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What is an EPQ?
EPQ stands for Extended Project Qualification, which is an additional qualification you can take alongside your A-levels. It helps to develop research skills, time management and a whole host of other skills that could be very useful at university.
An EPQ consists of a 5000-word report on a subject of your choice and a presentation on both the planning and project management of your EPQ, as well as the content of your report.
Pros of doing an EPQ in sixth form
1. An EPQ is worth valuable UCAS points
A top grade in your EPQ is worth the equivalent of half an A-level (28 UCAS points) which could be invaluable when applying to universities.
2. It develops useful skills
Time management skills, research skills, presentation skills, essay writing, etc. can all be developed during the course of your EPQ. Having evidence of developing these skills will look great on your uni application and your CV.
3. It lets you study your own interests
Whether it's focusing on subjects such as type 2 diabetes or abortion, which will be relevant for those applying to study medicine at uni, or on a subject like Disney princesses simply because you like Disney and have an interest in feminism, an EPQ gives you the freedom to study what you want.
Cons of doing an EPQ in sixth form
1. It takes up a lot of time
Writing 5000 words is not an easy task, plus you have to do extensive research on your chosen topic, prepare a presentation and even hand in evidence of your time planning!
2. It can be tricky if essays don’t come naturally to you
For some, writing long essays might come naturally and so doing one for an EPQ isn’t such a big stretch. However, some people who don’t enjoy essay writing – and perhaps find it a bit harder – might struggle when writing for their EPQ.
3. It can be very stressful
An EPQ is a lot of work to put in, and you should consider your other commitments before taking one on, as it can be extremely stressful when you still have 3000 words to go with only a week before the deadline.
Ultimately it’s up to you to decide whether or not you go ahead with it. While it can be very difficult and stressful, it is also very rewarding and the qualification is becoming increasingly favoured by universities.
If you do decide to take it on, here are some final tips that might help you out...
Top tips for doing an EPQ in sixth form
1. Pick a subject that genuinely interests you
Don’t say “I’m going to do my report on string theory!” if you’re not actually interested in it, just because it’ll make you sound as clever as Sheldon Cooper.
You are going to be researching and writing about this topic for a year, so you need to pick something you’re not going to get bored of. Do it on something you are genuinely fascinated by as you'll enjoy learning and talking about it.
If you have an idea of what you want to do after you finish education, then picking something related to the career you want will be helpful in future.
Not sure what career you want? Try our Career Matcher.
2. Plan your time well
Don’t be afraid to say to your supervisor, “I’m taking a two week break from my EPQ due to mocks” – that’s perfectly fine! Make sure you balance your EPQ with your A-levels.
3. Keep hold of every scrap of planning
It’ll all be useful evidence to include in your folder at the end of the project, and could gain you marks!
Student story: my experience of doing an EPQ
Hopefully if you’re considering taking doing an EPQ, you’ll already have a vague idea of what you might want to study, but if you’re anything like me and can barely decide whether to buy a sandwich or a pasta salad for your lunch, this may seem more than a little daunting.
So I came up with a few ideas and did a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis on each of them to help me decide which topic to go with. You’ll get a lot of guidance from your college too, and once you’ve chosen your question and enrolled onto the EPQ, you’ll be assigned a supervisor who will guide you (not tell or spoon-feed you the way teachers can) throughout your project.
Another important aspect to bear in mind: 60% of your grade is determined by the marks you get for your research and the process you undertook to get to the final product, so it’s important that once you’re completely sure about your question you really hit the ground running when it comes to the research.
You can never start too early or do too much, and remember that research can consist of anything from reading online news articles to conducting interviews. My EPQ has allowed me the rare opportunity to consult with a world leading expert of the topic I’m studying – he even filled out my questionnaire!
You’ll be keeping a blog throughout the project so that you and your supervisor can keep track of where you are and whether you’re falling behind, and you’ll be required to draw up a planning table for the time you’re off college for the summer, so you can know exactly what you need to do every week.
Also, with every task you set yourself, you’ll consider any possible problem you may be faced with and ways to overcome it (honestly, I’d never been so organised!) so you’re thoroughly prepared.
Then, once you’ve got all the information you’ll need, you’re ready to start creating your final piece! And once you’ve finished that... well, then you’ll just have to wait until results day to find out your final grade – the grade you got virtually all by yourself!
Doing an EPQ sounds like a lot of work, and a lot of time commitment and a lot to ask of a seventeen or eighteen year old student... but you’d have chosen to do this because you love what you’re researching!
And I guarantee you, when you hand in that final product you created from scratch, it’ll all have been worth it.
