What Is AO2 in A-Level Psychology? (With Examples, Worksheets & Practice)
If you're teaching or studying AQA A-Level Psychology, you've likely come across the term AO2 – but what does it actually mean, and why is it so important? In this guide, we’ll break down AO2, explain how it fits into exam success, and give you examples and resources to help you master it.
What Does AO2 Mean in Psychology?
AO2 stands for 'Application of Knowledge and Understanding'. It’s one of three assessment objectives in AQA Psychology:
- AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychological concepts.
- AO2: Apply that knowledge to unfamiliar scenarios.
- AO3: Analyse and evaluate psychological information.
AO2 specifically challenges students to take what they’ve learned and use it in new, real-world contexts.
Why Is AO2 Difficult?
Many students struggle with AO2 because it goes beyond memorising theories. It requires understanding how and why a theory applies to a particular person, scenario, or behaviour. In exams, AO2 often appears in context-based questions – students are given a scenario and must link it clearly to psychological theory.
Examples of AO2 in Psychology
Here are a few simplified examples:
- A student refuses to wear school uniform as a protest. Can they be explained using minority influence?
- Someone forgets an appointment after scrolling on Snapchat all night. Could this be due to interference or cue-dependent forgetting?
- A teen watches fitness influencers and develops low mood and low self-esteem. How might Beck’s negative triad explain this?
These kinds of real-life applications are exactly what AO2 rewards.
Free AO2 Worksheets and Resources
To get started, you might try creating your own mini-scenarios based on topics like social influence, memory, or attachment. If you’d like ready-made, self-marking worksheets, check out our free downloads section at Free Downloads – Yum Yum Mama
Get the Full Resource: Real-World AO2 Scenario Pack
If you want something that’s ready to go – with real-life context, full model answers, and no marking required – we’ve created a 20-task pack you’ll love. It’s called the:
Real-World Psychology: AO2 Application Scenario Pack for AQA Paper 1
- 20 teen-relevant and current event-based tasks
- Covers Social Influence, Memory, Attachment, and Psychopathology
- Includes QR code-accessed model answers
- Ideal for homework, REK tasks, and cover work
👉 [Download it here] Real-World Psychology: AO2 Application Scenario Pack for AQA Paper 1 ( – Yum Yum Mama
Final Tips for Teaching AO2
- Regular retrieval helps solidify theory before applying it.
- Use relatable scenarios to make application natural.
- Encourage peer feedback using model answers.
- Include AO2-focused questions in weekly practice.
Conclusion
AO2 is where students demonstrate *true understanding* of psychology. With the right examples and practice structure, it becomes an exciting challenge instead of a mark-losing mystery.
Use real-world hooks and self-assessed tasks to make AO2 part of your daily teaching – and your students will thank you for it!
