AQA A-level Psychology: specification & assessment

AQA specification 7182 · Version 1.4, 1 September 2025 · for teaching from September 2025, exams May/June 2027 onwards · checked July 2026

AQA A-level Psychology (7182) is assessed by 3 exam papers. Here's the exam structure, the assessment objectives and what you study — straight from AQA's specification.

Reform watch:England's 2025 Curriculum & Assessment Review doesn't change GCSE or A-level content until reformed specs are first taught (national curriculum September 2028; updated GCSEs from 2029). A redeveloped version of this specification already exists — check the version note above for which one your exam year sits. What's changing →

Check which specification you're on. AQA REDEVELOPED spec 7182 under the same code. This reference documents the REDEVELOPED version (Version 1.4, 1 September 2025): for teaching from September 2025, first A-level exams May/June 2027 onwards. The LEGACY version (Version 1.2, 14 October 2021; teaching from September 2015; A-level exams May/June 2017 onwards) has its LAST A-level exams in 2026. Key content change: legacy Paper 1 compulsory topic was 'Psychopathology'; the redeveloped Paper 1 replaces it with 'Clinical Psychology and Mental Health'. Legacy PDF: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/psychology/specifications/AQA-7181-7182-SP-2015.PDF. Paper structure (2 hours / 96 marks / 33.3% each) is unchanged between versions; the spec code 7182 is unchanged. The structure below is for the specification examined in the years shown in the banner — confirm your version with your teacher and against AQA's page.

Exam papers

PaperLengthMarksWeighting
Paper 1: Introductory Topics in PsychologyCompulsory content 1-4: Social influence, Memory, Attachment, Clinical Psychology and Mental Health.2 hours9633.3%
Paper 2: Psychology in ContextCompulsory content 5-7: Approaches in Psychology, Biopsychology, Research methods.2 hours9633.3%
Paper 3: Issues and Options in PsychologyCompulsory content 8: Issues and debates in Psychology, plus one optional topic from each of three option groups.2 hours9633.3%

Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual for Psychology and describe the skills the exams reward. The weightings are for the whole A-level.

AOWhat it assessesWeighting
AO1Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures.30-33%
AO2Apply knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures: in a theoretical context; in a practical context; when handling qualitative data; when handling quantitative data.30-33%
AO3Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific information, ideas and evidence, including in relation to issues, to: make judgements and reach conclusions; develop and refine practical design and procedures.36-38%

Practical work

No non-exam assessment (no coursework/NEA); assessment is 100% written exams. AQA does not define numbered 'required practicals' for A-level Psychology (unlike the AQA sciences). Research methods skills are assessed within the written papers, and at least 25-30% of the overall assessment assesses skills, knowledge and understanding in relation to research methods; at least 10% of the overall assessment contains mathematical skills equivalent to Level 2 or above.

Options & set texts

You choose from a menu — this isn't a fixed list. Paper 3 requires students to answer on exactly three optional topics: one from Option 1 (Relationships, Gender, Cognition and development), one from Option 2 (Schizophrenia, Eating behaviour, Stress), and one from Option 3 (Aggression, Forensic Psychology, Addiction), in addition to the compulsory Issues and debates in Psychology.

What you study

The main topics in the 7182 specification:

Your grades in Psychology

See the real AQA Psychology grade boundaries (2024 & 2025, with a "what grade is my mark" tool), and how A-level grades work.

Where this comes from

Frequently asked questions

See all AQA A-level subjects.