Study Skills

Course summary

The EPQ course has been designed to offer students the opportunity to complete a project of their choice, gaining credit for the work they have done in a way that is recognised by universities and employers. This provides you with the chance to take time to research a topic that is of interest to you, but which may not be related to your chosen courses. There are no prerequisites for the EPQ course. A successful EPQ demonstrates your ability to work independently and engage academically with scholarly work. This is excellent preparation for life beyond school. Research has shown that producing a good EPQ can improve a your exam results in Year 131. The qualification itself is equivalent to half an A level: an A* is worth 28 UCAS points. While most students elect to write an extended essay of approximately 5,000-6,000 words, there are other attractive options, such as completing a piece of scientific research, creating an ‘artefact’ (e.g., an artwork, a design project, a media project), or devising a performance (e.g., dramatic, musical, dance, a speech, etc.).