Best Psychology Cover Lessons for AO2 Practice (AQA A-Level)
If you're setting a psychology cover lesson, it’s easy to fall back on videos or textbook questions. But what if you could give your students meaningful practice — and cover exam objectives — even when you're not there?
In this article, we’ll explore why AO2 scenario-based tasks are perfect for cover work, and how to use them with minimal prep or marking.
Why AO2 Is Ideal for Cover Work
AO2 (Application) is often neglected during traditional lessons due to time pressure. Cover lessons provide the perfect opportunity for students to:
- Apply theory to real-life scenarios
- Practise linking unfamiliar contexts to psychological concepts
- Reflect on model answers independently
And because students can self-assess with model responses, these tasks are low effort for the teacher.
What Makes a Good Psychology Cover Lesson?
The best A-Level Psychology cover lessons:
✅ Focus on a clear assessment objective (like AO2)
✅ Require no marking
✅ Engage students with current, relatable scenarios
✅ Can be used flexibly as classwork, homework or revision
That’s why AO2 scenario worksheets are your best friend — even on short notice.
Free AO2 Cover Lesson Idea: Dispositional Explanations
Try this task:
Scenario: A person in a position of authority gives strict instructions, and a student blindly follows them.
Task: Apply the Authoritarian Personality to explain why the student obeyed.
Bonus: Download our free worksheet here:
AQA A-Level Psychology Free Worksheet: Dispositional Explanations of O – Yum Yum Mama
Need a Full Set? Try the Real-World AO2 Pack
If you’d rather not plan from scratch, our full AO2 pack includes:
- 20 self-marking application scenario tasks
- Topics: Social Influence, Memory, Attachment, Psychopathology
- QR codes link to model answers
- Colour-coded and printable for quick deployment
[Download the full resource] Real-World Psychology: AO2 Application Scenario Pack for AQA Paper 1 ( – Yum Yum Mama
Teacher Tip: No Internet? No Problem.
If you're worried students won’t have access to the QR codes in a cover lesson, just print the model answers separately — or use the answers as a green-pen feedback task when you return.
Final Thoughts
AO2 scenario tasks are the easiest way to create meaningful, no-marking cover lessons that keep students progressing — even when you're not in the room.
