Psychology: IB & A level

Malvern College offers Psychology and the study of human behaviour at A Level. We develop pupils’ transferable skills of analysis, evaluation and critical thinking.

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Malvern College offers Psychology and the study of human behaviour at A Level and IB. The College's Psychology department emphasises teaching pupils to apply knowledge and understanding rather than just acquiring knowledge, thereby developing pupils’ transferable skills of analysis, evaluation and critical thinking, all of which are crucial skills for any course undertaken at higher education.

a close up of pupils at work in the library

Most pupils studying Psychology have had no previous experience of the subject although, as 10% of the overall assessment of Psychology contains mathematical skills, an ability to interpret numerical data is required, as is an enquiring and analytical mind. A 6 in Biology GCSE/ iGCSE is desired though not compulsory, given the biological nature of some of the modules.

At A Level, there is a range of topic-based options which bring together explanations from different approaches and engage pupils in issues and debates in contemporary psychology; topics include, but are not limited to Forensic Psychology, Schizophrenia, Relationships and Memory.

In the IB course, we study human behaviours from the Biological, Cognitive and Sociocultural approaches. Students also get the opportunity to replicate psychological research as part of their Internal Assessment, which gives pupils a tangible experience of how experiments are conducted in the real world.

Psychology Curriculum: Course Specifications

International Baccalaureate: Psychology

Standard/Higher Level  

Aims

Studying IB Psychology at Malvern College aims to develop students who: 

  • Understand human behaviour through Biological, Cognitive, and Sociocultural lenses. 
  • Interpret and conduct psychological research, including practical’s, where they replicate studies, fostering hands-on experience. 
  • Apply critical thinking and evaluative skills, grounded in ethics and scientific reasoning. 
  • Appreciate the real-world relevance of psychological theories across health, development, abnormal, and relationship contexts. 
  • Develop transferable skills—analysis, evaluation, ethical awareness, numerical interpretation—all integral to higher education and beyond  

At Malvern, these academic goals are underpinned by the Malvern Qualities—curiosity, resilience, open-mindedness—ensuring IB Psychology not only builds rigorous intellectual understanding but also personal growth. 

Specifically, students will:  

  1. Develop knowledge and understanding of psychological concepts, content and contexts, including models and theories.
  2. Think critically and creatively about behaviour and cognitive processes.
  3. Engage with problems facing individuals, groups and societies using psychological understanding and skills.

Course Content  

In the DP psychology course, students will develop knowledge and understanding of psychological concepts, content and contexts, as well as the models and theories associated with these areas. The contexts include Human Development, Learning and Cognition. Health and Wellbeing, and Human Relationships. Through the course, students will develop the ability to engage in critical thinking, assess evidence and acknowledge the evolving nature of knowledge. They acquire the ability to seek fresh information and generate understanding by employing research methodologies. The goal of the DP psychology course is not to create psychologists, but to promote psychological literacy. 

Assessment Details

Standard Level and Higher Level

Paper 1 

Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes) Integration of the concepts, content and contexts (35 marks)  

Section A: two compulsory short-answer questions from two of the three content areas Section B: two compulsory short-answer questions asking students to apply their knowledge of content to an unseen situation, each from one of four contexts  

Section C: students answer one of two concept-based extended response questions, each from a different context 

Paper 2 

Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes) Applying concepts and content to research contexts (35 marks)  

Section A: four compulsory questions that focus on the class practicals  

Section B: evaluation of an unseen research study with regard to two or more concepts 

Internal assessment (20 hours)  

Research proposal (24 marks) 

Design a research proposal to investigate a population of interest using one of the four research methods used in the class practicals. This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated. 

Paper 3 (Higher Level only) 

Paper 3 (1 hour 45 minutes) 

Data analysis and interpretation of research data (30 marks) 

Four source-based questions with quantitative and qualitative findings will be provided. The focus of the questions will be from one of the HL extensions. 

Course Requirements 

A grade 6 at GCSE in English, Maths and Biology is desirable.

A level: Psychology

At Malvern College, A Level Psychology offers a varied course in a subject that is new and exciting for our students in the Sixth Form. We are passionate about engaging our students in such a relevant subject to our rapidly changing world, using interactive tasks, experiments and providing tangible real-life examples of psychological concepts in action.  

Aims  

The aim of studying A Level Psychology is to understand human behaviour and mental processes through scientific methods. It explores key psychological concepts, theories, and research across areas like cognitive, social, developmental, and biological psychology. Students develop critical thinking skills by evaluating evidence and conducting experiments. The course fosters an appreciation of how psychological knowledge can be applied in real-life settings, such as mental health, education, and business. Ultimately, A Level Psychology aims to equip learners with analytical abilities and a deeper insight into why people think, feel, and act as they do, preparing them for further study or careers involving human behaviour. 

Course Content 

Students will study of a variety of different topics, some compulsory, some optional, across the two-year course. These topics include:  

  1. Social influence
  2. Memory
  3. Attachment
  4. Clinical Psychology and Mental Health
  5. Approaches in Psychology
  6. Biopsychology
  7. Research methods
  8. Issues and debates in Psychology 

The optional topics include Relationships, Schizophrenia and Forensic Psychology. 

The Syllabus

Examination board: AQA (7181) 

Assessment Details  

Three 2-hour examinations assessing knowledge and understanding of Introductory Topics in Psychology, Psychology In Context and Issues and Options in Psychology.  

Our assessment in A-level Psychology includes questions that allow students to demonstrate their ability to: 

  • draw together their skills, knowledge and understanding from across the full course of study 
  • provide extended responses. 

For example, sections B, C and D of Paper 3 contain extended response questions. An ‘extended response’ is evidence of sufficient length generated to allow students to demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured. 

Examinations consist of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing.  

Course Requirements 

Ideally, a minimum of 6 at GCSE in English, Maths and Biology is desirable.