EPQ

Exam board: AQA

Course content:

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is designed to allow students to choose an area of interest they would like to explore and deepen their understanding of. The project can either take the form of a 5,000-word written report or an artefact and 1,000-word report. The artefact can be a performance, model, portfolio, creative writing etc.

During the EPQ, students will learn to:

  • Manage – identify, design, plan, and complete a project applying organisational skills and strategies to meet their stated objectives.
  • Use resources/research – obtain and select information from a range of sources, analyse data, apply it relevantly, and demonstrate understanding of any appropriate connections and complexities of their topic.
  • Develop and realise – use a range of skills, including using new technologies, to solve problems, to take decisions critically, creatively and flexibly, and to achieve their aims.
  • Review – evaluate the outcome, including their learning and performance.

At the start of the course students will be required to attend study skills session designed to give students the skills required to complete the project successfully. This will include planning, research skills, referencing, report writing and presenting to an audience.

Assessment:

There is no final examination for this course. Students are assessed on the final product of their project and on the process itself. The qualification will assess the students’ ability to manage, develop, record, realise and evaluate their projects.

Entry Requirements:

You need to be an independent learner and will be required to work in your own time to meet deadlines and complete your project.

Progression routes and careers:

During the process, students will develop as independent, reflective learners and acquire knowledge and transferable skills that are invaluable for further study and the workplace. Universities support and value the EPQ as evidence of a student’s ability to use a range of skills that are vital for successful study in higher education. The qualification is graded A* -E and is worth half of an A Level e.g. 28 UCAS points for an A*.