How to get an A* in A-Level Psychology | Examiners Top Ten Tips

1. Master research methods: Make sure you have a solid understanding of research methodologies and psychological research issues. Research methods questions can (and do!) appear on all the exam papers. This material can also be used as part of your evaluation and discussion in the longer, essay-style questions. Being confident about research methods will support your performance across the entire course! You can see examples of this in the walkthroughs of the predicted papers we have written for this year.

2. Know the key studies: Several studies are named in the specification, so you could face a question specifically about them. This includes studies like Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment, Milgram’s work on obedience and Mary Ainsworth’s Stange Situation. You need to go beyond memorising these studies' aims, procedures, findings, and conclusions. Analyse the strengths and limitations of each and explore how these studies have shaped and influenced the development of psychological theories. Consider how they have contributed towards policy and practice in the real world – what difference have they made to how we live? What have they helped to explain? Remember that psychology aims to achieve this – to have a deeper understanding and help things improve!

3. Command words and assessment objectives: Make sure you understand what the different types of questions are asking of you and what type of marks will be available. What type of material will be creditworthy? For “outline” and “describe” questions for example, AO1/Knowledge marks will be available. You need to show what you know and that you understand. This could be based on a theory, key concept, or study. For “apply” questions, AO2/Application marks will be available, and you will need to link your psychological knowledge to a real-life scenario or a research study. For “evaluate” questions, AO3/Evaluation marks will be available, and you will need to give the strengths and/or limitations of something. When Laura walks you through the example A* essay she has written, I love the way she clearly shows you the AO1 2 and 3 parts in different colours so you can apply this in your own writing.

4. Critical evaluation is key: The depth of your evaluation and discussion will have one of the biggest impacts on your grade. Getting the detail and depth into your evaluative points is key! It’s never enough to simply identify. You need to make the point, identify the evaluative point, and then explain why it’s a strength or limitation. Including an example here is often a great way to illustrate the point that is being made. Finish off by considering what the consequence or implication is – what’s the outcome? What’s the impact or significance?

5. Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate: More marks will always be available for A03/Evaluation than AO1/Knowledge in the long essay questions. Make sure that this is reflected in your response. Be strict with timings and leave yourself enough time to write a thorough evaluation. 

6. Don’t forget the maths: At least 10% of the marks will be focused on mathematical content – be prepared for this. These questions shouldn’t come as a surprise. You will be able to use a calculator. Remember that you don’t need to be able to calculate all of the statistical tests named in the specification – you just have to know when they will be used. The only test you could be asked to calculate is the Sign test.  There could also be questions asking you to calculate the mean, median, mode or range along with fractions, ratios and percentages. We’ve got a separate free section on our psych bootcamps and masterclasses going over these skills if you need a recap

7. Use psychological technical language: Immerse yourself in the language of psychology! Include precise terminology, accurately and consistently, in your responses. Developing this rich vocabulary will allow you to articulate complex concepts with ease and really show off the depth of your understanding.

8. Be a psychologist: Practice designing psychological studies – this could include experiments and observations as well as writing questions that could be used in an interview or questionnaire. This could be about any area of psychology – pick a topic and make it fun! When you then answer a “design a study” question in the exam you will be confident about the structure and have lots of ideas to use.

9. Organise your work: Don’t forget to use paragraphs. This is a really easy way to show off the cohesive structure of your work. If you are moving between key concepts or parts of a theory - start a new paragraph. If you are moving from a strength to a limitation - start a new paragraph. This will allow you to quickly see what you have included and what else needs to be added. It will make your answer easier to read and make it easier for someone to give you more marks!

10. Answer the question: It can be easy to lose track of the question when you’re in the middle of the exam. Take some time to plan out your response and keep revisiting this. What is the question looking for? What is its particular focus? Are you linking material back to this regularly?