You can get free Edexcel International A Level Psychology notes for every YPS01 topic on the Tutopiya Learning Portal, with a quiz for each topic. The table below links each topic straight to its notes and quiz, and marks whether it is AS or A Level content. Use the notes to learn the content, then check yourself with the quiz and past papers.

Key takeaways

• Free topic notes and quizzes for Pearson Edexcel International A Level Psychology (YPS01) are below, in syllabus order.
• Check whether each topic is AS or A Level content, because papers are split by level.
• Notes alone rarely secure an A or A*. Combine them with active recall and timed past papers.
• Other free sources, such as ZNotes and Physics & Maths Tutor, work well alongside the portal.

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YPS01 at a glance

Paper	Level	What it covers
Unit 1: Social and Cognitive Psychology	AS	Content, studies, research methods and practical investigations
Unit 2: Biological Psychology, Learning Theories and Development	AS	Content, studies, research methods and practical investigations
Unit 3: Applications of Psychology	A Level	Criminological psychology plus an option such as developmental or health psychology
Unit 4: Clinical Psychology and Psychological Skills	A Level	Clinical psychology, research methods, issues and debates

Free Edexcel International A Level Psychology notes by topic

Topic	Level	Covers	Free notes	Start a quiz
Social psychology Content	AS	Confidence, Conformity	Free notes	Quiz
Social psychology Research methods	AS	Self-reporting data, Sample selection and sampling techniques, Quantitative data, Ethical guidelines	Free notes	Quiz
Social psychology Studies	AS	Moscovici et al. (1969) Influence of a Consistent Minority on the Responses of a Majority in a Color Perception Task, Burger (2009) Replicating Milgram: Would people still obey today?, Yi Huang et al. (2014) Conformity to the opinions of other people lasts for no more than 3 days, Haun et al. (2014) Children Conform to the Behavior of Peers; Other Great Apes Stick With What They Know	Free notes	Quiz
Social psychology Practical investigation	AS	Questionnaire construction, sampling and ethics, Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, Strengths and weaknesses of the questionnaire, Write up procedure, results and discussion	Free notes	Quiz
Cognitive psychology Models of memory	AS	The multi-store model of memory, The working memory model, Reconstructive memory	Free notes	Quiz
Cognitive psychology Research methods	AS	Designing and conducting experiments, Independent and dependent variables, Experimental and null hypotheses, Directional and non-directional tests and hypotheses., Experimental and research designs, Operationalisation of variables, extraneous variables and confounding variables and 5 more	Free notes	Quiz
Cognitive psychology Studies	AS	Bartlett (1932) War of the Ghosts, Schmolck et al. (2002) Semantic knowledge in patient HM and other patients with bilateral medial and lateral temporal lobe lesions, Darling et al. (2007) Behavioural evidence for separating components within visuo-spatial working memory, Sacchi et al. (2007) Changing history: doctored photographs affect memory for past public events	Free notes	Quiz
Cognitive psychology Practical investigation	AS	Design and conduct a repeated measures lab experiment, Design decisions, Collect, present and comment on data, Wilcoxon non-parametric test of difference, Strengths, weaknesses and improvements of the experiment	Free notes	Quiz
Biological psychology Content	AS	Structure and function of brain regions focusing on aggression, Body rhythms	Free notes	Quiz
Biological psychology Research methods	AS	Correlational research, Scanning techniques, Twin studies	Free notes	Quiz
Biological psychology Studies	AS	Raine et al. (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by positron emission tomography, Brendgen et al. (2005) Examining genetic and environmental effects on social aggression, McDermott (2008) Monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) predicts behavioural aggression following provocation, Hoefelmann et al. (2006) Behaviors associated to sleep among high school learners	Free notes	Quiz
Biological psychology Practical Investigation	AS	Design and conduct a correlational study, Design decisions, Collect, present and comment on data, Spearman’s rank test, Strengths, weaknesses and design improvements	Free notes	Quiz
Learning theories and development Content	AS	Classical conditioning, Operant conditioning, Social learning theory, Psychodynamic approach to personality development, Therapies/treatments	Free notes	Quiz
Learning theories and development Research methods	AS	Observations, Content analysis, Case studies, Quantitative data and qualitative data	Free notes	Quiz
Learning theories and development Studies	AS	Watson and Rayner (1920) Little Albert: Conditioned emotional reactions, Capafóns et al. (1998) Systematic desensitisation in the treatment of the fear of flying, Prot (2014) Long-Term Relations Among Prosocial-Media Use, Empathy, and Prosocial Behavior, Bastian et al. (2011) Cyber-dehumanization: Violent video game play diminishes our humanity	Free notes	Quiz
Learning theories and development Practical Investigation	AS	Design and conduct observations, Design decisions, Collect, present and comment on data, Chi-squared statistical test, Thematic analysis of qualitative data, Strengths, weaknesses and design improvements	Free notes	Quiz
Developmental psychology Content	A Level	Theories of attachment, Types of attachment and care giver sensitivity, Cognitive and language development, Theories of social and emotional development	Free notes	Quiz
Developmental psychology Studies	A Level	Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) Cross-cultural patterns of attachment, Cassibba et al. (2013) Attachment the Italian way (Italy), Ashdown and Bernard (2012) Can explicit instruction in social and emotional learning skills benefit the social and emotional development, well-being and academic achievement of young children?, Ding et al. (2014) The relation of early infant attachment to attachment and cognitive development outcomes in early childhood	Free notes	Quiz
Developmental psychology Research methods	A Level	Use of research methods in developmental psychology, Cross-cultural research, Ethics and the UNCRC (1989), Decision making and interpretation of data, Evaluation of research in developmental psychology	Free notes	Quiz
Developmental psychology Issues and debates	A Level	Ethical issues in research, Practical issues in the design and implementation of research, Reductionism versus holism when researching human behaviour, Ways of explaining behaviour using different approaches, models or theories, The issue of psychology as a science, Cultural and gender issues in psychological research and 5 more	Free notes	Quiz
Criminological psychology Content	A Level	Explanations for crime and anti-social behaviour, Understanding the offender, Factors influencing identification of offenders, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy	Free notes	Quiz
Criminological psychology Studies	A Level	Loftus and Palmer (1974) Reconstruction of auto mobile destruction, Bradbury M D and Williams M R (2013) Diversity and Citizen Participation, Ruva, McEvoy and Bryant (2007) Effects of pre-trial publicity and jury deliberation on jury bias and source memory errors, Valentine T and Mesout J (2009) Eyewitness identification under stress in the London Dungeon	Free notes	Quiz
Criminological psychology Research methods	A Level	Use of research methods in criminological psychology, Ethical guidelines, Decision making and interpretation of data, Evaluation of research in criminological psychology	Free notes	Quiz
Health psychology Content	A Level	Physiology of stress, Factors affecting stress, Coping strategies, Treatment and therapy for anxiety (biological and psychological)	Free notes	Quiz
Health psychology Studies	A Level	Brady (1958) Ulcers in executive monkeys, Nakonz and Shik (2009) And all your problems are gone: religious coping strategies among Phillipine migrant workers in Hong Kong, Avdagic et al. (2014) A randomised controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for generalised anxiety disorder, Russell et al. (2015) Adaptation of an adolescence coping assessment for therapeutic recreation and outdoor adventure settings	Free notes	Quiz
Health psychology Research methods	A Level	Use of research methods in health psychology, Use of non-human animals in experiments in psychology practical and ethical issues, Decision making and interpretation of data, Evaluation of research in health psychology	Free notes	Quiz
Clinical psychology Content	A Level	Definitions of abnormality, Classification systems, Debates in diagnosis, Schizophrenia, Unipolar depression, Anorexia nervosa and 2 more	Free notes	Quiz
Clinical psychology Studies	A Level	Rosenhan (1973) On being sane in insane places, Suzuki et al. (2014) High prevalence of underweight and undernutrition in Japanese inpatients with schizophrenia, Hans and Hiller (2013) Effectiveness of and drop out from outpatient cognitive-behavioural therapy for adult unipolar depression, Ma, Quan and Liu (2014) Mediating effect of social support on the relationship between self-evaluation and depression, Becker et al. (2002) Eating behaviours and attitudes following prolonged exposure to television among ethnic Fijian adolescent girls, Reichel et al. (2014) ‘Glass fairies’ and ‘bone children	Free notes	Quiz
Clinical psychology Research methods	A Level	Research methods in clinical psychology, Conventions of published psychological research, Awareness of Health and Care Professions Council, Evaluation of research in clinical psychology	Free notes	Quiz
Clinical psychology Practical investigation	A Level	Performing a content analysis, Analysing at least two sources to compare attitudes towards mental health, Design decisions, Collect, present and comment on sources, Strengths, weaknesses and design improvements	Free notes	Quiz
Psychological skills Research methods	A Level	Types of data, Sampling techniques, Experimental and research designs, Hypotheses, Questionnaires and interviews, Experiments: laboratory and field and 10 more	Free notes	Quiz
Psychological skills Key questions in society	A Level	Key questions for society using concepts, theories or research	Free notes	Quiz
Psychological skills Issues and debates	A Level	Ethical issues in research, Practical issues in the design and implementation of research, Reductionism versus holism when researching human behaviour, Ways of explaining behaviour using different approaches, models or theories, The issue of psychology as a science, Cultural and gender issues in psychological research and 5 more	Free notes	Quiz

The whole syllabus is on the Pearson Edexcel International A Level Psychology portal page.

What good Psychology notes look like

• Four parts per topic. For each approach, keep notes on content, studies, research methods and the practical investigation, matching how the units are examined.
• Classic and contemporary studies. Learn the required studies with aim, procedure, results, conclusion and evaluation.
• Issues and debates. Link each topic to the issues and debates examined in Unit 4.

How to revise with free notes

1. Start from the syllabus. Tick off each topic in the table as you finish its notes.
2. Read, then close the notes. Write down everything you remember, then check what you missed.
3. Take the topic quiz. A quick quiz after each topic shows whether the content has stuck.
4. Move to past papers. Practise exam questions for that topic, then full timed papers closer to the exam.
5. Mark with the mark scheme. Compare your wording with the mark scheme and add missing key terms to your notes.

Common mistakes

• Revising content but not the practical investigation
• Mixing up classic and contemporary studies
• Generic evaluation that isn’t tied to the study

Other free Psychology sources

• ZNotes: free, condensed student-written notes for many Cambridge A Level subjects. See our ZNotes alternatives for A Level.
• Physics & Maths Tutor (PMT): free notes and topic questions for many subjects. See PMT alternatives for A Level.
• Past papers: free from the exam board and archive sites. See PapaCambridge alternatives for A Level.
• Your exam board: the syllabus or specification, specimen papers and examiner reports show exactly what is assessed.

Topic deep dives on our blog

• Body Rhythms in Edexcel International A Level Psychology (XPS01-YPS01)
• The Use Of Psychology In Social Control in Edexcel International A Level Psychology (XPS01-YPS01)
• Yi Huang Et Al. (2014) Conformity To The Opinions Of Other People Lasts For No More Than 3 Days in Edexcel International A Level Psychology (XPS01-YPS01)

When notes aren’t enough

If the same topics keep costing marks, a one-to-one tutor who teaches YPS01 can find the gap quickly. Tutopiya tutors set their own rates, plans start from 4 hours a month, and the trial lesson is free with no card required.

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I get free Edexcel International A Level Psychology notes? +

The Tutopiya Learning Portal has free notes and a quiz for every YPS01 topic, linked in the table on this page. ZNotes, Physics & Maths Tutor and the exam board's own materials are other useful free sources.

Which Edexcel International A Level Psychology units are AS? +

Units 1 (Social and Cognitive Psychology) and 2 (Biological Psychology, Learning Theories and Development) are the International AS. Units 3 and 4 complete the full International A Level.

Are free notes enough for an A* in Edexcel International A Level Psychology? +

Rarely on their own. Use notes to learn the content, then test yourself with quizzes and timed past papers, and compare your answers with mark schemes.

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