Edexcel GCSE Psychology specification (1PS0)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your Edexcel 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 Edexcel 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 Edexcel GCSE Psychology (1PS0) 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 Edexcel specification PDF.
Specification overview
The Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) in Psychology is structured around key questions to engage learners with how psychology helps explain human behaviour. It develops critical thinking and scientific skills, supports practical exploration of research, and builds awareness of how psychological concepts relate to everyday life. The course bridges core biological, cognitive, and social psychology with optional contemporary topics.
This qualification enables learners to: • apply psychological concepts, terminology, and methods to real-world issues • develop understanding of self and others using scientific enquiry • explore biological, cognitive, social, developmental and individual difference approaches • understand ethical issues and the evolution of psychological thinking • design, analyse and evaluate psychological research
The course promotes reflective thinking and links psychology to wider personal, moral and cultural issues. It aims to develop transferable skills useful across education and future careers:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
Subject content breakdown
Section A: Compulsory Topics (Paper 1) 1. Development – How did you develop?
- Early brain development and Piaget’s cognitive stages
- Dweck’s mindset theory and Willingham’s learning theory
- Morality stages and cognitive development
- Studies: Piaget & Inhelder (Three Mountains), Gunderson et al.
2. Memory – How does your memory work?
- Processes: encoding, storage, retrieval
- Amnesia types; Bartlett’s and Atkinson & Shiffrin’s models
- Studies: Bartlett (War of the Ghosts), Peterson & Peterson
- Debate: reductionism vs holism
3. Psychological problems – How would psychological problems affect you?
- Depression and addiction (symptoms, causes, impacts)
- Biological, cognitive and learning theory explanations
- Treatments: CBT, medication
- Studies: Caspi et al. (5-HTT gene), Young (CBT for internet addiction)
4. The brain and neuropsychology – How does your brain affect you?
- Brain structure and function, lateralisation, neurons/synapses
- Neurological damage effects
- Studies: Damasio (Phineas Gage), Sperry (split brain)
5. Social influence – How do others affect you?
- Obedience, conformity, crowd behaviour, bystander effect
- Prevention of blind obedience
- Studies: Piliavin (subway Samaritan), Zimbardo (prison study)
Section B: Optional Topics (choose 2 for Paper 2) 6. Criminal psychology – learning theories, biological traits, recidivism, rehab programmes 7. The self – self-concept, free will, humanistic theory, trait theory 8. Perception – depth cues, Gibson/Gregory theories, perceptual set 9. Sleep and dreaming – sleep stages, rhythms, sleep disorders, Freud, Hobson & McCarley 10. Language, thought and communication – Piaget, Vygotsky, linguistic relativity, non-verbal communication
Section C: Research Methods (assessed in both papers)
- Hypotheses, variables, sampling, experimental design
- Ethics, types of studies, data handling
- Analysis skills: mean, median, mode, range, graphs, correlation
- Design and evaluate studies from stimulus scenarios:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Assessment structure
Paper 1: 1PS0/01 – Compulsory Content
- Topics 1–5: Development, Memory, Psychological Problems, Brain/Neuropsychology, Social Influence
- 1h 45m written paper, 98 marks, 55% of GCSE
- 6 sections: 5 topic sections + 1 extended response section
- Includes multiple-choice, short, open and extended responses
Paper 2: 1PS0/02 – Optional Topics + Research Methods
- Choose 2 from Topics 6–10 + Topic 11 (Research Methods is compulsory)
- 1h 20m written paper, 79 marks, 45% of GCSE
- Section A: Research Methods (with possible references to Paper 1 topics)
- Sections B–F: Optional topic questions
- Includes calculations, multiple-choice, short, open and extended responses
- Use of calculators permitted
Assessment Objectives
- AO1: Knowledge and understanding – 35%
- AO2: Application – 35%
- AO3: Analysis and evaluation – 30%
- Synoptic assessment included in extended questions across topics
Grading and Structure
- Linear qualification, all exams taken at the end
- Graded 9–1
- Total mark: 177 (Paper 1 = 98, Paper 2 = 79):contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your Edexcel 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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