Extended Project Qualification
The Extended Project Qualification is an A-level standard, standalone qualification designed to extend and develop students' abilities beyond the A-level syllabus and prepare for university or their future career. The EPQ develops and extends from one or more of the student’s study areas and/or from an area of personal interest or activity outside their main programme of study. It is based on a topic chosen by the student.
The AQA EPQ provides an opportunity for students to extend their abilities beyond their sixth form course of study, stand out and prepare for university or their future career. The final project can take one of two formats: a written report or an artefact with written report.
Delivery of the Extended Project Qualification involves some teaching of the necessary skills, supervision and assessment of the student’s progress. It involves extended autonomous work by the student. Students are required, with appropriate supervision, to:
- choose an area of interest
- draft a title and aims of the project
- plan, research and carry out the project
- deliver a presentation to a non-specialist audience
- provide evidence of all stages of project development and production for assessment
The EPQ’s value:
- It can be taken as an extension of other Level 3 qualifications or vocational qualifications
- It is worth half an A-level in terms of UCAS points
- It is recognised by universities and employers
- It can lead to lower offers from some universities
The AQA EPQ specification - AQA | Projects | Level Three | Level 3 Extended Project Qualification