How Many GCSE Psychology Papers Are There?

If you’re taking GCSE Psychology, you need to know how many exam papers there are, and what topics you’ll be tested on. While specifications offer this information, they’re often 30-50 pages long and full of jargon that you don’t need.
There are three UK exam boards currently offering GCSE Psychology: AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR. All specifications consist of two compulsory papers.

This article offers a simple breakdown for all exam boards on what each component covers, the format, and how you’ll be assessed.

Key Takeaways

• AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR GCSE Psychology all consist of two compulsory papers

• There are currently no coursework elements in GCSE Psychology

• Prepare for your GCSE Psychology exams using a variety of methods and resources, including our revision pages

GCSE Psychology Assessment Structure Explained

AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR all offer linear qualifications for GCSE Psychology. This means you’ll sit both your exams at the end of Year 11.

All specifications cover similar core areas, including memory, development and research methods.

How Many Exam Papers Are There For GCSE Psychology?

All three exam boards require you to sit two compulsory papers:

AQA

1) Paper 1: Cognition and Behaviour
2) Paper 2: Social Context and Behaviour

Pearson Edexcel

1) Paper 1
2) Paper 2

OCR

1) Component 1: Studies and Applications in Psychology 1
2) Component 2: Studies and Applications in Psychology 2

Breakdown by Exam Board

AQA GCSE Psychology

The table below provides an overview of each paper for the current specification (opens in a new tab):

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Psychology

The table below provides an overview of each paper for the current specification (opens in a new tab):

OCR GCSE Psychology

The table below provides an overview of each component for the current specification (opens in a new tab):

For more information on the topics for the different exam boards, see our page on GCSE Psychology Topics by Exam Board: Full List.

Tips for Preparing for GCSE Psychology Papers

Use a variety of different revision methods

Here are some of the best methods to use for different areas of revision:

• Flashcards for key vocabulary, e.g. ‘aversion therapy’, ‘cognition’ and ‘neurotransmitters.’

• Mind maps to show connections between concepts, e.g. different types of long-term memory.

• Multiple choice quizzes – Get your friends and family to test you, especially in the run-up to exams!

Know your theories

• GCSE Psychology is full of interesting theories, including the Freudian theory of dreaming and Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.

• Once you’ve understood each theory, assess the strengths and weaknesses to help you evaluate them in the exam.

Read examiner reports

• Find out what mistakes to avoid and what other students did well by reading what examiners have said.

• Here’s a sample examiner report from AQA (opens in a new tab) and one from OCR (opens in a new tab).

Use Save My Exams

• Use our tailored revision notes for GCSE Psychology.

• If you’re looking to achieve the top grade, read through our expert tips on how to get a 9 in GCSE Psychology.

• Complete past papers and assess how you did against the mark schemes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all GCSE Psychology papers compulsory?

Yes. AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR all have two compulsory papers.

Do the papers have equal weighting?

AQA and OCR have equal weighting, as both components for each exam board are worth 50% each.

Pearson Edexcel does not have equal weighting: Paper 1 is worth 55%, whereas Paper 2 is worth 45%.

Can I resit individual GCSE Psychology papers?

GCSE resits usually require you to resit all papers. Pearson Edexcel (opens in a new tab) and OCR for example, make it clear that in order to try for a higher grade, you need to retake all exams.

Check with your teacher for more information on resits.

References

• AQA GCSE Psychology (opens in a new tab)

• Pearson Edexcel GCSE Psychology (opens in a new tab)

• OCR GCSE Psychology (opens in a new tab)