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Conquer International A-Level Psychology

Explore International A-Level Psychology with practice on core approaches, research methods, and specialist topics.

Content reviewed February 2026 · Aligned to current specifications

About International A-Level Psychology

International A-Level Psychology provides a scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. The syllabus covers core areas including cognitive psychology, social psychology, biological psychology, developmental psychology, research methods and psychological disorders. Students learn to evaluate theories, analyse research evidence and apply psychological concepts to real-world situations.

Assessment is through written examination papers that test knowledge of psychological theories and studies, the ability to design and evaluate research, and the application of psychology to novel scenarios. The modular structure allows students to sit unit exams across multiple sessions and resit individual modules. There is no coursework component in most variants.

International A-Level Psychology is excellent preparation for university courses in psychology, neuroscience, sociology, education, criminology and healthcare. It develops critical evaluation skills, scientific literacy and an understanding of research methodology that are valued across many disciplines.

Topics Covered

Approaches Research Methods Biopsychology Cognitive Psychology Social Psychology Developmental Psychology Abnormal Psychology Issues & Debates

Exam Boards

International A-Level Psychology is available from these exam boards

How UpGrades Helps

Exam-Style Questions

Practice with Psychology questions that mirror the format and difficulty of real International A-Level exams.

Detailed Explanations

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Progress Tracking

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Study Tips for Psychology

  • Learn key psychological studies in detail - know the researcher, aim, method, results, conclusions and evaluative points for each. iAL Psychology exams require specific study knowledge.
  • Practice writing AO3 (evaluation) paragraphs. For every theory or study, prepare strengths, weaknesses, methodological issues and alternative explanations.
  • Understand research methods thoroughly, including experimental design, sampling techniques, ethical guidelines and statistical analysis. Research methods questions appear in every paper.
  • Create comparison tables for competing theories on the same topic (e.g. explanations of obedience, models of memory) to prepare for evaluation questions.

Exam Tips for International A-Level Psychology

  • Balance your answers between description (AO1) and evaluation (AO3). Many students describe too much and evaluate too little. At International A-Level, roughly half your marks come from evaluation.
  • Use psychological terminology precisely. Refer to operationalisation, ecological validity, demand characteristics and other methodological concepts by their proper names.
  • In application questions, explicitly link psychological theory to the scenario provided. Do not just describe the theory - explain how it applies to the specific situation in the question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is International A-Level Psychology a science? +
Yes. Psychology is classified as a science A-Level and involves the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes. The course covers research methods, statistical analysis and evidence-based evaluation of theories.
Do I need International A-Level Psychology to study psychology at university? +
Most university psychology courses do not require A-Level Psychology, though it is obviously beneficial. Many courses prefer at least one science or maths A-Level. Check individual university requirements.
How is International A-Level Psychology different from UK A-Level Psychology? +
The content and skills are similar, but the International A-Level uses a modular structure with multiple exam sessions per year and resit opportunities. The specific studies and topics covered may differ slightly from UK specifications.

Psychology at other levels: GCSE Psychology · A-Level Psychology

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