Umming and ahhing about whether to include psychology in your A Level options? Then there’s one question that’s likely at the top of your mind… is Psychology A Level hard?
Well, like most A Levels, it’s certainly not a walk in the park. But it can definitely be a challenge worth taking. Here’s all you need to know.
Psst! Finding a Psychology A Level tutor is a great way to make sure you can keep up with your class and reach your full potential in the exams.
Is A Level Psychology hard?
Yes, A Level Psychology is hard and can be a big jump up from GCSE.
After all, ‘A Level’ stands for ‘Advanced Level.’
With that in mind, these qualifications are designed to cover more complex and in-depth material than what you were exposed to previously.
That said, many schools don’t offer a Psychology GCSE.
So, A Level Psychology is designed to be accessed even by students without any prior knowledge in the subject.
In other words, if you don’t have a GCSE in Psychology under your belt, don’t let that put you off!
Just bear in mind that, although most students pass the course, a smaller percentage of students tend to reach the top grades compared to the average. More on that in a bit!
How hard is Psychology A Level?
Every learner is different. So, it’s impossible to tell for sure exactly how hard you’d find Psychology A Level.
Instead, it’ll all depend on your work ethic, your aptitude for the subject, and what kind of learner you are.
That said, psychology does require a lot of brain power and you’ll have lots of new content to wrap your head around.
Exactly what topics you study will depend on your exam board. But you’ll usually tackle four key areas:
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Biological Psychology
- Learning Psychology
One of the more difficult aspects of psychology is that you can’t just regurgitate facts and theories.
Rather, you’ll need to be able to fully understand and apply psychological theories, research methods and concepts.
In fact, you’ll even have to write essays where you sift through theories and case studies to prove your point!
As with any science, there’ll also be some maths involved, although this will rely more on logical and sequential thinking skills. In particular, you’ll need to understand some statistical concepts, like hypothesis testing and measures of central tendency.
In this way, Psychology A Level is a course that’s particularly well-suited to students who are strong in both English and science.
Is it easy to pass A Level Psychology?
In 2024, 96.6% of students passed A Level Psychology – which means they got a grade E or above.
This was just below the average for all subjects (97.2%) but it’s still reassuring to see that most students pass.
That said universities often require specific grades for admission – so, you may need a grade C or even higher to get where you want to be.
Here’s how A Level Psychology pass grades have been distributed in recent years.
| 2019 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| E or above | 97.1% | 96.6% | 96.6% |
| C or above | 71% | 69.9% | 71% |
| A or above | 16.6% | 19.1% | 19.4% |
| A* | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.8% |
Is it hard to get an A in Psychology A level?
Although most students pass A Level Psychology, fewer students tend to access the top grades.
In 2024, 19.4% of A Level Psychology students got a grade A or above.
This is significantly less than the average across all subjects, which was 27.8%.
Likewise, only 5.8% of students got an A*, compared to 9.3% across all subjects.
This suggests that it can be challenging for students to reach the deeper understanding of material needed to gain the highest marks.
Is A Level Psychology harder than maths?
If you’re keen to pursue Stem subjects, you might be wondering how Psychology compares to maths for difficulty.
So, is A Level Psychology harder than maths?
If we look at A Level pass rates alone then, yes. A Level Psychology looks like it’s significantly harder.
Here’s how they compared in 2024.
| Psychology | Maths | |
| E or above | 96.6% | 96.1% |
| C or above | 71% | 76.7% |
| A or above | 19.4% | 42% |
| A* | 5.8% | 16.9% |
As you can see, far more maths students reached the top grades than psychology students.
But it’s worth noting that maths students are particularly high scoring.
After all, a whopping 42% of maths students got a grade A or above in 2024 – way over the average of 27.8% across all subjects!
So, does this make maths a particularly easy subject?
No! At least, we don’t think so.
Rather, it’s likely down to the type of student who chooses to take A Level Maths – students who choose to continue the subject to A Level are more likely to already have a strong aptitude and interest in the subject.
On the other hand, A Level Psychology is likely to attract a slightly wider range of learners with different aptitudes and ambitions.
Yes, you’ll still need some ability in maths to succeed – especially when it comes to statistics.
However, only around 10% of the course will require you to use your maths skills. Plus, the mathematical content covered in A Level Psychology can be easier for students to wrap their heads around, due to being more linked to real research.
At the end of the day, Psychology A Level is likely to be easier than maths for students who aen’t necessarily mathematically inclined – although it also relies heavily on other skills, including communication and essay writing.
Is A Level Psychology worth it?
So, is A Level Psychology worth it?
Well, we certainly think so!
Although it can be challenging, it’s can definitely be a challenge worth taking.
Here are just a few of the things that make A Level Psychology oh-so-worthwhile.
1. Develop valuable skills
Studying psychology will help you to develop a broad range of valuable and transferable skills.
We’re talking about skills ranging from analytical and research skills to critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, self-reflection and statistical literacy – all things that could be massively helpful in your further studies and career.
2. Gateway to higher education
A Level Psychology can be a great starting point if you’re interested in pursuing a degree in psychology – or a related subject like sociology, criminology and anthropology.
Even if you don’t want to study a directly-related subject, it can be a great boost to your application. After all, it shows off your skills in both essay writing and research – a winning combination!
3. Career opportunities
Psychology can help you to access careers in lots of different fields – both in psychology and in other careers that require an understanding of human behaviour.
As an example, you could work as a psychologist, a mental health support worker, an occupational therapist, a probation officer, a criminal profiler… the list goes on!
4. Complement other A Level options
Psychology perfectly complements other Stem subjects like biology and chemistry. However, it can also add another string to your bow if you want to pursue subjects like English or history.
After all, with a strong base in both science and essay-writing, this is a versatile subject that can be used in lots of different ways!
5. Enjoy your studies!
Last but not least, don’t forget to think about what you enjoy!
If you like understanding how the human brain works and exploring the science behind human behaviour and emotions, A Level Psychology is likely to be right up your street.
Find a tutor to bring Psychology A Level to life
A Level Psychology can be a hard subject, but it can also be incredibly enriching and rewarding.
To give yourself the best chance of passing with flying colours, why not find an A Level tutor to support you every step of the way?
An A Level Psychology tutor will give you one-on-one attention you won’t get at college, to help you hone your skills and wrap your head around any concepts you’re struggling to get the hang of.
From week-by-week plans to practice exams, they’ll tailor their teaching to suit your strengths, weaknesses and learning style, and help you reach your full potential.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
Is Psychology A Level a soft subject?
That depends on who you talk to! Psychology isn’t generally regarded as a ‘facilitating’ or ‘hard’ subject like the traditional sciences (chemistry, biology and physics). However, it’s still academically rigorous.
How many people fail A Level Psychology?
In 2024, 3.4% of students failed to get at least a grade E in A Level Psychology (accoding to FFT Education Datalab) – meaning they failed the course.
What is the hardest subject in psychology?
The hardest subject in psychology will vary from student to student. However, a few topics that students commonly find tricky include attachment, memory and psychopathology.
Remember, an A Level Psychology tutor can help you unlock any topics you’re struggling with so you can keep up with your class and reach your full potential in the exams.
