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Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

EPQ is an A-level standard standalone, annual qualification designed to extend and develop abilities beyond your A-level choices and prepares you for university or future career.

  • It can be taken as an extension of other Level 3 qualifications or vocational qualifications.
  • It’s worth half an A-level (28 UCAS points).
  • it’s recognised by universities and employers.
  • Many universities make lower A-level offers to students undertaking an EPQ.

The EPQ allows you to lead your own project. Students get to plan and carry out research on a topic that they’ve chosen and isn’t covered by their other qualifications. You can take inspiration from something touched on in class or something personal and unrelated to their studies. You use this research to produce a written report and, in the case of practical projects, an artefact or a production.

By taking responsibility for the choice, design and decision making of an individual project (or an individual role in a group project) students:

  • become more critical, reflective and independent learners
  • develop and apply decision-making and problem-solving skills
  • increase their planning, research, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills
  • learn to apply technologies confidently
  • demonstrate creativity, initiative and enterprise.

Research has shown that EPQ students have an increased chance of achieving an A*-B at A-level, and are more likely to obtain a 1st or 2:1 at university.

You can find out more about the EPQ at the UCAS website here.