Skip to main content

GCSE Psychology

OSC1379 / OSC1380

Achieve your GCSE Psychology qualification with this online course and study from the comfort of your own home.

Course duration

Up to one year.

Course outcome

On successful completion of your exams, you will receive your AQA GCSE Psychology qualification.

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this course.

Assessment

Two paper based exams.

Course Options

Study Options

 
£499.00
or £15.31 /month*
Course code: OSC1379

*Pay monthly option available via Snap Finance on payment page in checkout

visamaestromastercardpaypalamexdiscoverdinerselo

Course overview

  • Achieve an internationally recognised qualification in GCSE Psychology from AQA.
  • Study fascinating topics such as the constructivist theory of perception, Piaget's stage theory, and non-verbal communication.
  • Study at your own pace and develop a solid foundation of knowledge that will prepare you for future studies in related fields.
  • Choose whether to add your exams to your enrolment and we will take care of booking these for you when you're ready!

Study the fascinating topic of psychology and learn more about how our social interactions influence our way of thinking, how the brain develops, and the theories behind the link between language and thoughts.

This online GCSE course in Psychology provides the perfect foundation of knowledge for a variety of future study pathways and careers, including healthcare, marketing, social work, sports, and more!

This AQA GCSE Psychology course is the same as the GCSE syllabus currently studied in traditional schools throughout the UK, allowing you to achieve an internationally recognised GCSE qualification from home at your own pace.

Please note, you must complete the official exams in order to achieve your qualification in GCSE Psychology.

If you choose to add your exams to your enrolment, we will book these for you, saving you the hassle of booking them yourself and giving you more time to dedicate to your psychology studies.

Course content

  • Processes of memory: encoding, storage and retrieval
  • Structures of memory
  • Memory as an active process

  • Sensation and perception
  • Visual cues and constancies
  • Gibson’s direct theory of perception: the influence of nature
  • Visual illusions
  • Gregory’s constructivist theory of perception: the influence of nurture
  • Factors affecting perception

  • Early brain development
  • Piaget’s stage theory and the development of intelligence
  • The role of Piaget’s theory in education
  • The effects of learning on development

  • Formulation of testable hypotheses
  • Types of variable
  • Sampling methods
  • Designing research
  • Correlation
  • Research procedures
  • Planning and conduction research
  • Ethical considerations

  • Quantitative and qualitative data
  • Primary and secondary data
  • Computation
  • Descriptive statistics
  • Interpretation and display of quantitative data
  • Normal distributions

  • Conformity
  • Obedience
  • Prosocial behaviour
  • Crowd and collective behaviour

  • Relationship between language and thought
  • Effect of language and thought on the view of the world
  • Differences between human and animal communication
  • Non-verbal communication
  • Explanations of non-verbal behaviour

  • Structure and function of the nervous system
  • Neuron structure and function
  • Structure and function of the brain
  • An introduction to neuropsychology

  • An introduction to mental health
  • Mental health problems and society
  • Characteristics of clinical depression
  • Theories of depression
  • Interventions or therapies from depression
  • Addiction

Exam details

AQA specification code: 8463

  • Type: written examination
  • Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes
  • Weighting: 50% of GCSE
  • Total marks: 100

What’s assessed: memory, perception, development, and research methods. You will be expected to draw on knowledge and understanding of the entire course of study to show a deeper understanding of these topics.

Questions:

  • Section A: multiple-choice, short answer, and extended writing (25 marks).
  • Section B: multiple-choice, short answer, and extended writing (25 marks).
  • Section C: multiple-choice, short answer, and extended writing (25 marks).
  • Section D: multiple-choice, short answer, and extended writing (25 marks).

  • Type: written examination
  • Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes
  • Weighting: 50% of GCSE
  • Total marks: 100

What’s assessed: social influence, language, thought and communication, brain and neuropsychology and psychological problems. Students will be expected to draw on knowledge and understanding of the entire course of study to show a deeper understanding of these topics.

Questions:

  • Section A: multiple-choice, short answer, and extended writing (25 marks).
  • Section B: multiple-choice, short answer, and extended writing (25 marks).
  • Section C: multiple-choice, short answer, and extended writing (25 marks).
  • Section D: multiple-choice, short answer, and extended writing (25 marks).

Extra information

You will have up to one year to complete your GCSE Psychology studies from the date you receive your materials.

With this course, you will have the flexibility to study at your own pace, and your only deadlines are the GCSE exams, which typically take place during the summer exam period (May/June).

There are no requirements and you do not need any previous knowledge to enrol on this course!

To achieve your GCSE Psychology qualification, your knowledge gained during your studies of all four units will be assessed across two paper-based exams.

If you add your exams to your enrolment we will book them when you’re ready. If you choose to book your exams through us, our GCSE exam centre locations for this course are as follows:

  • Birmingham
  • Bristol
  • Coventry
  • Doncaster
  • Bolton
  • Wimbledon
  • Taunton
  • St Neots, Cambridgeshire
  • High Wycombe
  • Romford

While you are formally assessed by completing your exams, you will also need to submit tutor-marked assignments to allow your tutor to monitor your progress.

There are two paper-based examinations. A more detailed breakdown of the assessment details is provided below.

This course will be studied entirely via distance learning, meaning you will complete your learning either from home or a place that suits you. Full tutor support will be available via email, so if you have any questions or need some guidance, your tutor will be here to help. Your course materials will include a series of self-assessment exercises and tutor-marked questions to allow both yourself and your tutor to monitor your progress.

The study method you choose depends on your personal learning style. Your options are:

  • Study pack: if you choose the study pack option, you will be sent a set of printed course materials.
  • Study online: if you choose this option, you will be sent your login details to our online portal through which you will access your course materials digitally. You can access your course via a desktop/laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Upon successful completion of the exams, you will receive your GCSE Psychology qualification.

The GCSE is awarded by AQA and is recognised by universities, schools, and employers globally.

FAQs

Yes! This course is the same as the GCSEs you would study at a traditional school. The only difference is that this course is designed to be studied from home and you receive full tutor support via email.

  • Personal tutor support.
  • Dedicated learner services.
  • Assignment marking and feedback.
  • FREE XO Student Discounts membership.
  • FREE CV critique service.
  • FREE employability guide to help you impress future employers.
  • Study pack, including pen, highlighter, and notebook*

*Not included with the online study option.

No, there are no additional books you need to purchase.

If you don’t add on the exams, you will need to book and pay for these separately.

It's not a problem. We offer a course replacement service, so if you get into trouble and your course pack is lost or damaged, our Learner Services Team can provide you with a new set of materials for a one-time additional fee.

That's not a problem. We want to make sure you're 100% confident about enrolling on the course and starting your study. So, just give our team of education specialists a call on 03300 563 100 and they'll do their best to help.