WJEC A Level Psychology specification (1290)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your WJEC A Level Psychology exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official WJEC A Level Psychology specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official WJEC A Level Psychology (1290) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official WJEC specification PDF.
Specification overview
This A-level Psychology course (WJEC) offers learners an in-depth introduction to psychological approaches, research methods, and real-world applications. The specification emphasises critical engagement with classic and contemporary studies, ethical considerations, and the scientific processes behind psychological enquiry. Learners develop skills in analysis, evaluation, and investigation while gaining insight into behaviours, controversies, and psychological interventions. The course prepares students for higher education and careers where an understanding of human behaviour, analytical reasoning, and scientific literacy are valuable.Subject content breakdown
Unit 1: Psychology: Past to Present
- Biological, psychodynamic, behaviourist, cognitive, and positive approaches.
- Each includes: assumptions, application to relationship formation, therapeutic techniques, evaluation, and classic research.
- Classic studies include Raine (1997), Bowlby (1944), Watson & Rayner (1920), Loftus & Palmer (1974), Myers & Diener (1995).
Unit 2: Psychology: Using Psychological Concepts
- Section A: Contemporary debates: e.g. neuroscience ethics, primary caregiving, conditioning in children, eyewitness reliability, positive psychology's relevance.
- Section B: Research methods: includes hypothesis types, variables, experimental designs, sampling techniques, reliability, validity, ethics.
- Core research: Milgram (1963), Kohlberg (1968).
Unit 3: Psychology: Implications in the Real World
- Section A: Behaviours: choose 3 from 6 (addiction, autism, bullying, criminality, schizophrenia, stress); study biological, individual, and social explanations and behavioural interventions.
- Section B: Controversies: cultural bias, research ethics, animal use, psychology as a science, sexism.
Unit 4: Psychology: Applied Research Methods
- Section A: Personal Investigations: learners complete two investigations annually (e.g. Stroop test, memory, observation, experiment).
- Section B: Application of research methods: includes brain scans, longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, extended reliability/validity, distribution curves, inferential tests.
Assessment structure
AS Unit 1: Psychology: Past to Present
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 80 marks (20% of A level)
- Covers five approaches and classic studies
AS Unit 2: Psychology: Using Psychological Concepts
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 80 marks (20% of A level)
- Covers contemporary debates and research methods
A2 Unit 3: Psychology: Implications in the Real World
- Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
- 100 marks (40% of A level)
- Includes structured essays on behaviours and controversies
A2 Unit 4: Psychology: Applied Research Methods
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 60 marks (20% of A level)
- Covers personal investigations and applied research scenarios
Assessment Objectives
- AO1: Knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas and procedures
- AO2: Application in theoretical and practical contexts (including data handling)
- AO3: Analysis, interpretation, evaluation, and drawing conclusions
Weighting by Objective (A level total)
- AO1: 31.3%
- AO2: 32%
- AO3: 36.7%
Overall Structure
- Four units (two AS, two A2)
- All exams written
- Practical investigations completed and assessed through exam response
- Unit grades combined using Uniform Mark Scale (UMS)
Key tips for success
Doing well in your WJEC A Level Psychology isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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