Extended Project Qualification

An Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a qualification taken by some students in England and Wales, which is equivalent to 50% of an A level. They are part of level three of the National Qualifications Framework. It is currently graded A*-E.[1]

The extended project was devised by Sir Mike Tomlinson in 2006, during his review of 16- to 19-year-olds' education.[2] It was a compulsory part of the 14–19 Diploma taken by students in England and Wales between 2008 and 2013.

An EPQ is worth up to 28 UCAS tariff points.[3]

Description

All students may take an extended project as a free-standing qualification, following a recommendation by the examination boards of England and Wales (Edexcel, OCR, AQA, WJEC, Eduqas and CIE) and England's qualifications authority, the QCA.[4]

The students' choice of topic is free, although they must show that it is academically useful, either related to their current course of study, or their future career. It takes the form of either a dissertation (5,000 words being a common guideline[5][6]) or a number of other forms: a musical or dramatical composition, report or artefact, backed up with paperwork. David MacKay, head of the 14-19 curriculum at the QCA, is in favour of EPQs, saying: "Extended projects can help students to develop and demonstrate a range of valuable skills through pursuing their interests and investigating topics in more depth." It has also been praised by universities for guiding students into higher education (typically universities).[4] According to the QCA, an extended project is "a single piece of work requiring a high degree of planning, preparation, research and autonomous working."[2]

The number of students taking up the EPQ is growing dramatically. Around 30,000 students took the EPQ recently and this is growing by the year. Universities look positively at an EPQ and value its rigorous academic content and the vast amount of time taken to complete this. An EPQ contains 100% coursework, there is no exam and students tend to take this up in their second year in sixth form. This is because the project helps students to gain a lot of new information and explore their interests in-depth after the transition of A-levels. It also indicates a heavy interest in a particular subject which is useful for those applying to university.

Effect of 2020 pandemic

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in summer 2020 EPQ grades were awarded according to assessments made by teachers.[7]

References
  1. "What are Extended Project Qualifications?". www.aqa.org.uk. UK: Assessment and Qualifications Alliance. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  2. "Schools consulted on new project". BBC News. UK: BBC. May 2006. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  3. "EPQ: Performance tables". AQA. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  4. "Extended project for all call". BBC News. UK: BBC. May 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  5. "Level 3 Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) specification" (PDF). AQA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  6. "Extended Project: Centre handbook/specification" (PDF). OCR. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  7. "Changes to awarding of GCSE, AS and A level: guide for teachers, student, parents & carers: summer 2020". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
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