Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) AQA Level 3

Why study this?

The EPQ is a single piece of work that requires evidence of planning, preparation, research and independent learning. These are the skills that are valuable for studying at university. Some Russell Group universities will make you a lower grade offer if you have a good grade in the EPQ. Even if it is not part of the offer, it can be used in your personal statement or interview to demonstrate your interest or aptitude in a subject. It can either be an essay or artefact.

The Extended Project Qualification offers opportunities for students to:

  • Make a significant contribution to the choice and design of an extended project and take responsibility either for an individual task or for a defined task within a group project.
  • Develop and improve their own learning and performance as critical, reflective and independent students.
  • Develop and apply decision-making and problem-solving skills.
  • Extend their planning, research, critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills.
  • Develop and apply skills creatively, demonstrating initiative and enterprise.
  • Use their learning experiences to support their aspirations for higher education and/or career development.
  • Transfer skills developed as part of their extended project to other areas of study.

Entry Requirements

  • Minimum of 6.0 GCSE average points score.
  • Submission of a proposal form stating the aims, research and hypothesis you would like to investigate.
  • Interview with Ms Klein to assess suitability for the EPQ.
  • Have a deep passion for a topic you want to investigate. Can be on any topic but not on a current specification you are being taught at A level.
  • Can you balance your A level commitments with the EPQ?

Syllabus

The EPQ will develop and extend from one or more of student’s study areas and/or a personal area of interest outside their main programme of study. Topic is to be agreed by Mr Haston as the EPQ co-ordinator.

Delivery of the EPQ will involve some teaching of the necessary skills. Students are required to do 120 hours of guided learning hours. Students will have access to a supervisor and co-ordinator of the EPQ.

Students will be taught how to:

  • Research skills including the ability to search for and identify suitable sources of information in the chosen subject area
  • Skills or techniques that will be required for the safe and effective execution of the project which are not part of the candidate’s course of study. e.g. conducting risk assessment, assessing the ethical principles of project proposals and research, safe laboratory or workshop technique, professional codes of practice, ethical guidelines, research methodology. ICT skills that will enhance the production of the report and/or the development of the project
  • Project management skills including time, resource and task management
  • The format and structure of accepted academic forms of research report
  • Referencing, the evaluation of sources and the prevention of plagiarism
  • Presentation skills

You will be expected to deliver a presentation to a non-specialist audience and provide evidence of your work at all stages.

Specification

For the specification please see:

Expected costs

Purchase of the AQA EPQ text book and any other relevant costs associated with the chosen project.

Contact

Any queries please contact Mrs Theay.