papers, 1 hour 45 minutes and 100 marks each

1Cognition and behaviour
Section 3.1 · Paper 1
  • Memory: processes, structures and accuracy
  • Perception: sensation, theories and factors affecting perception
  • Development: early brain development, Piaget and learning
  • Research methods: designing, conducting and evaluating studies, data handling
2Social context and behaviour
Section 3.2 · Paper 2
  • Social influence: conformity, obedience, prosocial behaviour and crowd behaviour
  • Language, thought and communication, including non-verbal communication
  • Brain and neuropsychology: structure and function, neurons and neurological damage
  • Psychological problems: mental health, depression and addiction
Step 1Learn the studies and how to evaluate them

Each topic pairs named studies with the skills to describe, apply and evaluate them, which is how the extended answers are marked.

Step 2Practise under exam conditions

Every unit ends with marked, exam style questions. Before entry you sit full timed mock papers with written feedback returned within 5 to 7 working days.

Step 3Sit both papers in one series

On +Exams your entry and your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre are booked for you and the fees are included.

Read the full AQA specification ↗Lift College teaches to the current AQA specification, so what you study is exactly what is examined.
Assessment

How you are assessed

Two written papers of 1 hour 45 minutes, each 100 marks and worth 50%, both sat in the same May/June series. Each paper has four sections of 25 marks with multiple choice, short answer and extended writing, and research methods can be assessed on either paper. There is no coursework and no tiering. Grades run from 9 to 1.

PaperLengthMarksWeightingContent
Paper 1: Cognition and behaviour1 hour 45 minutes100 marks50%Memory; Perception; Development; Research methods. Sections A to D, 25 marks each. Multiple choice, short answer and extended writing, drawing on the whole course.
Paper 2: Social context and behaviour1 hour 45 minutes100 marks50%Social influence; Language, thought and communication; Brain and neuropsychology; Psychological problems. Sections A to D, 25 marks each.
Study support

A named UK tutor from enrolment to exam day

Your named tutor

The same qualified UK subject expert supports you from enrolment through to your exam series.

Marked practice in every unit

Exam style tasks with individual written feedback within 5 to 7 working days.

Progress you can see

Unit scores and topic strengths on your dashboard, which your tutor uses to tailor feedback.

Exam readiness check

A timed mock paper and a written summary of what to focus on before you are entered.

Pricing

Choose how you want to study

Every option includes the full course, tutor marking and study support. The difference is whether we handle your exams. Pick your option, then try it free for 7 days or start now and every payment is 15% lower for life.

Free 7-day trial

£0 today

Full access for 7 days. Your first payment is on day 8, and you can cancel any time before then from your account.

£69.99/month from day 8

£0 today

Start 7-day free trial

14-day money back guarantee. Request a refund within 14 days of any payment.

Start now

15% off for life

Skip the trial and pay today. Every payment is 15% lower for as long as you study.

£69.99£59.49/month, for life

£59.49 today

Start now and pay £59.49

14-day money back guarantee. Request a refund within 14 days of any payment.

Both options include
  • Full course content and tutor marking
  • Named UK tutor and study support
  • Exam entry and centre fees included
  • Exam booking handled for you

Studying more than one course? Save 5% with two, 10% with three, 15% with four or more. Add them in the basket.

What learners say

Reviews from Lift College learners

Read our reviews onTrustpilot

“The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.”

Sarah M. · ManchesterAccess to HE Diploma

“I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.”

James P. · BirminghamA Level Biology

“Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.”

Aisha K. · LondonAccess to HE Diploma (Nursing)
Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same GCSE Psychology as in schools?

Yes. It is the same AQA 8182 specification, the same papers, the same grading and the same certificate as the GCSE sat in UK schools and colleges. The only difference is how you study: online, at your own pace, with a named tutor.

How old do I need to be?

Open to anyone aged 14 or over. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support. There are no formal entry qualifications.

Is GCSE Psychology a science?

It is taught and examined as a science. You learn named studies, evaluate evidence and plan simple investigations, and research methods are examined on both papers. It is not a science GCSE for entry to A Level Biology, Chemistry or Physics, but it is good preparation for A Level Psychology and Sociology.

Is there any coursework?

No. GCSE Psychology is 100% examined through two written papers of 1 hour 45 minutes each, one on cognition and behaviour and one on social context and behaviour.

When can I sit the exams?

Every GCSE on this page apart from English Language and Mathematics is examined once a year, in the May/June series. All papers are sat in the same series. On +Exams we enter you and book your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre for the series you are ready for; on Study you can arrange your own entry as a private candidate.

Where will I sit the exams?

At one of the ten Tutors & Exams centres across England: Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Mitcham, Newcastle, Romford, St Neots and Taunton. Use the centre finder on this page to see your nearest. Exams are always sat in person at an approved centre; no GCSE can be sat online.

How does paying work?

You pay monthly by subscription, or annually up front at the price shown in the plan card, which saves 15% against paying monthly. Every option starts with a 7-day free trial, there is no contract and no credit agreement, and you can cancel from your account at any time. Every payment is covered by 14-day money back. On +Exams the AQA or Eduqas entry fee and the Tutors & Exams centre fee are included in the price. GCSEs are Level 2 qualifications, so Advanced Learner Loans do not apply and we do not offer them.

What does the Study option include?

The full course, your named UK tutor, marked practice in every unit, mock papers and AI Study Support.

What if I stop paying?

You simply stop studying. There is no contract, no credit agreement and no debt. You can cancel from your account at any time and there is 14-day money back on every payment.

Can I sit the exams as a private candidate?

Yes. Lift College learners are entered as private candidates. On +Exams we handle the entry and book your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre, and the entry and centre fees are included. On Study you can enter yourself at a centre that accepts private candidates; you are responsible for that entry and the fees.

How long does the course take?

Most learners take 12 to 18 months from enrolment to sitting the exams, studying 6 to 12 hours a week. There is no minimum study time and no term dates: you can go faster if you study more each week, or take longer, and your subscription runs for as long as you need it. Marked work is returned within 5 to 7 working days.

How much does GCSE Psychology cost online with the exams included?

On Lift College's +Exams plan, GCSE Psychology is £69.99 a month or £713.99 a year, with your AQA entry and Tutors & Exams centre fees included and your seat booked for you. The Study plan is £39.99 a month or £407.99 a year; exam entry is only on +Exams.

What can GCSE Psychology lead to?

It is a science-based GCSE that leads towards health, care and education routes, or on to A Level Psychology. It is examined in two written papers in the May/June series, with no coursework.

Not sure if GCSE Psychology is right for you?

A UK adviser calls you back within 2 working hours, Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm. No sales script.

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