OCR AS Psychology specification (H167)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your OCR AS 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 OCR AS 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 OCR AS Psychology (H167) 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 OCR specification PDF.
Specification overview
The OCR AS Level Psychology specification provides learners with an engaging and practical introduction to the scientific study of behaviour and the mind. Through this course, learners are encouraged to think like psychologists, developing analytical, research, and evaluative skills. The subject fosters the ability to critically assess data, communicate effectively, and understand psychology's application to society, work, and further study. Learners gain an appreciation of scientific methods and the role psychology plays in understanding behaviour, supporting future progression in education or employment.Subject content breakdown
3.1 Research methods (Component 01)
- Understand four main techniques: self-report, experiment, observation, correlation
- Plan and conduct research: hypotheses, sampling, experimental design, variables
- Analyse and present data: descriptive and inferential statistics, levels of data
- Report writing: structure of research reports, referencing, peer review
- Conduct practicals: small-scale studies using all four techniques
- Learn scientific principles: cause-and-effect, falsifiability, replicability, objectivity
3.2 Psychological themes through core studies (Component 02)
- Study 10 core studies: 5 classic and 5 contemporary, across key themes:
- Social: Milgram (1963) and Bocchiaro et al. (2012)
- Cognitive: Loftus and Palmer (1974) and Grant et al. (1998)
- Developmental: Bandura et al. (1961) and Chaney et al. (2004)
- Biological: Sperry (1968) and Casey et al. (2011)
- Individual differences: Freud (1909) and Baron-Cohen et al. (1997)
- Evaluate studies: similarities/differences, methodology, diversity, issues and debates
- Understand perspectives: behaviourist, psychodynamic
- Explore debates: nature/nurture, freewill/determinism, ethical issues, psychology as a science
- Apply learning: practical applications to novel sources such as articles or diary entries
Assessment structure
Research methods (Component 01)
- 75 marks, 1 hour 30 minutes, written paper
- 50% of total AS Level
- Includes multiple choice, research design and evaluation, and data analysis questions
- At least 15 marks assess mathematical skills in context
Psychological themes through core studies (Component 02)
- 75 marks, 1 hour 30 minutes, written paper
- 50% of total AS Level
- Section A: Core studies – questions on individual and paired studies
- Section B: Areas, perspectives, and debates – extended response questions
- Section C: Practical applications – apply psychology to new sources
Key tips for success
Doing well in your OCR AS 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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