AS and A-Level Psychology Specification (7181) (7182)
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AS and A-level Psychology specification updates for first AS exams in 2026 and A-level in 2027
We have made changes to our Psychology (7181) and (7182) specifications from first teach in September 2025. View the updated specification changes and latest resources we have available for AS level and A-level Psychology
Find past papers and mark schemes, and specimen papers for new courses, on our website at aqa.org.uk/pastpapers
The AS specification is designed to be taken over one or two years with all assessments taken at the end of the course. The A-level specification is designed to be taken over two years with all assessments taken at the end of the course.
Assessments and certification for the AS specification are available for the first time in May/Juneand then every May/June for the life of the specification.
Assessments and certification for the A-level specification are available for the first time in May/Juneand then every May/June for the life of the specification.
These are linear qualifications. In order to achieve the award, students must complete all exams in May/June in a single year. All assessments must be taken in the same series.
All materials are available in English only.
Our assessment in AS Psychology includes questions that allow students to demonstrate their ability to:
For example, section A of Paper 1 contains an extended response question. 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.
Our assessment in A-level Psychology includes questions that allow students to demonstrate their ability to:
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.
Courses based on these specifications must encourage students to:
Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual and are the same across all AS and A-level Psychology specifications and all exam boards.
The exams will measure how students have achieved the following assessment objectives.
At least 10% of the overall assessment of Psychology will contain mathematical skills equivalent to Level 2 or above.
At least 25–30% of the overall assessment will assess skills, knowledge and understanding in relation to research methods.
At least 10% of the overall assessment of Psychology will contain mathematical skills equivalent to Level 2 or above.
At least 25–30% of the overall assessment will assess skills, knowledge and understanding in relation to research methods.
The marks awarded on the papers will be scaled to meet the weighting of the components. Students' final marks will be calculated by adding together the scaled marks for each component. Grade boundaries will be set using this total scaled mark. The scaling and total scaled marks are shown in the table below.