The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

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Aspire The Extended Project Qualification

(EPQ) is an essential part of the college’s Aspire Initiative.

The Aspire Initiative aims to ensure that our students ‘aspire’ to the highest possible goals and have access to the relevant knowledge, skills and experience to help them to achieve success.

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What is the EPQ? A Level 3 qualification taken alongside current

studies

An independent research project into a subject of their own choice

Designed to extend knowledge in current subject(s) or an extracurricular interest.

Students must produce one of the following: – A Dissertation – A Field Study – An Artefact – N.B .We no longer offer the Performance Option

EPQ is worth ½ A-Level – more than an AS! It is graded A*-E.

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How can our understanding of Epigenetics influence the development of drugs to treat cancer?

To what extent is the work undertaken at Bletchley Park during World War II still relevant to the modern day cryptography used in cyber security?

How does Jane Austen explore Religion and Morality in her novels; Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park?

To what extent is the balance of domestic and military virtue key to the classical heroic ideal in literature?

Can the response of the UK government towards the 2008 economic crisis be considered successful?

What natural variables affect a person’s ability to recognise another’s emotions?

How did female film icons influence the fashion and styles of their era?

Sample Project Titles - Dissertations

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Sample Project Titles - Artefacts

An illustration of how women’s fashion has had an impact on women’s bodies in the last 100 years .

Design a suitable NAS (Network Attached Storage) system for two separate markets to maximise customer engagement.

To visualise the poem ‘hour’ by CA Duffy in a film form to be submitted for a screening at the BFI Flare film festival.

How effectively can a raspberry Pi Computer be used as a server to connect multiple devices ?

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Level 3

EPQ

4. Conduct research using appropriate techniques

3. Produce a plan showing how they will achieve intended outcome

2. Identify objective(s) in the form of a question or brief and agree this with Supervisor

1. Choose a topic/area of interest and negotiate with supervisor scope of the project

5. Document progress in regularly updated Research-Log.

6. Interpret evidence, draw conclusions and write up results in finished project.

7. Present findings, conclusions and an evaluation to an audience.

What Learners are required to do

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How will it be Assessed? All projects must include a written report (approx.

6,000 words for a dissertation) and students must also give a short presentation about their project.

Assessment is undertaken by an internal supervisor and the College’s marks are externally moderated by the exam-board.

The assessment covers both the process and the end product. – The final project, plus the Research Log, the

presentation and artefact (if relevant) will be assessed as a whole.

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Assessment Objectives Mark Weight

AO1 - Manage

Identify, design plan and carry out a project, applying a range of skills and methods.

9 17%

AO2 -Use Resources

Research, critically select, organise and use information and select and use a range of resources. Analyse data, apply relevantly and demonstrate understanding of any links and complexities of the topic.

12 22%

AO3 Develop

and Realise

Select and use a range of skills, including, where appropriate, new technologies and problem solving, to take decisions critically and achieve planned outcomes

24 44%

AO4 Review

Evaluate all aspects of the EPQ, including outcomes in relation to stated objectives and own learning and performance. Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced project outcomes and conclusions in an appropriate format.

9 17%

Total 54 100%

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Typical EPQ Framework EPQ Structure

1 Title Page

2 Contents

3 Abstract

4 Introduction

5 Research Review – A review of current Research on the topic

6 Discussion – Relating research to specific question/brief. Making own arguments.

7 Conclusion / Evaluation – Coming to a definitive judgement

8 Bibliography

9 Appendices – including Research Log

10 Copy of Presentation – slides/notes/recording

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Exam Results In the last assessment cycle 57

students completed the course: This year we have 93 students!

Grade Number of Students A* 22

A 28

B 4

C 3

D 0

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Why should you do an EPQ? 1. It allows students to develop essential skills

which Universities and Employers value. 2. It aids the transition to the more independent

style of learning required at University. (try before you buy!)

3. It helps with University Entrance – Students able to demonstrate subject interest in personal statements and in interviews

4. For the love of learning - It allows students to explore a subject they find interesting in greater depth.

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EPQs role in University Admissions

EPQ is widely valued as part of an applicant’s overall profile. – Some universities will make lower offers based on a

good EPQ grade.

– Others won’t include it within an offer – but it will enhance an application and increase the chances of success.

It is an important discriminator when top universities (Russell Group etc.)are deciding between candidates who have the same grades.

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The University View

Manchester The EPQ gives A-level students excellent preparation for university-level study and may help boost their UCAS application. Admissions tutors may make an alternative offer (a grade lower plus a grade A+ in the EPQ) to applicants for some courses.

Southampton On a majority of our courses applicants offering an EPQ will be made two offers – our typical offer based on 3 A levels, and an alternative where, in exchange for an A or A* in the EPQ we will reduce the A level requirements by one grade.

Newcastle If you offer an Extended Project, it will be taken into account as part of your application profile. If EPQ in a relevant topic to the degree programme, they will vary their offer to recognise this.

Leeds In some cases admissions tutors may wish to make an alternative offer to applicants, one of which involves successful completion of the Extended Project (eg. AAA at A level or AAB plus the Extended Project).

Queen Mary’s On a number of courses students will be made an alternative offer of a grade lower plus a grade A or A*in an EPQ

Sheffield Alternative offers given on some courses.

Bath One grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ offered on many courses.

Birmingham One grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ offered on many courses

Liverpool We recognise that the EPQ will provide an applicant with the opportunity to develop skills relevant for study at University. Some of our degree programmes do consider it as part of the academic (One grade lower plus a grade A+ in the EPQ)

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The University View

Oxford

Where applicants have undertaken the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), this will not be a condition of any offer but the University recognises that the EPQ will provide an applicant with the opportunity to develop research and academic skills relevant for study at Oxford. Candidates are encouraged to draw upon relevant EPQ experience when writing their personal statement. The EPQ can also be used when students have to submit work as part of their application.

Cambridge

We welcome the Extended Project and would encourage applicants to undertake one as it will help to develop independent study and research skills valuable for higher education. However, we recognise that not all students have equal access to them and so completion of an Extended Project won't normally be a requirement of any offer made.

Durham The Extended Project does not form part of the entry requirements for undergraduate degree programmes at Durham University. Nonetheless a high predicted or actual grade in this award will be considered a positive attribute when selecting amongst applicants with similar levels of overall achievement.

UCL Although the Extended Project Qualification does not form part of our standard entrance requirements, UCL continues to recognise its value as preparation for independent study, which is key to university-level study.

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Research

Overall positive effect on A-Level Performance

Overall positive effect on transition to University

To what extent is it possible to 3D print a scalable electromyography enabled prosthetic hand at a low production cost using consumer

grade electronic prototyping equipment?

EPQ By Marcus Thorpe – 2017 ( to 2018)

EPQ Background

An initial interest in medicine turned my EPQ into a dissertation about robotics in surgery. However after the summer holiday I discovered a new field of science and technology called bioengineering.

I later noticed a growing field in robotic limbs, typically a year 2 undergraduate project. I then merged this with the developing technology of stereolithography (3D Printing) because at the time I had no idea how one worked.

EPQ Background

Results: 2 fully functioning robotic hands that utilize an Electromyography sensor. A large dissertation including instructions and 3D STL files.

Help and support from college

• Much of the EPQ is an Individual task. what you put in for the most part, is proportional to what you get out. However everyone I have spoken to has done exceptionally well.

• However the college supports students through all the phases of the assessment.

• Once enrolled in the course an extra lesson will be added to the students timetable.

• The Supervisor sessions were very useful to ensure that I was on track.

How the EPQ helped me

All of my courses needed knowledge of physics for a better chance to be selected as a successful applicant. The EQP acted as a route around this and enabled me to talk at length on a subject which was useful for both the personal statement and interview phases of my application. I was successful in gaining all my places.

CAN CHANGES IN URBAN PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

IMPROVE BIODIVERSITY IN LONDON’S URBAN SPACE?

WHY I CHOSE THIS TOPIC • LINKED TO TOPICS IN BIOLOGY -

BUILDING ON EXISTING KNOWLEDGE

• RELEVANT TO MY UNIVERSITY COURSE

• AN INTEREST IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT

WHAT I LOOKED AT • ISSUES OF BIODIVERSITY

LOSS • THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES

TO IMPROVING BIODIVERSITY

• WHICH METHODS WERE MORE EFFECTIVE AT RESOLVING THE ISSUE

WHAT I LOOKED AT

WHAT I LOOKED AT

WHAT I LOOKED AT

WHAT SUPPORT I RECIEVED • 1 HOUR SUPERVISOR SESSION

• HELPED KEEP PROJECT ON TRACK • FINDING RESOURSES

• OFFER ALTERNATIVE VIEW POINTS

• HOW TO DEVELOP THE PROJECT

BENEFITS FROM THE EPQ • DEVELOPED MANY SKILLS…

• INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

• TIME MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING

• REFERENCING

• HELPED AT UNI INTERVIEWS…

• GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF SUBJECT

• EVIDENCE OF AN INTEREST IN THE COURSE AS WELL AS AN ABILITY TO WRITE ESSAYS

BENEFITS FROM THE EPQ

• SOMETHING EXTRA

HOW IT WILL HELP • INDEPENDENT RESEARCH • WRITING A DISSERTATION

• IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING • BACKGROUND INFORMATION

BEFORE UNIVERSITY

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A mixture of individual tutorials and small seminar groups All students will be appointed a supervisor – who will be

responsible for helping students to manage their project and will mark it.

Students have started preparatory work on their EPQ already and will have further sessions after progression exams.

How will it be Delivered?

Rough Timetable June – Taught Planning sessions in groups to develop appropriate question Before summer holidays - Submit title for approval During summer holidays – Carry out individual research Autumn Term – Timetabled for 1 session a Week with a supervisor in very small groups. May also be allocated a 1hour independent research session. Deadline – End of autumn term. Marks will be given to students in March and will be submitted to the exam board for accreditation in May.

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It is not easy – ‘it wouldn’t be worth doing if it was’ - but it is certainly manageable and rewarding!

Good for students who are self motivated and enjoy researching and presenting their work

Good for students who like to be challenged

Good for students who are organised

Good for students who are inquisitive

Will it be Easy?

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An electronic application form will be emailed to all students on Aspire.

To be returned by Friday 11th May Exam Entry will be confirmed in September - so if

you are unsure it is possible to ‘opt-out’ later. It is not possible to opt in if you haven’t attended

the initial summer sessions! Student numbers are limited – decisions on places

will be determined by interim report data. We will inform students by the end of May if they are

successful

What Next..?

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Any Questions?