ExtendED Project Qualification (EPQ)
Who can take the EPQ?
The Extended Project Qualification is a standalone qualification in which you produce and chart the development of a mini thesis or artefact. You are allowed to choose whatever topic you like (it does not have to be related to your A levels). It is very adaptable to your own interests and accessible to everyone regardless of your subject combination or academic strengths.
What does the EPQ involve?
An opportunity for you to exercise your abilities beyond the A level specification and prepare for university or your future career.
The EPQ allows you to embark on a self-directed project, supported by your EPQ supervisor. You take responsibility for its choice and individual design and is an exciting opportunity for you to develop your own academic, cultural, or technical interests. The area of study is almost limitless, so it is possible to produce anything from an academic essay to an animated cartoon. The project will normally be completed by the Trinity Term of the Lower Sixth when you will present your work to peers and staff.
Why take the EPQ?
At a time when it is increasingly difficult to make your applications stand out, what is needed is a qualification that highlights the academic and professional skills that admissions tutors and employers are looking for.
The EPQ is just such a means of proving that you have talent in the very same areas needed to succeed at university or in an apprenticeship or work place. The mini thesis approach is an academic exercise that has direct relevance to the way in which you are likely to study once you get to university, as it involves conducting research, just as you would for a university thesis, while the project management side, especially in regard to the artefact approach, builds and promotes the skills recruiters are looking for and which they say are often lacking.
It is a great talking point on your personal statement and in interviews, demonstrating your enthusiasm for a subject or industry and giving you the chance to show off your knowledge of a particular area of the discipline or sector. You will emerge with an extra qualification, for which you could gain up to 28 UCAS points for an A* project. It is also learning for learning’s sake, and you can revel in the fact that you can devote your time to working on a topic in depth that you find genuinely interesting and stimulating.
Past EPQ projects
CENTRE Policy on Predicted Grades for THE EPQ
Due to the unique structure and assessment method of the EPQ, Dean Close School does not predict EPQ grades before submission or marking. This is due to marking being based on four assessment objectives that can only be evaluated holistically and fairly once final submission of the three elements of the project (production log, product and presentation) has taken place. Following internal moderation, projects are certificated in Year 13 with results released in either the January or August release cycles.
As UCAS’ QIP recommends, since predicted grades are not available for UCAS university applications and the grade is set as ‘pending’, the school reference is used to provide information about the EPQ to help inform admissions teams in their decision making.