Better Books Out There! - Rated 
As an A Level psychology student using both the AS and A2 versions, i feel that i am eligible to comment.
There are so many other text books out there that would better equip studets with the knowledge needed to pass exams. Fair enough, the descriptions of subtopics are thorough. However, the commentary (evaluation) boxes, rather pretentiously, go all around the houses, and do not explain evaluative points concisively.
The layout of the book is poor, and the use of a KEY to have to work out which sections are explaining what just makes the book altogether confusing.
This review has been written after having to copy out of the book for a day's lesson - so i know that my notes are definately not sufficient enough to revise for a single topic for my exam.
The Collins Psycology books for A and AS level are much better!
Textbook - Rated 
I'm mainly writing this review, to make the point that has not necessarily been made clear. This is the textbook version of this series for the A2 exams, 'The Exam Companion' equivalant is the book specifically for revision.
As a textbook, it depends what your needs are for the book. If you are buying one for your own personal use, you should find this very useful as it is written by the right people and not overly detailed like many textbooks out there. If, however, you are using it to compliment your classwork, all psychology textbooks use different studies etc. and this textbook (while probably contatining everything you need) is without a doubt concise.
To be clear this would not be suitable as a revision guide, but depending on your needs, could be a useful textbook.
Why people giving this low score - this book great - Rated
I see that 2 teachers are slating this book, but my whole class uses this book and is teacher recommended. Fair enougth people may not like the fact that it is very concise and doesnt elaborate too much. But i believe thuis is what makes a perfect a level book - just gives you the facts you need to do well in the exam, which thias book does. Its great for taking the notes you need. It has no unneccesary information, and doesnt waffle on about irrlevant stuff. A level is hard enough without a book that gives you an information overload and assumes you want to know everything about psychology.
Great book - great layout - exam advice - I PASSED!!!!!! - Rated
I used this book last year as part of a2 psychology and thought this book was the best of the lot (admittedly the eysenck one is pretty good also) but this one was just that bit better because it was more concise and was layed out in a way that meant the info was easier to remeber. When you go to a page it clearly states all the differetn approaches on the left hand page including the theories etc... than on the right hand side concluded them including critisicms and advantages.
This layout is perfect for exams because it covers the Ao1 and Ao2 in a easy way to folloew. You can just easily ectract the arguments and can have some good notes ready for your exams.
I strongly advise this book if you are doing a2 psychology.
Not very complete and not much of a companion either - Rated 
I am a psychology teacher and graduated in the subject at a good uni so am no stranger. I use the AS and A2 versions and have to agree with the negative review. The AS version is excellent and is working really well with my L6 but the A2 is poorly written. I have trouble understanding what it is trying to say sometimes and have to spend ages going back over it - not what you want from a text book. It flits in and out of research especially in AO2 areas meaning you never really get any meat on the bones and instead have to end up getting students to rote learn minor studies rather than promoting real understanding. When I read other A2 textbooks I can skim through them in no time by comparison. Overall NOT RECOMMENDED...
| 
