The number of students sitting A level psychology has fallen for the first time.
November 16th, 2007 | by Mark Holah | 
Has the number of students sitting A level psychology reached a plateaux or are we going to see a decline?
According to data from the J.C.Q. the number of students sitting A level psychology has fallen for the first time.
In June 2007 52,048 candidates sat A level psychology whereas in June 2006 the number was 52,621. Both figures however still represent approximately 6.5% of the total number of students sitting A levels.
A level psychology is currently the fifth biggest A level and the third biggest AS level.
Psychology has until this year been growing at an incredible pace when, for example, one notes that only as far back as 2001 31,740 candidates sat A level psychology. The initial examination entry in 1972 was 272 candidates and by 1997 the number of candidates had grown to 28,ooo.
Below are the data for the past seven years
Number of A level Psychology candidates sitting the exams in June
2007
52048 which is 6.5% of total students sitting the June exams. 13176 were male and 38872 were female
2006
52621 which is 6.5% of total students sitting the June exams. 13485 were male and 39176 were female
2005
50035 which is 6.4% of total students sitting the June exams. 12798 were male and 37237 were female
2004
46933 which is 6.1% of total students sitting the June exams. 11875 were male and 35058 female
2003
41949 which is 5.6% of total students sitting the June exams. 10193 were male and 31756 were female
2002
34611 which is 4.9% of total students sitting the June exams. 8038 were male and were 26573 female
2001
31740 which is 4.2% of total students sitting the June exams. 7188 were male and 24552 female
Number of AS level Psychology candidates sitting the exams in May
2007
79468 which is 7.1% of total students sitting the May exams. 23041 were male and 56427 were female
2006
78731 which is 7.2% of total students sitting the May exams. 22750 were male and 55981 were female
2005
77977 which is 7.2% of total students sitting the May exams. 22695 were male and 55282 were female
2004
74188 which is 7.1% of total students sitting the May exams. 21423 were male and 52765 were female
2003
71056 which is 6.92% of total students sitting the May exams. 20308 were male 50748 were female
2002
62039 which is 6.2% of total students sitting the May exams. 16765 were male and 45274 were female
2001
48342 which is 6.1% of total students sitting the May exams. 12525 were male and 35817 were female
2 Responses to “The number of students sitting A level psychology has fallen for the first time.”
By Robert Balmain on Dec 2, 2007 | Reply
I wish to find evidence concerning the number of students who have entered Psychology A level back to 1975. I understand this was the year it was first introduced as a subject.
Any help as to sources of such data would be most helpful.
By Mark on Dec 5, 2007 | Reply
I believe that the first A level in psychology was 1972 but am happy to be wrong on this. JCQ only provide data back to 2000 and I would also be intrigued to see figures from the 1900s. I will do some research but if you do find anything Robert please do let me know.
Thanks for your comment Robert