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AQA A-Level Psychology Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free AQA A-Level Psychology (7182) past papers & mark schemes. Papers 1, 2 & 3. Social influence, memory, biopsychology, research methods, psychopathology. 46 resources.

📅June 2017 – June 2024📄46 resources availableFree to download

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46 of 46 resources — page 1 of 2

June 2023

6 files
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level) : Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology – June 2023

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A-level Psychology – Mark scheme (A-level) : Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology – June 2023

Mark Scheme
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level) : Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology – June 2023

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A-level Psychology – Question paper (A-level) : Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology – June 2023

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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level) : Paper 2 Psychology in context – June 2023

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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level) : Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology – June 2023

Question Paper

June 2022

8 files
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level) : Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology – June 2022

Question Paper

A-level Psychology – Mark scheme (A-level) : Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology – June 2022

Mark Scheme
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level) : Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology – June 2022

Question Paper
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (A-level) : Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology – June 2022

Question Paper
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level) : Paper 2 Psychology in context – June 2022

Question Paper
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level) : Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology – June 2022

Question Paper

A-level Psychology – Mark scheme (A-level) : Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology – June 2022

Mark Scheme
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (A-level) : Paper 2 Psychology in context – June 2022

Question Paper

November 2021

5 files
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level) : Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology – November 2021

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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level) : Paper 2 Psychology in context – November 2021

Question Paper

A-level Psychology – Mark scheme (A-level) : Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology – November 2021

Mark Scheme
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level) : Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology – November 2021

Question Paper
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (A-level) : Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology – November 2021

Question Paper

November 2020

6 files
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level) : Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology – November 2020

Question Paper
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level) : Paper 2 Psychology in context – November 2020

Question Paper

A-level Psychology – Mark scheme (A-level) : Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology – November 2020

Mark Scheme
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level) : Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology – November 2020

Question Paper
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (A-level) : Paper 1 Introductory topics in psychology – November 2020

Question Paper
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A-level Psychology – Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level) : Paper 2 Psychology in context – November 2020

Question Paper

Studies, Approaches, and the 16-Mark Essay: The Core of AQA A-Level Psychology

AQA A-Level Psychology (specification code 7182) is built around a distinctive combination of empirical studies, theoretical perspectives, and scientific methodology. Every topic in the specification is anchored in specific research studies with named researchers — and the assessment requires both accurate knowledge of those studies and critical evaluation of their validity, reliability, and ethics. Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (2 hours, 96 marks, 33.3%) covers four substantial topics. Social Influence examines conformity (Asch's line studies, informational and normative social influence, Zimbardo's Stanford prison experiment), obedience (Milgram's agency theory, situational variables, Hofling's hospital study), and social change. Memory covers the multi-store model (Atkinson and Shiffrin), the working memory model (Baddeley and Hitch), forgetting theories (interference, retrieval failure), and eyewitness testimony (Loftus's leading questions, misleading information effect). Attachment covers caregiver-infant interaction, Ainsworth's Strange Situation, Bowlby's monotropic theory, Romanian orphan studies, and effects of early attachment on adult relationships. Psychopathology covers definitions of abnormality, phobias, depression, and OCD with both causal explanations and treatments for each. Paper 2: Psychology in Context (2 hours, 96 marks, 33.3%) covers Approaches in Psychology — the full history of psychological thought from Wundt through behaviourism (Watson, Skinner) to the cognitive revolution, biological approach, psychodynamic approach, and humanistic psychology. Biopsychology examines the nervous system, brain localisation (Broca's and Wernicke's areas), lateralisation, split-brain research (Sperry), and sleep/wake cycles. Research Methods is a substantial and heavily examined section covering all aspects of experimental design, statistics, and ethics. Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology (2 hours, 96 marks, 33.3%) covers Issues and Debates — gender bias, cultural bias, free will versus determinism, nature-nurture, reductionism, and idiographic versus nomothetic approaches — alongside three optional topics chosen by your school from: Relationships, Gender, Cognition and Development, Schizophrenia, Eating Behaviour, Stress, or Aggression.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1Calculator ✓

Introductory Topics in Psychology

2 hours🎯 96 marks📊 33% of grade
Social influence (conformity — Asch; obedience — Milgram; social change)Memory (multi-store model, working memory model, eyewitness testimony — Loftus)Attachment (Ainsworth's Strange Situation, Bowlby's monotropic theory, Romanian orphan studies)Psychopathology (phobias, depression, OCD — definitions, explanations, treatments)
Paper 2Calculator ✓

Psychology in Context

2 hours🎯 96 marks📊 33% of grade
Approaches in psychology (Wundt, behaviourism, cognitive, biological, psychodynamic, humanistic)Biopsychology (nervous system, brain localisation, split-brain research — Sperry)Research Methods (experimental design, statistical tests, ethical guidelines, data analysis)
Paper 3Calculator ✓

Issues and Options in Psychology

2 hours🎯 96 marks📊 33% of grade
Issues and debates (gender bias, cultural bias, nature-nurture, free will, reductionism)Three optional topics from: Relationships, Gender, Cognition and Development, Schizophrenia, Eating Behaviour, Stress, Aggression

Key Information

Exam BoardAQA
Specification Code7182
QualificationA-Level
Grading ScaleA*–E
Assessment Type3 written papers (no coursework)
Number Of Papers3
Exam Duration2 hours per paper
Total Marks288 (96 per paper)
Paper 3 Options3 from: Relationships, Gender, Cognition & Dev, Schizophrenia, Eating, Stress, Aggression
Calculator StatusCalculator allowed (statistical questions)
Available SessionsJune 2017 – June 2024
Total Resources46

Key Topics in Psychology

Topics you need to know

Social influence (conformity, obedience, Milgram's situational variables, social change)Memory models (multi-store model, working memory model, eyewitness testimony)Attachment theory (Bowlby, Ainsworth's Strange Situation, types of attachment)Approaches in psychology (behaviourist, cognitive, biological, psychodynamic, humanistic)Research methods and statistical reasoning (all three papers assess applied research methods)Psychopathology (phobias, depression, OCD — explanations and treatments)Issues and debates (nature-nurture, free will vs determinism, reductionism, gender and cultural bias)

Exam Command Words

Command wordWhat the examiner expects
OutlineGive a brief but accurate description of a theory, study, or concept — no extended evaluation needed
DescribeGive a full account of a study's procedure and findings, or a theory's key claims
ExplainGive reasons for a psychological phenomenon, behaviour, or research finding
EvaluateAssess the strengths and limitations of a theory, study, or explanation — development of each point is required
DiscussPresent descriptive knowledge and extended evaluation — the AO split in 16-mark essays is 6 AO1 + 10 AO3
ApplyUse a psychological concept or theory to explain a described scenario or case study
SuggestPropose a psychologically informed explanation for an unfamiliar situation — justification expected

Typical Grade Boundaries

GradeApproximate mark needed
A*78–88%
A68–77%
B57–67%
C46–56%
D36–45%
E26–35%

⚠️ Typical boundaries across three papers (288 total marks: 96 per paper). Actual boundaries vary by series — check AQA's website.

Managing the AO1 and AO3 Balance in AQA A-Level Psychology

The 16-mark extended essays in Psychology have a specific and consistent AO split: 6 marks for AO1 (knowledge and understanding — describing the theory, model, or research accurately) and 10 marks for AO3 (evaluation and analysis — critically assessing validity, reliability, ethics, supporting or contradicting evidence). Many students write 16-mark answers that are 70% description and 30% evaluation, unknowingly capping themselves at around 11 marks. The correct distribution is the reverse: brief but accurate description, followed by extended evaluation. Know your studies efficiently — four facts per study (researcher, aim, procedure/finding, conclusion) — then spend the majority of your time on 'how much should we trust this?' and 'what does other evidence suggest?' Evaluation must be developed, not listed. Writing 'This study has low ecological validity' scores nothing. Writing 'This study has low ecological validity because the artificial laboratory setting (participants simply pressing buttons in response to screened instructions) does not reflect real-world obedience situations where social and emotional pressures are qualitatively different, making it difficult to generalise Milgram's findings to everyday obedience' scores AO3 marks because it explains the mechanism and its implication for generalisability. Research Methods appears formally in Paper 2 but applied research methods questions appear throughout all three papers. These questions require precise language: not 'they used random sampling' but 'they used opportunity sampling, recruiting participants who were available in the psychology department at the time, which may not be representative of the wider population because it excludes those unavailable at that time.' Precision about methodology, with explicit identification of its implications, is what distinguishes high marks. For Issues and Debates in Paper 3, practise applying each debate across multiple topic areas. The nature-nurture debate is relevant to understanding phobias, attachment, schizophrenia, gender development, and aggression simultaneously. Questions often ask you to discuss the debate specifically in relation to a named topic — breadth of application and ability to use topic-specific examples as evidence signals the synoptic understanding the question is designed to assess.

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