AQA GCSE Psychology specification (8182)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your AQA GCSE 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 AQA GCSE 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 AQA GCSE Psychology (8182) 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 AQA specification PDF.
Specification overview
AQA’s GCSE Psychology introduces students to key concepts, methods and applications within the field of psychology. The course fosters critical analysis, independent thinking and research skills, helping students to understand themselves and others through an exploration of human behaviour.
This qualification enables learners to: • gain foundational understanding of psychological concepts and theories • apply psychological knowledge to real-world and theoretical contexts • develop scientific thinking, analytical reasoning and problem-solving skills • carry out ethical practical research to analyse and interpret behavioural data • evaluate therapies and treatments for mental health conditions
Students are expected to engage with contemporary studies and classic experiments across cognitive, developmental, biological and social areas of psychology, supported by a strong emphasis on research methodology and mathematical competence:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
Subject content breakdown
3.1 Cognition and behaviour Memory
- Types: episodic, semantic, procedural
- Structures: multi-store model; encoding, capacity, duration
- Models: reconstructive memory; primacy/recency effects
- Influencing factors: interference, context, false memories
Perception
- Sensation vs perception; depth cues (monocular, binocular)
- Visual theories: Gibson (nature), Gregory (nurture)
- Illusions: Ponzo, Müller-Lyer, Ames Room, etc.
- Factors: culture, motivation, expectation; perceptual set studies
Development
- Brain development and structure
- Piaget’s cognitive stages; applications in education
- Studies: McGarrigle & Donaldson, Hughes
- Learning theories: Dweck (mindset), Willingham, learning styles
Research Methods
- Hypotheses, variables, sampling (random, stratified, etc.)
- Methods: experiments, interviews, questionnaires, observations
- Ethical considerations, experimental design, data handling
- Statistics: mean, median, mode, range, normal distribution, graphs
3.2 Social context and behaviour Social Influence
- Conformity and obedience (Asch, Milgram, Adorno)
- Prosocial behaviour (Piliavin); crowd behaviour (deindividuation)
Language, Thought and Communication
- Piaget vs Sapir-Whorf on language/thought link
- Human vs animal communication; Von Frisch’s bee study
- Non-verbal communication: eye contact, body language, posture
- Explanations: Darwin’s theory, Yuki’s emoticon study
Brain and Neuropsychology
- Nervous system, neurons, neurotransmission, synapses
- Brain structures and localisation of function
- Penfield and Tulving’s brain studies
- Cognitive neuroscience, scanning (CT, PET, fMRI)
Psychological Problems
- Mental health definitions, stigma, social impact
- Depression: symptoms, biological (serotonin) and cognitive (schemas) explanations; treatments (CBT, medication)
- Addiction: symptoms, genetic and peer explanations; treatments (aversion, self-management):contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Assessment structure
Paper 1: Cognition and behaviour
- 1h 45m written exam
- 100 marks, 50% of GCSE
- Sections A–D: mix of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing
- Topics: Memory, Perception, Development, Research Methods
Paper 2: Social context and behaviour
- 1h 45m written exam
- 100 marks, 50% of GCSE
- Sections A–D: mix of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing
- Topics: Social Influence, Language/Thought/Communication, Brain/Neuropsychology, Psychological Problems
Assessment Objectives
- AO1: Knowledge and understanding – 35%
- AO2: Application of knowledge – 35%
- AO3: Analysis and evaluation – 30%
Mathematical Skills
- Required in data analysis and research methods
- Covers mean, median, mode, range, graphs, correlation, sampling, normal distribution
Grading and Structure
- Graded 9–1
- Linear assessment (all exams at the end)
- Total scaled mark: 200 (100 per paper):contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your AQA GCSE 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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