Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc) The Individual Project Syllabus

The Individual Project syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for The Individual Project in Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Choosing and Defining a Project

   4 topics

   • Selecting a research topic of personal interest
   • Writing a clear project title and aims
   • Formulating a research question or hypothesis
     • Open vs closed questions
     • Scoping for feasibility
   • Project formats
     • Written research report
     • Artefact plus supporting documentation
     • Investigation or experiment
2. 2

   Research and Planning

   4 topics

   • Primary research methods
     • Surveys and questionnaires
     • Interviews
     • Observations and experiments
   • Secondary research methods
     • Books, journals and credible websites
     • Statistical and data sources
   • Producing a project plan and timeline
   • Risk assessment and ethical considerations
     • Consent and confidentiality
     • Bias and reliability
3. 3

   Analysis and Writing Up

   4 topics

   • Organising and presenting findings
   • Analysing qualitative and quantitative data
     • Identifying patterns and trends
     • Using charts, tables and graphs
   • Drawing evidence-based conclusions
   • Structuring the final report
     • Introduction, methodology, findings, conclusion
     • Bibliography and appendices
4. 4

   Evaluation and Reflection

   4 topics

   • Evaluating the success of the project against aims
   • Reflecting on skills developed
   • Identifying limitations and improvements
   • Presenting the project outcome

The Individual Project flashcards for Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc)

18 of 50 cards from the The Individual Project deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In the Welsh Baccalaureate, what is the Individual Project (IP)?

   An extended, independent piece of research on a topic of the learner's choice, forming part of the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate, where the student plans, carries out and evaluates their own investigation.

2. What two qualities should guide the selection of a research topic for the Individual Project?

   Personal interest/motivation (so you stay engaged) and feasibility (it must be researchable within the available time, resources and access to information).

3. Why is choosing a topic of personal interest important for the Individual Project?

   Genuine interest sustains motivation across a long project, leads to deeper engagement and analysis, and makes the reflective evaluation more authentic.

4. What is the difference between a project title and a project aim?

   The title is a concise label naming what the project is about; the aim is a statement of the overall purpose or intended outcome of the investigation.

5. What makes a clear and effective Individual Project title?

   It is concise, specific, focused, and signals the topic and scope, often phrased as a question or a precise statement of intent.

6. What is the difference between an aim and an objective in a project?

   An aim is the broad overall goal of the project; objectives are the specific, measurable steps taken to achieve that aim.

7. What is a research question?

   A clear, focused, answerable question that defines exactly what the project sets out to investigate and guides the choice of research methods.

8. What is a hypothesis?

   A precise, testable statement predicting a relationship or outcome, which the research then sets out to support or refute with evidence.

9. When is a hypothesis more appropriate than a research question for the Individual Project?

   When the project tests a specific prediction or relationship (typically quantitative/scientific topics); a research question suits more open, exploratory or qualitative investigations.

10. List four characteristics of a good research question.

    Focused (not too broad), answerable within constraints, clear/unambiguous, and relevant/significant to the topic.

11. Name four common formats an Individual Project outcome can take.

    A written report or essay, an artefact (e.g. a product or design), a performance, or a presentation/audio-visual production (with supporting written evidence).

12. What is primary research?

    Original research that collects new, first-hand data directly from sources, such as surveys, interviews, experiments or observations.

13. What is secondary research?

    Research that uses existing data and information gathered by others, such as books, journals, websites, statistics and reports.

14. Give three examples of primary research methods.

    Questionnaires/surveys, interviews, and experiments or first-hand observations (also focus groups and case studies you conduct yourself).

15. Give three examples of secondary research sources.

    Textbooks and academic journals, websites and online articles, and published statistics, government reports or documentaries.

16. What is the main advantage of primary research over secondary research?

    It produces original data tailored exactly to your research question and is current and specific to your investigation.

17. What is a key disadvantage of primary research?

    It is time-consuming, can be costly, may involve small/unrepresentative samples, and risks bias in collection.

18. What is the main advantage of secondary research?

    It is quick, often free, gives access to large amounts of existing data, and provides background and context to support primary findings.

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Planning The Individual Project for Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc)

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