Psychology a level

[Pipsqueak11]

Dd2 undecided between psychology a level and sociology - she is studying the latter for gcse but no experience of the former but thinks she may like it- she's good at English and poor at maths science - other a levels are eng lit and geog . Anyone know what psych a level is like?

Talk to your dd’s school. They will be able to say which exam they sit and also the curriculum. I have heard it’s maths-heavy...

Our Head of Psychology insists it is a science subject and highly academic and it certainly looks it from what I've seen.

On the other hand my DD got an A grade at Psych A level and adored it - despite her school trying to dissuade her from taking it on the grounds that she was poor at Maths and Science. She has gone on to do a degree in it.

Much of a muchness (ive studied both). Lots of statistics in psychology.

As far as I’m aware, psychology isn’t considered a ‘facilitating subject’ by RG unis, if that is a relevant consideration.

There's a lot of maths and stats in psychology.

Thanks everyone - she wasn't thinking if it when we had college open day so missed the boat to chat to teachers about it . I thought it may be maths heavy which would be a disincentive for her. Thanks again

DD dropped psychology at the end of year 12. She found it very boring and unchallenging. The workload is very heavy as well.

I really enjoyed it but it required a fair amount of work. I don't know what Bonnie means by a facilitating subject but if it helps I did Law at a RG with psychology a level and was not rejected by any of my choices.
It does not really involve maths.

I think it'd be a waste of time to be honest

Why a waste of time?

My daughter (Year 12) is doing it and loves it, so I deduce that there can't be too much maths or science involved because she does not love those! History and English Lit are her two other subjects.

I believe her school asked for at least a B in GCSE biology (so grade 6 now) in order to be accepted for the course, but there was no maths stipulation. My daughter got GCSE grade 6 in maths last year and hasn't had any problems with the stats in psychology.

I did it as an A-level and loved it, it was my favourite subject.

If she wants to go further with it, she'd have to do more than just a 3 year degree in it though I'd say, would have specialise in a masters too.

I'm not doing anything with Psychology now but it was great. Not much statistics in the A-level (at least there wasn't 10 years ago) but quite a lot at university

With Eng Lit and Geography A level, she can do what she wants for the third. She doesn’t need 3 facilitating subjects. I would have an eye on what she might want to do for a degree though. Having said that, she has choices with these A levels but I would look at possibilities now rather than later.

There isn't very much Maths or Science in A level Psychology. There is some pretty simple statistics, and a little bit of biology. Literacy is a bigger indicator of success.

Thanks everyone .

Thank goodness you said that THeFallenMadonna. I was worried that I've been given bad advice about psychology not being mathsy.

As far as I’m aware, psychology isn’t considered a ‘facilitating subject’ by RG unis, if that is a relevant consideration.

That document has been selectively quoted and completely misunderstood so often that it's become unhelpful.

All a facilitating subject is is one that's required by a variety of courses available at RG universities. In other words, they're subjects that keep your options open. It does not, however, mean that other subjects are in any way blacklisted, liked less, or are in any way unsuitable (they may be unsuitable for a specific course, but that's separate to their inclusion or otherwise on the facilitating subjects document). In some cases, a subject that's not on the facilitating subjects list will be required for certain subjects - but it's not listed as being a facilitating subject because only a small number of courses require it.

If you have a DC with absolutely no idea what they want to do in future, and who wants to keep their options open, by all means take the whole facilitating subjects list into consideration. But don't pay too much attention to it...

From the booklet itself
"If you don’t yet know what you’ll want to study at university, there are
some subjects which will keep your degree options open until you decide which course to take. This guide will help you to see which advanced level subjects — which we call ‘facilitating subjects’ — open doors to more degrees and more professions than others. It’s not about ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ subjects, but those which keep your options open."
www.russellgroup.ac.uk/media/5272/informedchoices-print.pdf

That’s why what the op’s DD wants to do is fine! Options are kept open!