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Top 5 A-Level Psychology Topics Students Struggle With (and How to Tackle Them)

AQA A-Level Psychology is a rigorous subject that challenges students to master detailed theories, complex studies, and critical exam technique. But while some topics click naturally, others cause widespread panic.

In this post, we’ll explore the top 5 hardest AQA Psychology topics — based on student feedback, examiner reports, and real classroom data. We’ll also share practical strategies and free resources to help you teach (or revise) each one more effectively.

1. Schizophrenia (Paper 3)

Schizophrenia is often rated as the most difficult A-Level Psychology topic. Why?

  • It’s packed with biological and psychological explanations

  • There’s overlap and confusion between classification, diagnosis, and treatment

  • AO3 evaluation often requires deep critical thinking about validity, ethics, and practical applications

Top Tip: Use dual coding diagrams to break down positive and negative symptoms, and create colour-coded retrieval cards to separate biological vs cognitive approaches.

Coming soon: Schizophrenia Mastery Pack on Yum Yum Mama

2. Research Methods (Papers 1, 2, & 3)

While students cover research methods in Year 1, it reappears throughout the course — and in every paper.

Common struggles include:

  • Working out the difference between types of experiments

  • Interpreting mathematical symbols and graphs

  • Answering applied context questions involving design flaws or ethical issues

Did you know? There are around 4–6 marks worth of Research Methods questions in every paper — not just Paper 2.

🧬 3. Biopsychology (Paper 2)

This topic is a steep learning curve for many students — especially those without a science background.

Challenges include:

  • Understanding the nervous system and endocrine system

  • Applying AO1 to real-life scenarios

  • Distinguishing between neurotransmitters, glands, and neurons

Strategy: Use spaced repetition to revisit terminology weekly. A retrieval question card system works brilliantly here.

Explore how we embed retrieval into teaching with the Mastery Workbook & Tracker Pack

 4. Attachment (Paper 1)

Though students often find this engaging, Attachment still presents challenges — particularly in longer-mark questions.

Difficulties include:

  • Remembering study names, dates, and findings

  • Applying Bowlby’s theory to real-life examples

  • Structuring 16-mark AO3 answers clearly

How many 16 markers in Psychology A Level Paper 1?
You’ll often find 1 x 16-marker in Paper 1 — commonly from Attachment or Memory.

Download our Attachment Mastery Workbook

Includes:

  • 20 challenge cards

  • Mastery checkpoint sheets

  • Model answer PowerPoint

  • Teacher live tracker

5. Issues & Debates (Paper 3)

This is one of the most abstract topics — and students often leave it too late to revise.

Tricky elements:

  • Understanding nomothetic vs idiographic approaches

  • Evaluating reductionism, determinism, and nature/nurture

  • Applying debates to other topics (like Aggression or Schizophrenia)

Tip: Create “Quick Apply” flashcards where students practise applying each debate to three topics.

Watch this space for our Issues & Debates Retrieval Pack (coming soon)

Want the Hardest AQA Psychology Topics in PDF Format?

Many students search for a quick-reference sheet to guide their revision. That’s why we’re creating a free printable PDF that summarises:

  • The top 5 most difficult AQA Psychology topics

  • Their exam paper locations

  • Common misconceptions

  • Quick-fire revision tips

Join our Free Psychology Downloads section to get updates.

Bonus: How to Spot a Hard Topic on AQA Psychology Past Papers

Search for:

  • Long-stem questions from Research Methods or Issues & Debates

  • Graph or data analysis from Biopsychology or Research Methods


Final Thoughts 

Understanding which AQA Psychology topics students struggle with is the first step toward building a successful revision plan. By focusing on retrieval, dual coding, spaced practice, and model answers, even the toughest content can become manageable.

🟢 Ready to make it easier? Start with one of our most practical tools: