From her base in the Algarve, Portugal, Evie is showing what’s possible when flexible learning meets personal discipline. A part-time student at Crimson Global Academy (CGA), she takes A2 Psychology through our Da Vinci Programme while continuing her other A-Levels—Geography and English Literature—at a traditional school.

In January, Evie achieved a perfect score of 80/80 UMS in her Unit 3 A2 Psychology exam.

We spoke to Evie about how she prepared, what helped her stay on track, and how CGA’s model has worked for her.

Making it Work: Studying Psychology Online

Psychology wasn’t available at Evie’s local school, but that didn’t stop her from taking the subject. Instead, she added it to her schedule through CGA, where the one-on-one format of the Da Vinci Programme gave her full control over the pace and focus of each lesson.

“I’m a part-time student, I study two other A-Levels (Geography and English Literature) at a traditional school.”

Through CGA, she was able to choose a subject that genuinely interested her and fit it into her schedule.

A Successful Approach to Revision

Evie didn’t start her preparation months in advance. Instead, she began around six to eight weeks before the exam and stuck to methods that helped her remember and apply the material.

“I began intensively revising for my Unit 3 A2 Psychology exam around 6–8 weeks before the test, focusing on past papers and flashcards to aid my revision. With my CGA teacher, we did a couple of revision lessons online. These were in a rapid-fire format to go through the topics of the unit and test my recall ability.”

Her technique was deliberate. She used Quizlet to make flashcards, sorting what she already knew from what still needed work. She also used a whiteboard to test her recall without relying too much on notes.

“I mainly used flashcards that I created through Quizlet, as it allows me to sort the content that I fully understand from the content I am still learning. I also use a whiteboard to test my recall with as minimal prompting from my notes as possible.”

Past papers played a big role too. Not just doing them, but going over them carefully and learning from the mark schemes.

“I use past papers, copying down the mark scheme for the questions I did not earn full marks for in a red pen. Then afterwards, I typically go through all the papers I have done and make a document of all the most difficult questions to review before the exam.”

"Our class times provide us with an opportunity not only for learning and  revision but stretching understanding by discussing content topics in depth and then looking at how a given topic may apply in the real world in context of everything learned in AS through A2 (synoptic applications) as well as across units from Biological to Social Psychology to Learning theories, for example.

Discussing verbally key component/topic areas prior to exams are an  important part of our revision strategy and it is essential to be continually revising the entirety of the  unit/units periodically because of the density of content. Evie is highly organised regarding her notes, the time she spends preparing and reviewing her work, and articulate in our discussions this has contributed to her excellent score."

- Mrs S Gaskin-Lattanzio, CGA Psychology Teacher

Balancing Two Schools? It’s Possible

Juggling three A-Level subjects across two schools might sound chaotic, but Evie’s managed it by staying organised and realistic.

“I find scheduling works best. I do this for my free periods at my physical school and allocate those hours based on each subject’s workload that week.”

She also appreciates the modular nature of the international A Level curriculum. It means she can focus more heavily on one subject for a time, then shift that focus as exams or deadlines change.

This level of flexibility is one of the key reasons students choose to study A Levels online with CGA—whether it’s to fit around other classes, travel, internships, or personal interests, many students choose CGA for its adaptability.

One-on-One Lessons That Fit

Through the Da Vinci Programme, Evie meets with her Psychology teacher one-on-one each week. These sessions gave her the chance to move at her own pace and spend time on the areas she found harder.

“I’m in the Da Vinci Programme, so all my lessons are one-on-one with my teacher. This has allowed me to spend more time on topics I find more challenging, like the biological aspects of psychology, and to move at an accelerated pace in other areas.”

The lessons weren’t just about covering the syllabus. They also included regular reviews of homework, with time built in to discuss the structure of answers and how to hit the mark scheme points.

“During exam revision sessions, she accommodated my learning style to assist me in preparing for the test. This allowed us to discuss through the topics in the unit and recap the ones I struggled on. Furthermore, throughout the year, at the beginning of every lesson, we spend 15–25 minutes reviewing my past-paper style homework assignments. This ensures I understand the content as well as the course’s marking.”

About the Da Vinci Programme

The Da Vinci Programme at CGA is built for students who are looking for more personalised learning than a traditional classroom can offer. Every lesson is one-on-one with a specialist teacher, which means the pace, structure, and focus of the course are shaped around the individual student—rather than the other way around.

For some students, that might mean spending extra time on topics they find difficult, or approaching content in a way that suits how they learn best. For others, it might be about moving faster through the material or diving deeper into areas they’re passionate about.

It’s also ideal for students who want to take a subject that isn’t available at their school—like Psychology, Law, or Further Maths—or who are working towards ambitious university goals and need to go beyond what’s typically offered. Because it’s one-on-one, the feedback is immediate, and lessons are far more conversational and responsive than group classes allow.

"Online learning, like that of the the Da Vinci programme, is excellent because as an academic  professional, we can cater to the learning style and needs of individual students.

As teachers and  educators we are dedicated to our students- their comprehension, preparation and success. With our program there is more flexibility in teaching one-to one as we have the opportunity to revise on  key areas of content in light of individual student needs or focus on a particular skill which may  arise in the exam. We do move quickly and there is a considerable amount of content.

Part of being successful in this type of learning is also being responsible, organised and exercising  efficient time management skills- all of which Evie has demonstrated in completing homework on  time, being prepared for class and being fully engaged by participating in discussions and responsive to my questions.

Well Done Evie, we are so proud of you!"

- Mrs S Gaskin-Lattanzio, CGA Psychology Teacher

If you’re considering A Levels online, exploring subjects like Psychology, or preparing for exams like APs or the EPQ, the Da Vinci Programme offers a flexible and focused way to study.

Speak to a CGA Academic Advisor to find out how personalised support could work for you.