How to Revise for Psychology A-Level Exams

Are you wondering how to revise for psychology A-Level? Starting a psychology A-level path can be exciting and difficult at the same time. With so many theories, research techniques, and essay topics to write on, successful rewriting becomes essential.

Because psychology sounded interesting and you didn’t want to spend two years being bored, you chose to major in it. But later realized how difficult it was to master all the material in the course and write excellent essays.

You must comprehend and be familiar with statistics and research because they contribute significantly to your psychology A-Level exam score.

Flashcards are a fantastic tool for revision; you should review them frequently, and they are simple to understand. Mind maps are quite useful for summarizing a whole subject; they should be visually appealing and simple to remember.

The best way to learn how to revise for psychology-level examinations is to put yourself to the test because you’ll be more knowledgeable about the material and know how to score well.

We break down the methods for effectively revising A-level psychology in this post, that will enable you to do well on your tests.

How does the Memory Work for Revision?
How can you Revise for the Psychology A-Level Exam?
Is the Revision of A-Level Psychology Hard?
How to Get an A* in A-Level Psychology
FAQs on How to Revise for Psychology A Level
Final Thought on How to Revise for Psychology A Level
References
Recommendations

How does the Memory Work for Revision?

Having a rudimentary understanding of how memory works will allow you to choose successful revision strategies.

Our brains are incredible. Our sensory memory receives information from our senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste—almost constantly while we are awake. Also, our short-term memory then stores the information we pay attention to.

It can store about seven items in your short-term memory for 30 seconds. Therefore, having learned this much won’t be sufficient to enable you to pass a test.

It’s important to do actions that will aid in storing information in your long-term memory when revising. It can store an infinite quantity of data in your long-term memory for a very long time.

You can practice it, organize it, and expound on it to make it more meaningful to aid in the transfer of knowledge from short-term to long-term memory.

You’ll need to access material from your long-term memory to respond to questions during an exam.

This is, of course, a very basic knowledge of memory.

Additionally, working memory processes the information in our short-term memory and aids us in doing activities.

However, even a basic comprehension of psychology (and a cursory review of certain research) can assist you in making wise revision choices.

How can you Revise for the Psychology A-Level Exam?

Organization, focus, and long hours at your desk are just as important to getting a great A-level grade as any innate talent you may have for the subject.

This gives you power over your future, which is energizing. There are many things you may do to increase your chances of success. Here are some revision suggestions.

#1. Make A Revision Timetable

It takes determination to perform well on an A-level test, and this will be much easier if you create and adhere to a revision schedule.

Unless they have informed you in advance that some units are worth a higher proportion of marks than others, give each unit or topic you have studied at the same time.

Make sure you are giving yourself regular, brief pauses to engage in enjoyable hobbies or just relax.

Over-studying may not be beneficial because your brain won’t have enough time to comprehend all the material, and you’ll get stale and resistive to the agile thinking you need to perform well on the test.

#2. Make Flashcards

Psychology is a subject with a lot of substance, thus it requires extensive factual information retention.

Although it could seem overwhelming, resist the urge to hide your head in the sand! Instead, use a method like flashcards to divide the information into manageable portions.

Instead of presenting the information as dry facts that may not stick in your mind very well, frame it as provocative questions to get you thinking.

You can read this: Top 10 Easiest A-Level Subjects – Ranked for 2024

#3. Do Plenty Of Past Papers

One of the best ways to review for A-level psychology is by using past papers because they let you practice under exam conditions.

Once you’re accustomed to working with old papers, set a stopwatch to the allotted time and adhere to it. Having appropriate timing when answering questions is essential for receiving a good grade.

As a result, you are not only being tested on your topic knowledge and recall but also on your ability to organize your thoughts and write them down in a limited amount of time.

Achieve a solid mix between thinking over your response and responding to the question.

#4. Familiarise Yourself With Exam Question Terminology

Exam questions frequently have predictable wording, which should guide how you structure your response.

Make sure you fully understand the variations in exam wording, since this can indicate the difference between a sufficient response and a more specific and in-depth one.

For instance, they might ask you to “explain” something in some queries, yet “describe” in others. Find out what the distinction means. Although there are some overlapping ideas, “evaluate” and “criticize” have slightly different meanings.

Is the Revision of A-Level Psychology Hard?

Exams used to be modular in the past, which allowed for greater flexibility in learning the material and provided opportunities for students who were having difficulty sitting for retakes.

Sadly, this is no longer the case because A levels now feature linear exams, which means that you must study the entire syllabus before taking the tests, which are often given at the conclusion.

This implies that you should make sure you receive a solid A-level the first time around and make a commitment to begin your revision as soon as possible.

Since there is a lot of material to study, many students prepare for their AQA A level psychology revision far too late, which can leave them feeling overwhelmed. The truth is that AQA A level psychology revision is challenging.

Also, there are a ton of essay test questions and theories to understand. AQA A-level psychology can be challenging if you don’t have sample essay solutions on hand.

You may need to read the questions several times in order to fully retain the content, as some of them deal with important statistics and research.

In order to respond to a common query from students like, how to revise for psychology a level?

The problem is that there is a lot to learn and remember, even though the answer is no, it isn’t.

**How to Get an A* in A-Level Psychology**

Below is a few ways to get an A* in A-Level psychology exams:

**#1. To Get an A* in A-Level Psychology, Quality Over Quantity is Really Important**

Focus on studies that link to several areas if you’re short on time or just have trouble remembering things. Make a list of all the studies you could discuss and identify the subjects each one relates to.

You’ll discover that although some are extremely specialized and only pertain to a certain aspect of your course, others may be applied to a wide range of inquiries.

Make an effort to learn a few studies that are applicable in a variety of contexts, but make sure you know at least one research for each topic.

You will require a thorough comprehension of the research you examine in detail, as well as the capacity to evaluate and analyze them.

Ask your teacher if they have any suggestions for additional reading to further your understanding of the subject.

Learning a few significant studies is related to the concept of quality over quantity; it is far preferable to write about a few studies in-depth than to reel off a lot of data without properly analyzing it.

Instead of memorizing pointless facts and dates, you should concentrate on developing a strong level of analysis and critical thinking because these skills will determine how well you perform on the exam.

Also, you can read this: A-levels 2024: Everything You Need to Know

#2. Understand A-Level Psychology Statistics and Research Methods

The majority of your exam’s results are based on your use of research methods; nevertheless, many students find it difficult to learn and use statistical tests.

It is preferable to learn these as early as you can so that you can familiarize yourself with them and revise them afterward. There are several strategies to get better if you’re still having trouble as your examinations get near.

There are some excellent resources available for learning about research methodology. The videos, notes, and quizzes on Tutor2u’s website on every research method covered in A-level psychology are quite helpful.

You should search for any particular topics you are having trouble with on YouTube to see what you can find.

YouTube is an excellent resource for A-level psychology. Here is a useful YouTube collection with several films covering various research techniques and statistical analyses.

On YouTube, Psych Boost is a fantastic channel that covers the major course material, research and statistics, and how to respond to exam questions.

These videos are worth viewing and taking notes on. It will significantly enhance both your knowledge of the subjects and your ability to respond to exam questions.

#3. Making Flashcards is a Great Way to Learn A-Level Psychology Content

There is a lot of material covered in A-level psychology, making it challenging to decide where to begin your revision. Making and using flashcards is a tried-and-true strategy, but you must make sure they are as helpful as possible.

Take a look at each of the course categories, such as Gender or Memory, after printing off your course definition. Work through these headings to make sets of flashcards for each topic using your textbook and specifications.

As this makes your materials much easier to identify and utilize later on, be sure to explicitly mark the topic in question.

Flashcards can be organized in a variety of ways, but the simplest rule is to write your notes as questions.

Since you must consider your response, answering questions is more like taking an actual exam and doesn’t feel like you are just reciting facts.

Some students like to have one question on each flashcard, although doing so can consume a lot of room and use a lot of cards that are not required.

To prevent this, attempt to put several related questions on a single card, but make sure everything is legible and clear.

Flashcards can also be used with a broad question on one side and more detailed notes covering the material on the back.

As an illustration, the phrase “Explain the types of conformity” can be expanded to include definitions, justifications, factors, and even pertinent studies.

Also, see this: Can You Retake a GCSE If You Have Already Passed?

#4. The Best Grades Go to Those Who Make Mind Maps

For A-level psychology revision, mind maps can be a tremendously helpful tool that can help you earn As and A*s on your exams.

Take notes on each subject first. It’s possible that you already reviewed this material or that you have lesson notes. Condensing the material from your notes will allow you to eliminate extraneous information from your textbooks and create mind maps that are easy to understand.

You should create a mind map for each issue, with the first arrows from the main bubble representing the points on the specification.

Your mind map will expand as you add more information, yet each portion can still be seen clearly even as it does.

The purpose of creating a mind map is to help you visualize it in your head during the exam, so adding color and imagery can be quite beneficial.

Instead of writing lengthy lines, consider using sketches or doodles that nevertheless cause the notion to pop into your head.

This not only saves space but also makes it simpler to recall the information from the mind map. To make it easier for you to remember the information, highlight important terms or figures in your mind map and experiment with using different colors for different sections of the specification.

After creating your mind maps, you might try to move forward and further compress the content into tiny A5 posters.

**#5. You Must Test Yourself Regularly to Achieve an A* in A-Level Psychology**

Regular self-testing is the best strategy to gradually increase your A-level psychology knowledge and self-assurance. Your teacher may have already assigned tests after each topic, but if not—or if you simply want extra practice—here are some helpful hints.

Once you’ve finished a topic, you should practice a few past-paper questions; vary them so that you practice some multiple-choice questions and short and long ones.

Past papers are tremendously helpful for revision because they get you ready for the format of the actual exams and prevent you from concentrating on simple problems.

Avoid looking at the mark system when answering past exam questions and try to come up with an answer without using your textbook or any other sources.

After completing the question, go over the marking criteria and highlight any important facts you were unaware of or any points you missed. Plan what you need to reread and what aspects of the subject you need to work on based on these notes.

When answering exam questions for the first time, it’s simple to take too much time planning, reading your notes, and striving for perfection.

You can check this: A Level Subjects you can’t afford to Miss | 2024

FAQs on How to Revise for Psychology A Level

Is it easy to get an A * in A-level psychology?

As long as you can do some calculations involving mean, median, and mode, you’ll be absolutely fine. If you want to get those A* grades, though, you’ll still have to revise for A-level psychology as much as you would for any other subject. It’s still an A-Level, and there’s still lots of content to learn.28 Jan 2020

How many marks do you need to get an A in psychology?

So we calculate 67 x 3 = 201 marks needed across all three exam papers to achieve a grade A* in 2022. To find out what percentage 201 is out of 288 (the total marks available across all 3 papers), you can divide 201 by 288 and then multiply by 100.

What A levels go best with psychology?

A-levels – While you don’t need to have all three sciences at A level for a psychology degree, most universities prefer at least one out of chemistry, physics, biology, or maths. Overall, a combination of good, academic A-level subjects is required. Psychology A level is desirable, but not usually required.

What subjects go best with psychology A level?

Complementary Subjects: Select A-level subjects that complement psychology. Sciences like biology or chemistry offer insights into the biological aspects of psychology, while sociology and philosophy provide perspectives on human behavior in social and philosophical contexts.

Final Thought on How to Revise for Psychology A Level

A-level psychology is an excellent subject to combine with the humanities or sciences. Psychology is sometimes misunderstood and viewed as an “easy” subject, but it truly requires a lot of work and effort. A lot of revision is required if you want to earn an A*, but there are some pointers to guide you.

References

psychologyhub.co.uk/ _______ 4 Tips to Revise A-Level psychology
bestforyou.org.uk/ _______ The psychology of successful revision

How to Revise for Psychology A-Level Exams

Table of Contents

How does the Memory Work for Revision?