Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) EPQ Foundations: Qualification Structure and Assessment Syllabus

EPQ Foundations: Qualification Structure and Assessment syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for EPQ Foundations: Qualification Structure and Assessment in Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Understanding the EPQ

   4 topics

   • Nature and purpose of a Level 3 standalone qualification
     • EPQ as a single A-level (AS) sized qualification worth UCAS points
     • Standalone status versus embedding within wider study programmes
     • How universities and employers value independent research skills
   • The four project formats
     • Dissertation (extended written research report, c. 5,000 words)
     • Investigation / field study with data collection
     • Performance (e.g. recital, drama, sporting event organisation)
     • Artefact (a designed or made product with written report)
   • Awarding bodies and specifications
     • AQA 7993, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC/Eduqas variants
     • Common shared structure across boards
   • Guided learning hours and the 120-hour expectation
     • 30 taught hours of skills development
     • 90 hours of independent project work
2. 2

   The Four Assessment Objectives

   5 topics

   • AO1 Manage
     • Identifying, designing and planning the project
     • Applying organisational skills and strategies to meet objectives
   • AO2 Use Resources
     • Obtaining and selecting information from a range of sources
     • Analysing data, applying it relevantly and demonstrating understanding
   • AO3 Develop and Realise
     • Selecting and using a range of skills and decision-making
     • Solving problems to achieve planned outcomes
   • AO4 Review
     • Evaluating the outcomes including learning and performance
     • Communicating outcomes via the presentation
   • Mark allocation and weighting across the AOs
3. 3

   Documentation and the Production Log

   4 topics

   • Purpose and role of the Production Log
     • Evidence trail for all four assessment objectives
     • Candidate, supervisor and centre responsibilities
   • Key log sections
     • Candidate proposal and supervisor approval
     • Planning review and mid-project review records
     • Project product summary and final reflection
   • Recording supervisor meetings and feedback
     • Logging dates, advice given and actions taken
     • Demonstrating candidate-led decision-making
   • Authentication and academic integrity declarations
4. 4

   Assessment, Marking and Moderation

   4 topics

   • Internal assessment by the centre
     • Supervisor marking against published criteria
     • Internal standardisation across markers
   • External moderation by the awarding body
   • Grading scale and outcomes
     • A* to E grading and UCAS tariff points
     • Relationship to overall study programme
   • Submission deadlines and entry windows

EPQ Foundations: Qualification Structure and Assessment flashcards for Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

21 of 50 cards from the EPQ Foundations: Qualification Structure and Assessment deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in terms of its level and structure?

   It is a Level 3 standalone qualification: a self-contained, separately certificated course that is not a module of any other qualification and can be taken alongside A-levels or other Level 3 studies.

2. What does it mean that the EPQ is a 'standalone' qualification?

   It is awarded on its own merits and certificated independently, rather than forming a unit or component within a larger qualification such as an A-level.

3. What is the primary purpose of the EPQ?

   To develop and demonstrate independent research, planning, project-management and critical-thinking skills, extending a student's learning beyond the taught curriculum.

4. To which level of the UK national qualifications framework is the EPQ aligned, and what is it comparable to?

   Level 3, the same level as A-levels; a full EPQ is worth half an A-level in size and UCAS tariff.

5. List the four formats (project types) a student can choose for an EPQ.

   A dissertation (extended written report), an investigation/field study, a performance, or an artefact (a designed/made product).

6. In the EPQ, what is a 'dissertation' format?

   An extended piece of academic writing (typically around 5,000 words) presenting research and argument on a chosen question.

7. In the EPQ, what does the 'artefact' format involve?

   Producing a physical or digital product (e.g. a piece of art, an engineered object, software, an event) accompanied by a written report.

8. How does the word-count expectation differ between a dissertation EPQ and a non-dissertation (artefact/performance) EPQ?

   A dissertation is normally about 5,000 words, whereas an artefact, performance or investigation requires a shorter accompanying report of roughly 1,000 words.

9. Name the main UK awarding bodies that offer an EPQ specification.

   AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC/Eduqas all offer EPQ specifications.

10. What is a 'specification' in the context of the EPQ?

    The official document published by an awarding body that defines the content, assessment objectives, marking criteria and administrative requirements for that body's EPQ.

11. What are 'Guided Learning Hours' (GLH)?

    The hours during which a teacher or supervisor directly supervises, teaches or guides a student, including taught skills sessions and supervisor meetings.

12. What is the total notional learning-hour expectation for the EPQ, and how is it typically split?

    Around 120 hours in total: approximately 30 guided learning hours (taught skills and supervision) plus about 90 hours of independent student work.

13. How many guided learning hours does the EPQ typically include?

    About 30 guided learning hours, usually delivered as a taught skills programme and supervisor meetings.

14. List the four Assessment Objectives (AOs) of the EPQ in order.

    AO1 Manage; AO2 Use Resources; AO3 Develop and Realise; AO4 Review.

15. What does Assessment Objective AO1 (Manage) require a student to do?

    Identify, design, plan and manage a project, applying organisational skills and strategies to meet objectives and produce the outcome.

16. What does Assessment Objective AO2 (Use Resources) require?

    Obtain and select information from a range of sources, analyse data, demonstrate understanding of appropriate links/connections, and apply relevant information critically.

17. What does Assessment Objective AO3 (Develop and Realise) require?

    Select and use a range of skills, including new technologies and problem-solving, to take decisions critically and achieve/realise the planned outcome.

18. What does Assessment Objective AO4 (Review) require?

    Evaluate all aspects of the project, including outcomes and one's own learning and performance, and communicate the outcome and conclusions in an appropriate format.

19. In the AQA EPQ, what is the total mark for the project and how is it distributed across the four AOs?

    50 marks total: AO1 Manage = 10, AO2 Use Resources = 10, AO3 Develop and Realise = 20, AO4 Review = 10.

20. Which EPQ Assessment Objective carries the greatest weighting, and what proportion of the marks does it represent?

    AO3 Develop and Realise carries the most, with 20 of 50 marks, i.e. $\frac{20}{50}=40\%$ of the total.

21. Express the AQA EPQ AO weightings as percentages of the total mark.

    AO1 $=20\%$, AO2 $=20\%$, AO3 $=40\%$, AO4 $=20\%$.

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