The Extended

Project

Qualification

Level 3

(AQA)

Induction and

Preparation for

September 2018

The Extended Project

University of Manchester:

The skills that students develop through the Extend Project Qualification (EPQ) are excellent preparation for university-level study. Students can refer to the EPQ in their UCAS personal statements and at interview to demonstrate some of the qualities that universities are looking for.

Read and discuss: What is the purpose of the EPQ?

So - What is the EPQ?

• It’s a free-standing qualification equivalent to an AS level and graded A* to E.

• You choose and design your project.

• You get to explore a further aspect of an A-level subject that you are already studying, OR choose a topic that you have a personal interest in.

• The finished project can be a purely written report OR an artefact (something you have produced to fit a design brief).

• The project is finally presented to a non-specialist audience.

• There is a taught study skills programme alongside which will help to develop your project

Why are we doing it?

FOR YOU

• Its great for your University

application- lots to write

about in your personal

statement

• It will be also be great for

job OR university interviews

• An extra qualification

• Great for study skills development- will help

with coursework subjects

• Your chance to pursue a

passion and get a

qualification for it!

FOR THE SCHOOL

• Helps to address study

skills weaknesses

• An important step in the

development of

independent

research/learning

• Helps your academic

tutors to write your

references

• Inspiring and Refreshing

• Changing the learning

culture

Who will be doing the EPQ?

• The EPQ is compulsory for all students on an A-Level pathway

• You will have one timetabled session each week where we will cover important skills for your projects. In the remaining sessions, you will be carrying out independent work.

• Some taught skills will be delivered through a programme of trips and visits to different universities – more information to come on this.

How much work is it?

• It is supposed to take about 120 hours to complete.

• If the project is entirely written, a 5000 word report is expected.

• If it is an artefact, a 3000 word report is required.

• It is marked at A2-level, using higher order skills like analysis and evaluation rather than just describing and narrating.

There are FOUR assessment objectives that you are marked on:

1.Managing a project yourself

2.Using resources you have selected

3.Developing and realising a project

4.Reviewing the project

Discuss: How might you evidence these skills?

Extended Project – Grade Boundaries

45-50 A*

40-44 A

35-39 B

30-34 C

25-29 D

21-24 E

0-20 U

It is a tough

qualification

and you won’t

get marks for

just showing

up!

How much help will I get?

• Your academic tutor will act as your EPQ supervisor and can discuss aspects of your project with you but they are not allowed to lead you to the answers.

• Meeting with co-ordinator at the mid-project review stage.

• Tutoring time provided for your EPQ

• Supervised study periods

Example EPQs• A review of the marketing of a

local estate agent

• Assessment of the Prime

Ministership of Margaret Thatcher

• Review of Quantum theory

• Which Mathematician has had

the most effect on history?

• Is criminality genetic or

environmental?

• Who was the greatest Tudor

monarch?

• Is hosting the Olympics worth it?

• How the concept of childhood

changed during the Victorian

period?

• Why does the UK have Europe’s

teenage pregnancy rate?

Provisional Results:A* (12): 28%

A*-A (27): 63%A*-B (39): 91%

Subject Clusters

Social Sciences and Anthropology

Natural Sciences

Humanities and

Philosophy

Creative and

Expressive Arts

Literature and

Media

The Corporate

World

Choice of topic for your Extended Project

What are you interested in?

•Personal interest

•Existing area of study (but cannot overlap!)

•Leisure interest

•Voluntary/community work

•Future career

•Current work environment Whatever you are thinking of, check the AO’s

Timeline EPQ 2017-2018

Month/Week Deadline

Sept/2 Complete record of initial ideas

Oct/1 Completed candidate proposal – approved by AT.

Oct/3 Candidate proposal approved by CC

Oct/4 Complete your planning review

Jan/1 Mid-project review

Mar/2 Verbal feedback given by AT on draft

Apr/1 Project submitted in full with all accompanying paperwork

Your Bridging Project• Seek advice from subject staff about potential projects

• Start thinking about areas for your project

• Use your local library and internet resources

• Register with FutureLearnhttps://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project (Register for September 2018 Start)

• Go to http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/projects/aqa-certificate/EPQ-7993/administration

• Download Candidate Record Form, Production Log (2018/2019) in Word format.

• Complete the Record of Initial Ideas.