Transcript EPQ – Extended Project Qualification

EPQ – Extended Project
Qualification
What is it?
What is involved?
How is it assessed?
What support will I receive?
Why should I do it?
What is the EPQ?
The world is your oyster…..
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Is the media to blame for negative body image?
The evolution of women’s fashion and changing views of
the female figure.
How has English affected the German language? Has this
led to a decline of German as a world language?
In areas of clinical practice, how successful have attempts
been to combat the threat posed by Hepatitis B?
A website design to raise awareness of the lives of people
in a Madagascan village visited during a World Expedition.
Is the NHS as bad as the media portrays it to be?
Curriculum change through the primary years of
education.
Titles from our current Year 13
Projects
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Do the German people feel guilty about the events of
1939-1945?
During the Icelandic volcanic eruptions of April
2010, were the risks to aeroplanes caused by ash
ingestion correctly analysed and what were the
subsequent effects on the British public?
Is it accurate to say that women had a large role in
the French Revolution?
To what extent do copyright laws protect the work
of small and large scale designers in the 21st
century?
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Given the existing level of exploitation in the
Korean music industry, how much worse will
the problem get with the explosion of small
companies?
Should all water in the UK be fluoridated?
How significant was the Easter rising as a
factor leading to the partition of Ireland in
1921?
The Hijab in Britain – Sign of freedom or
oppression?
An investigation into the effectiveness of the
adaptation for the screen of J.K. Rowling’s
‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ by
Warner Brother Studios.
What is involved?
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Choose an area of interest and a topic to study.
Draft a title and the aims of the project for
approval by your mentor and AQA.
Plan, research and carry out your project.
Complete a production log to document the
project process.
Deliver a presentation on the outcome to a
specified audience.
Meet regularly with your mentor.
Provide evidence of all stages.
How is it assessed?
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Students record what they do in a
production log.
You produce an extended piece of writing
and make a presentation about it.
You are assessed on the log, the end product
and the presentation.
Awards are graded A–E and carry UCAS
points.
Assessment Objectives
AO1 - Manage
 Identify, design, plan, and
complete project applying
organisational skills and
strategies to meet stated
objectives.
AO2 - Use Resources/Research
 Obtain and select information from
a range of sources, analyse data,
apply relevantly and demonstrate
understanding of any appropriate
linkages, connections and
complexities of their topic.
AO3 - Develop and Realise
 Select and use a range of skills,
including new technologies, to
solve problems, to take decisions
critically, creatively and flexibly,
and to achieve planned outcomes.
AO4 - Review
 Evaluate outcomes including own
learning and performance. Select
and use a range of communication
skills and media to convey and
present evidenced
outcomes and conclusions.
UCAS POINTS FOR EPQ
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A* 70
A 60
B 50
C 40
D 30
E 20
Carries the same
points as an AS
Level.
The end product
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An artefact, model or construction
A CD, video/DVD of performances or activities
An audiotape/multimedia presentation
A journal of activities or events
A slide or PowerPoint presentation
A photographic record of the project
An extended piece of writing (5000 words)
All projects must include a written report of
between 1000 and 5000 words.
What support will I receive?
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Planning meeting with Miss Berry.
Personal mentor to support and guide you
through the process. Fortnightly meetings.
Taught sessions on academic research skills.
Advice on project management.
Access to local university libraries and
facilities.
AQA website and Moodle resources.
Why should I do it?
Quote from a student
“It is such a great way for motivated, genuinely interested
students to really 'get stuck in' with their subjects. I'd
thoroughly recommend it to any student who fits that
description - so long as they are willing to put a bit of work
in and go beyond the set A Level texts to challenge
themselves a bit more. In terms of uni applications
(although it is obviously not all about this) I think it helps
students to stand out. They are obviously committed and
passionate about their subject and have, to some extent,
already shown that they can work at a high level. I think it
is an excellent scheme and I am really glad that I got
involved when I was at school.”
Comments from Admissions Tutors
at Universities
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‘It would be a good way for students to acquire the skills they
often have to spend the first year of their degree learning’.
(Admissions Tutor, Psychology)
‘It could give a student more insight into the way in which they
will study in HE’ (Admissions Officer, Economics)
‘This will be very useful. The more project work the better.’
(Admissions Tutor, Physics)
Taking the qualification shows commitment to a subject, interest
and skill beyond what is called for in the A level syllabus.’
(Admissions Tutor, History)
Bristol University
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The University recognises that some A Level
students may also choose to offer the
Extended Project. In such cases some
admissions tutors may make two alternative
offers, one of which involves success in the
Extended Project (e.g. either AAA at A Level
or AAB at A Level plus Extended Project).
University of Warwick
“Applicants presenting the Extended Project are
encouraged to discuss their research project in
their personal statement and reflect on how
undertaking the project will help prepare them
for studying their chosen degree at Warwick.
Where a department typically makes offers
which include a fourth subject at AS level the
Extended Project will normally be considered in
lieu of this requirement.”
University of Glasgow
“The University very much values the EPQ and
its role in preparing students for a successful
higher education experience. In highly selective
areas preference may be given to students
entering from 2010 with A-levels, who also offer
the EPQ for entry.”
University of Sheffield
“We encourage students to complete an EPQ,
where possible, as we value the development of
skills in independent study and research, which
an EPQ can offer. Undertaking an EPQ in the
subject that is related to the course or discipline
that you wish to progress into at the University
will provide useful additional preparation and
may be taken into account by admissions tutors
when making decisions between applicants of
equal academic standing.”
University of Cambridge
“We welcome the introduction of the Extended
Project and would encourage you to undertake
one as it will help you develop independent
study and research skills and ease the transition
from school/college to higher education.
Completion of an Extended Project will not,
however, be a requirement of any offer made.”
The London School of Economics
“The School recognises and values the addition
of the Extended Project to the A level syllabus as
a demonstration of wider interest in a chosen
subject and a means of independent study.
However, if you have undertaken the Extended
Project, this may be taken into account if you do
not achieve the conditions of your offer, but it will
not be counted towards the requirements of any
conditional offer.”
University of Birmingham
“Qualifications taken in addition to your main
exams, such as the Extended Project, will
improve your application by enabling you to
develop study skills that will be useful in higher
education. Although we do not usually make
offers based on such qualifications, we
encourage applicants to take them and to note
them on their application form.”
The University of Oxford
“Where applicants have undertaken the
Extended Project (EP), this will not be a
condition of any offer but the University
recognises that the EP will provide an
applicant with the opportunity to develop
research and academic skills relevant for
study at Oxford. Candidates are encouraged
to draw upon relevant EP experience when
writing their personal statement.”
The University of Manchester
“The University recognises the benefits of the
Extended Project (EP) and the opportunities it
provides for applicants to develop independent
study and research skills. The Extended Project is
not a compulsory element of post-16 study and as
a result the University will not include it in the
conditions of any offer made to you. However, if
you choose to undertake the EP we would strongly
encourage you to draw upon these experiences
within your personal statement, as it may be taken
into account when your application is considered.”
Nottingham University - Medicine
“We welcome the introduction of the
Extended Project and would encourage you
to undertake one as it will help you develop
independent study and research skills and
ease the transition from school/college to
higher education. Completion of an
Extended Project will not, however, be a
requirement of any offer made.”
What next?
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Decide whether this is something you are
motivated and interested to do.
Talk to teachers, parents, look in
prospectuses and on university websites.
Fill in the form and return it to me on
Monday 28th February by 3.35pm.
Attend one of the Y13 presentations.
Submit a proposal next term and start your
research over the summer!
Questions?