Extended Project Qualification


Exam Board

Additional Entry Requirements

All students are welcome to apply for EPQ in November of L6. Spaces are limited and places will be allocated based on various factors including: 
  • Academic progress
  • Attendance 
  • Quality of application and understanding of commitment required to complete an EPQ 
  • Students studying 4 A-levels are not encouraged to apply  

Course Content

What is an EPQ? (Virtual EPQ Support Series)
 
The level 3 extended project qualification – EPQ – gives students an opportunity to complete a large research project and is excellent preparation for university. It is worth half a A-level and the subject you choose is completely up to you. 
 
There are two types of EPQ you can choose:
 
  • Dissertation - a 5000/6000 word essay on any topic
  • Artefact - a product / artwork / model that you make plus a 2000 word report
You are also marked on your planning, evaluation and a presentation of your process. 
 
Timeline
 
  • November L6: Applications open 
  • January L6: Start EPQ lessons (1 hour per week) 
  • September U6: Presentations and final EPQ submission 
Why do an EPQ?
  • To develop skills that will be essential for university such as: 
- Independence 
- Time management 
- Critical thinking 
- Public speaking 
- Researching academic sources   
  • To expand personal knowledge of an area you're interested in that is not covered by your chosen A-level subjects 
  • Some university make reduced grade offers to students who have a high EPQ grade. 
 Examples of Dissertations: 
  • To what extend did Fred Goodwin contribute to the collapse of RBS in 2008?
  • How women betray and are betrayed by the patriarchy Greek tragedy. 
  • Does rule by philosopher kings work?
  • How is climate change affecting the frequency and distribution of malaria and other tropical diseases?
  • To what extent does music therapy help the symptoms of dementia in the elderly?
Examples of artefacts:
  • Exploring aerodynamic effects - via the construction of a wind tunnel. 
  • Creating an effective acoustic levitator. 
  • Planning and writing a Young Adults novella using a mixture of genres.  
 
 
 
 
GREG
Wren Academy
 
“My EPQ is a dissertation entitled ‘To what extent does generative grammar explain this juncture of human language.’
 
Doing the EPQ allows me to understand what independent research and dissertation writing is really like, as it’s fundamental to university study.
 
There’s help from my EPQ supervisors, who I can email anytime with questions. They read through my drafts and give me extremely helpful, detailed, specific and practical notes.
 
At Woodhouse there’s more of a sense that you are a young adult with responsibilities. You have the breathing space to structure and organise your own way of working.”