Extended Project Qualification

The EPQ is a valuable addition to the A Level programme of three or four subjects and allows students to acquire a genuine depth of understanding, hone their research skills and develop their personal interest in a topic or subject. It is equivalent to half an A Level in terms of university entrance points and involves students answering a research question, via a 5,000-6,000 word dissertation or a 4,000-5,000 wprd investigation. Alternatively students may choose to design and produce a physical produce or a performance to fulfil a design brief.

There is a continual emphasis on analysis, evaluation and reflection during the project, which each student records in their logbook.

This qualification develops students’ abilities beyond the classroom and helps prepare them for future learning, in particular how to plan and manage extended projects. The experience of public speaking, an important element of the qualification, gives an opportunity to build confidence and communication skills. Universities value the research skills acquired and students completing the EPQ sometimes receive lower university entrance offers.