Psychology is the science of the mind; the study of, among other things, how our thought processes work, why we behave the way we do and how we learn. Our GCSE Psychology course will allow you to better understand both yourself and others and provides a great introduction for anyone interested in studying psychology at a higher level or simply learning more about how our minds work.
GCSEs are the most widely taken qualification in the UK and considered the educational standard for school-leavers at 16. You’ll learn about different schools of psychology and psychological theories, explanations for different behaviours and the research methods used to study the subject. Full details of the course can be found below.
This GCSE Psychology course has been written to the latest specifications and has been designed to give you the best possible chance of success. You’ll have everything you need to succeed, starting with a clear induction and well-structured assignments to help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to prepare for the exam. You will have guaranteed access to one of our exam centres if you to sit your final GCSE examinations in the UK. GCSEs are qualifications that count.
You will benefit from:
- A brand new course, written to the latest specification with dynamic and engaging content
- Fast track is available on this course (for exams in 2022)
- Access to our network of partnership exam centres (guaranteed exam venue)
- Unlimited tutor support – we help you write a study plan and support you throughout
- Exam pass guarantee (if you don’t pass the first time, we’ll support you to the next exam)
Psychology is the science of the mind; the study of, among other things, how our thought processes work, why we behave the way we do and how we learn.
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Exam Pass GuaranteeIf you don’t pass the first time, we’ll support you to the next exam for free
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Guaranteed exam centreAccess to our Country-wide network of exam centres (guaranteed exam venue)
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Unlimited Tutor SupportGet as much help and support as you want from your personal course tutor via email and phone.
- Awarding body: AQA
- Our course code: X808
- Qualification code: 8182
The AQA qualifications are internationally recognised and taught in 30 countries around the world, highly valued by employers and universities and enable young people to progress to the next stage of their lives. AQA qualifications suit a range of abilities and include GCSEs, IGCSEs and A-levels.
Study Hours
You should allow for between 120 and 150 hours’ study time, plus additional time for completing assignments.
Study Method
Our course is delivered via our online learning platform as this provides learners with a dynamic and engaging experience. Don’t worry, if you prefer, you can print the learning materials yourself. The learning resources are in a range of different media including videos, quizzes, and interactive activities.
Course Duration
Once you enrol, you’ll have up to two years to study and take your exams, and your unlimited tutor support will continue throughout this time.
Assessment
You can enrol now for examinations from Summer 2022.
You’ll be required to complete the two GCSE standard written exams.
Official exams
- 1 hours 45 minutes, 50% of marks
- 1 hours 45 minutes, 50% of marks
We provide a guaranteed exam space in one of our exam centres around the Country, to take away the hassle of needing to find your own. Check where your closest exam centre is.
Assignments
During your course, you will also be required complete 9 assignments and one introductory. These do not contribute towards your final grade but provide you with an opportunity to submit work to your tutor for marking and feedback. This will help you to gauge your progress as you work through the course. There is no coursework to complete. All exams must be taken in the same session.
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this home learning course, you will receive a GCSE in Psychology, issued by AQA. This syllabus has been chosen specifically because it is the best suited to distance learning.
Additional Information
Difficulty - Level 2
Entry requirements - There are no formal entry requirements for this course, however, it is recommended that you have the ability to read and write English effectively.
Course Content
- Processes of memory
- Encoding, Storage and Retrieval
- Long-term and Short-term Memory
- Structures of memory
- Memory as an active process
- Factors affecting memory
- Processes of memory
- Perception and Sensation
- Visual Cues and Depth Perception
- Visual Illusions and Theories of Perception
- Gibson’s direct theory and Gregory’s constructivist theory
- Factors affecting Perception
- Culture, Emotion, Motivation and Expectation
- Early brain development
- Piaget’s theory
- The theory of conservation and egocentrism
- Stages of cognitive development
- Application in education
- Effects of learning on development
- Dweck’s mindset theory of learning
- The role of praise and self-efficacy
- Learning styles
- Willingham’s learning theory
- Designing Data
- Starting Out hypotheses and variables
- Extraneous variables
- Types of the experiment
- Experimental designs
- Sampling methods
- Ethical considerations
- Designing Research
- Interviews and questionnaires
- Correlations
- Case studies
- Reliability and validity
- Types of data
- Descriptive statistics
- Interpretation and display of quantitative data
- Computation
- Conformity
- Asch’s Study
- Social and dispositional factors
- Obedience
- Milgram’s Study
- Milgram’s agency theory (social factors)
- Adorno’s theory (dispositional factors)
- Prosocial behaviours
- Piliavin’s subway study
- Social and dispositional factors
- The crowd and collective behaviour
- Deindividualisation
- A case study
- Social and dispositional factors
- Language and thought
- Piaget’s theory
- The Sapir-Whorf hypotheses
- A review of the world
- Human and animal communication
- Von Frisch’s bee study
- Human versus animal communication
- Non-verbal communication
- Eye contact
- Body language
- Personal space
- Explanations of non-verbal behaviour
- Evidence of nature: Darwin’s evolutionary theory
- Non-verbal response: innate or learned?
- Evidence of nurture: Yoki’s study of emoticons
- Structure and function of the nervous system
- The structure of the nervous system
- The function of the nervous system
- The autonomic nervous system
- The James Lang theory of emotion
- Neuron structure and function
- neuron and electrical transmission
- Synapses and chemical transmission
- Hebb’s theory of learning
- Structure and function in the brain
- The localisation of function in the brain
- Penfield’s study of the interpretive cortex
- Introduction to neuropsychology
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Neurological damage
- Scanning techniques to identify brain functioning
- Tulving “gold” memory study
- The Language of Shakespeare
- Structure & Form
- Prologue
- Act One
- Act Two
- Act Three
- Act Four
- Act Five
- Developing an informed personal response to the play
- Revision Tips
- Exam Techniques
- Preparing for Paper 1
- Preparing for Paper 2
Frequently Asked Questions
We have some answers to common student questions, but if you can't find the answer you're looking for then please contact us and we will do everything we can to answer your questions.
Yes. there will be additional fees for your exams that are payable to the centre upon booking Your personal tutor can provide more details.
Yes, you can find out more by clicking here.
You will need to pay separately for your final examinations. Additional texts may also need to be purchased to supplement your learning on the course.
We are able to offer places at partnership exam centres across the UK for our students, therefore, guaranteeing an exam venue. If you choose to find your own exam centre, you can, you will need to register with them as an external or private candidate. Fees vary across the country so we recommend enquiring prior to enrolment.
Yes! You study the same curriculum, take the same examinations and get the same qualification. The only difference is that the course is specially designed to be studied from home in your own time.
You will have access to your personal tutor, via email, who will mark your assignments and guide you through the course to help you get ready for your examinations. In addition, you will be supplied with a comprehensive Study Guide that will help you through the study and assessment process. Your personal tutor will be highly experienced in their subject area and qualified to teach.
Please check our main FAQs section or Contact Us, we have experienced course advisers who will be delighted to help!
That’s fine, this course can be studied anywhere and is completed by submitting Tutor marked assignments (TMAs).