AQA A-Level Psychology 2026 predictions – Paper 2

We’ve done an analysis of the topics and questions that have appeared in previous exam seasons and have used this to write Psychology predicted papers for this year. 

You’ll see questions in the same style as those in the exams and be able to unpick what they are actually asking, what needs to be included in your responses and how these should be structured. Then you’ll be ready to do exactly the same in the actual exam! 

Please remember to revise everything as these are just predictions. We don’t have any additional information or know anything in advance of the exams - we have not seen the real papers!

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We know for Paper 2 – Psychology in Context – there are three sections in the paper – Approaches in Psychology, Biopsychology and Research Methods and we’ll go through each of these topics.  

Section A: Approaches in Psychology:

Humanistic Approach: A likely focus is the Humanistic approach, which emphasises free will, personal growth and the subjective experience of the individual. You should be prepared to explain key assumptions, including the rejection of determinism and reductionism, and the belief that behaviour can only be fully understood through conscious experience. Central concepts such as the self, congruence, and the ideal self should be explained clearly, alongside Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which proposes that individuals are motivated to achieve self-actualisation once lower-level deficiency needs are met. You may also need to refer to Carl Rogers, particularly the role of unconditional positive regard in promoting psychological growth. Evaluation is essential and should consider strengths such as positive applications to therapy and education, balanced against limitations including lack of scientific rigour, reliance on subjective methods, and difficulties testing concepts empirically.

Cognitive Approach: There is also a strong possibility of questions focusing on the Cognitive approach, either alone or in comparison with the humanistic perspective. You should revise how this approach views behaviour as the result of internal mental processes such as perception, memory and thinking, and how these processes can be scientifically studied through inference and controlled experimentation. The use of theoretical models, such as information-processing frameworks, is a key feature, as is the application of cognitive principles to real-world issues like mental health through cognitive therapies. Evaluation should include strengths such as strong scientific credibility, use of objective methods, and successful applications (for example, CBT), alongside limitations such as machine reductionism and the assumption that cognitive processes are universal.

Section B: Biopsychology:

Nervous system: A likely focus is the structure of the nervous system. You should be prepared to explain how the nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS), consisting of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS is further divided into the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary movement, and the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary physiological processes. The autonomic nervous system is then split into the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, which work antagonistically to prepare the body for action or return it to a resting state. High-level answers will clearly describe these divisions and demonstrate understanding of how they interact to regulate behaviour and physiological responses.

Fight or flight: Another highly predictable topic is the fight or flight response. You should revise how this response is initiated by perceived threat and coordinated by the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. The role of the hypothalamus in triggering the adrenal glands, leading to the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline, should be clearly explained. Strong answers will also evaluate this response, for example by recognising its evolutionary value in preparing the body for survival, while also highlighting limitations such as its maladaptive nature in modern society, where chronic activation can contribute to stress-related illnesses.

Measuring the brain: Finally, there is a strong likelihood of questions on measuring the brain, particularly fMRI, EEGs, ERPs and post-mortem examinations. You should be able to describe how each method works and what it measures. For example, fMRI measures changes in blood oxygenation to infer brain activity, EEGs record electrical activity via electrodes placed on the scalp, ERPs are derived from EEG data and linked to specific cognitive events, and post-mortem examinations involve detailed analysis of brain structures after death. Evaluation is crucial here. You should compare methods in terms of spatial and temporal resolution, invasiveness, objectivity and usefulness. For instance, EEGs have excellent temporal resolution but poor spatial resolution, while fMRI offers detailed spatial images but is indirect and expensive. Post-mortems provide detailed anatomical data but cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Section C: Research Methods:

Embrace Research Methods Across All The Papers: Recognise that Research Methods content appears in all three exam papers, not just Paper 2. While Paper 2 is where you'll find the main section on Research Methods, it's crucial to understand that research methods knowledge can, and is!, examined across the entire course. Familiarise yourself with examples of research and identify key elements such as aims, hypotheses, variables, control measures, samples used, and data collected. Exposure to different research scenarios will better prepare you for the new piece of research you'll face in this section. 

12 Mark Design a Study Questions

Be prepared to design a study that addresses a specific research question. This might include selecting an appropriate research method (e.g., experiment, observation, self-report), deciding on the type of data to collect (qualitative or quantitative), and considering how to operationalise variables. Ensure you can justify your choices, explaining why a particular method or design is suitable for the research question at hand.

Review past paper questions and our predicted papers to help anticipate the types of study design questions that may come up. Practice writing out detailed study designs that incorporate all necessary elements—method, data collection, ethics, and design—within the context of different psychological research areas. This practice will help you structure your answers clearly and concisely during the exam