EPQ

About the course

Students follow the AQA Extended Project Qualification course. It is completely different to anything which may have been studied before because the student decides what they would like to learn about and the title of the project they would like to complete. This means that they have almost total autonomy (control) over what they wish to study, as long as the title enables them to reach their full potential and achieve the best grades they are capable of. In the EPQ lessons, students will learn some very useful skills which are valued by all universities and will prove extremely beneficial in future academic and professional careers. These skills include:

-Organisational and time-management strategies

-How to research and use resources effectively

-Problem-solving techniques

-The importance of reviewing work and self-evaluating academic performance

-Presentational skills to engage your audience

Each student will work closely with a teacher who will act as a supervisor to provide clear guidance and support to help them to complete their project on time and to the best of their ability.

Assessment

A student’s Production Log, a presentation to an audience, and a research project of approximately 5,000 words (or approximately 1,000 words for an artefact) are assessed using the following criteria:

-Evidence of detailed research and evaluation of a wide range of sources

-Critical analysis and use of research

-Evidence of decision-making and problem solving

-Communication skills and synthesising information from a variety of sources

AO4 - Review

-Detailed and careful evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the completed project

Characteristics of successful students

A successful EPQ student requires the following qualities:

- Academic curiosity

- Self-discipline

- Determination

- Organisation

- A ‘growth mindset’ attitude

- Resilience

- An enjoyment of using resources for academic study like books, websites, newspapers and magazines, documentaries, movies, television and radio programmes

Minimum entry requirements

A good grade in English language (Grade B and above) is very important because students will have to use a lot of sources which will primarily be in English. The project will also need to be effectively written in English in order to reach the very highest marks.

Further studies and careers

The EPQ will provide the student with a wealth of important skills which universities and future employers will value greatly. These skills include: researching and using sources of evidence effectively; source analysis and evaluation; synthesis; effective communication skills; presentational skills and the ability to construct and sustain a strong and coherent argument. Therefore, this is an excellent choice to prepare students for any degree and subsequent career. It really will provide the student with a fantastic range of skills which they will use whilst in the Sixth Form, university and in their professional lives.

Reading list

- A. Miller: ‘It’s a Matter of Fact: Teaching Students Research Skills in Today’s Information Packed World’

- C. Flanagan ‘EPQ Toolkit for AQA – A Guide for Students’

- M. James ‘AQA Extended Project Companion’

- K. Kruse ’15 Secrets Successful People Know about Time-Management’

- G.T. Wang and K. Park ‘Student Research and Report Writing: From Topic Selection to the Complete Paper’