Extended Project Qualification
| Exam Board: | AQA |
About the Course
The EPQ allows students to embark on largely self-directed projects. By taking responsibility for the choice and design of an individual project (or an individual role in a group project) students:
- become more critical, reflective and independent learners
- develop and apply decision-making and problem-solving skills
- increase their planning, research, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills
- learn to apply new technologies confidently
- demonstrate creativity, initiative and enterprise.
Undertaking an EPQ can also deliver other benefits for students and schools, such as:
- boosting student recruitment by making your curriculum more attractive
- increasing student motivation by allowing them to study topics of personal interest
- enabling students to apply their new skills to other areas of study.
The Extended Project Qualification is undertaken towards the end of Year 12 and during Year 13. The EPQ leads to the equivalent of half an A Level. It allows students to develop their personal interests on a topic they feel genuinely passionate about. It is also a fantastic opportunity to improve the independent research and learning skills that are highly valued by universities and employers. The end result can be a journal, a model, a film, recording or performance or a presentation and a written report of between 1000 and 5000 words.
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a standalone qualification designed to extend and develop your students’ skills in independent research and project management.
Students will be required to submit either a 5000 word report or produce an artefact plus a 1000 word report. In both cases this would be followed with the delivery of a presentation on your project to a non-specialist audience.
The EPQ is awarded UCAS points worth half an A-level and is recognised by universities and employers; some leading universities, such as Southampton University, make alternative offers to students undertaking an EPQ.
The EPQ requires students to carry out research on a topic that they have chosen and is not covered by their other qualifications. They then use this research to produce a written report and, in the case of practical projects, an artefact or a production.
A student can take inspiration from something studied in class or something completely unrelated to their studies.
