If you typed those words, “Is psychology hard?”, into Google, I want you to have a little word with yourself. Is any A-level (most likely the most complex and high-level qualification you have ever attempted) going to be easy? Of course not!
Let’s rephrase this, then: how difficult is an A-level in psychology compared to your GCSEs? How difficult is it compared to other A-level subjects? And will you be able to cope with it?
Most people who study at an A-level in psychology go into it completely blind. You didn’t study psychology at GCSE, and you certainly didn’t study it at primary school. So, you’re committing to a subject for two years where you may not have completed a single lesson.
Why is it, then, that psychology, after maths, is the second most popular A-level subject in the UK?
Maybe the above is the answer. You’ve spent the last five years, (sometimes twelve in the case of English, maths and the humanities), getting used to the GCSE subjects offered at your school. Now, psychology offers something glittery and new!
And it isn’t a bad choice at all. If you plan to study psychology at university, it’s advisable; it’s better to try psychology at A-level than wait until a degree. It would be an expensive mistake then if you hate it.
As the country deals with a mental health crisis, there are many opportunities to use psychology in a future career. As well as offering options as a psychologist and in mental health services, it can prepare you for careers in the health service and in education.
However, not everyone who studies psychology plans to make a career of it. Maybe you don’t even consider it an option at university. It doesn’t matter. Psychology at A-level brings with it many transferable skills:
All right. Let’s discuss what you really want to know. Can you hack it?
In 2024, if you studied for AQA A-levels, you would have been more likely to get an A* to B in physics than psychology and more likely to obtain an A* to D in maths than psychology. Therefore, no. Do not choose psychology out of a misguided expectation of ease.
The reasons it can be so tricky are:
Now you’ve worked out that psychology A-level should not be deemed an easy ride, you need to ensure you get the grade you want at psychology A-level. Here are some top tips for success:
Keep class notes organised in such a way that you can easily find what you need for revision. Keep up to date with writing flashcards for key theories and studies, too. Or create mind maps as you go through the two-year course, so they’re ready to plaster over your bedroom wall in the weeks leading up to the big exams.
Don’t wait until the weeks leading up to the exams. It’s far too late to cram all that information into your tired brain. Instead, build revision into your weekly routine. An hour a week for two years is worth many, many hours of last-minute cramming. Time management is key.
It doesn’t matter if your teacher hasn’t set you an essay this week. Take the initiative to set yourself one. You can look on the exam board’s websites for examples of essay questions. This will allow you to put your weekly revision into practice.
Your school library should have psychology journals dating back to the days of Oedipus. So, take some time to read articles relating to your exam topics. This will give you a deeper understanding of the topic needed for higher grades.
This includes:
Psychology A-level is not easy. It is a leap into the unknown. However, the subject offers transferable skills, a chance to glimpse what it would be like to work in the world of mental health, and it is possible to do very well.
So, do your homework about the subject and, if you are skill keen, have a go. There are no easy subjects at A-level, but with organisation, the will and drive to do well and a little luck, psychology A-level can be great.
