Study Skills

Course summary

The AQA Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is an integral part of the Lower Sixth curriculum for choosing the A Level route. It involves completing a project over a one year period and is highly valued by Higher Education institutions. One of the benefits of the EPQ is that it encourages students to extend and develop their interests beyond the material covered in the A Level syllabus and to explore their passion for a topic. Some may choose to research into a subject discipline that they are not studying at school; for many the project informs and confirms their university course choice, becoming the basis of their personal statement. The EPQ typically involves a 5000-word essay, based on the student’s own research. Alternatively, students may choose to produce an artefact of their choice, eg. a piece of artwork, a musical composition or a piece of creative writing, accompanied by a 2000-word analysis and explanation. All students complete a log, which documents their research journey, and deliver a presentation in the Autumn Term of the Upper Sixth. The projects are student led, but they are guided and supported by a non-specialist supervisor. Throughout the year the girls attend a series of taught skills sessions which include guidance on time-management, academic research, referencing, and plagiarism. These are delivered by a dedicated EPQ team. The knowledge and skills gained are in turn very useful in preparing students for the transition to university, and the project is a great developer of students’ intellectual curiosity. Many students have said the EPQ is an extremely rewarding element of their Sixth Form study.