Switching to AQA: from OCR
To save you time and help you compare our A-level Psychology with the OCR specification, we’ve created some comparison tables.
These tables highlight the content and requirements side by side, so you can make the right choice for your students.
Let us know if you’d like to hear from us, we’ll send you everything you need to get started.
Assessment structure
Paper 1
AQA – A-level Psychology | OCR – A-level Psychology |
---|---|
Introductory topics in psychology | Research methods |
Written exam | Written exam |
2 hours | 2 hours |
96 marks (33.3% of A-level) | 90 marks (30% of A-level) |
Paper 2
AQA – A-level Psychology | OCR – A-level Psychology |
---|---|
Psychology in context | Psychological themes through core studies |
Written exam | Written exam |
2 hours | 2 hours |
96 marks (33.3% of A-level) | 105 marks (35% of A-level) |
Paper 3
AQA – A-level Psychology | OCR – A-level Psychology |
---|---|
Issues and options in psychology | Applied psychology |
Written exam | Written exam |
2 hours | 2 hours |
96 marks (33.3% of A-level) | 105 marks (35% of A-level) |
Subject content
Paper 1
AQA – A-level Psychology | OCR – A-level Psychology |
---|---|
1. Social influence
2. Memory
3. Attachment
4. Psychotherapy
| 1.1 Research methods and techniques
1.2 Planning and conducting research
1.3 Data recording, analysis and presentation
1.4 Report writing
1.5 Practical activities
1.6 How science works
|
Paper 2
AQA – A-level Psychology | OCR – A-level Psychology |
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5. Approaches in psychology
6. Biopsychology
7. Research methods Research methods
Scientific processes
Data handling and analysis
Inferential testing
When to use the following tests:
| Core studies Ten key themes and the classic and contemporary core study located within each. For each core study:
Themes and studies
|
Paper 3
AQA – A-level Psychology | OCR – A-level Psychology |
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8. Issues and debates in psychology
Option 1 – choose one from: 9. Relationships
10. Gender
11. Cognition and development
Option 2 – choose one from: 12. Schizophrenia
13. Eating behaviour
14. Stress
Option 3 – choose one from: 15. Aggression
16. Forensic psychology
17. Addiction
| With reference to psychology, learners should be able to explain and exemplify the background and consider relevant issues and debates in relation to the topic area. The assessment will require learners to apply these issues and debates across a range of topics, further developing the material in the specification and making links between the issues and debates and the content of this component. Compulsory topic: Issues in mental health
Any two from: Child psychology
Criminal psychology
Environmental psychology
Sports and exercise psychology
|