The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) - what it is and how it helps your teen grow
Updated: Sep 27
Alongside A levels and BTECs, many schools and colleges offer the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), a dissertation or practical project based on independent research. It's a Level 3 qualification usually taken in Year 12 or 13, and it can encourage independent learning, counts towards UCAS points, and can help teens demonstrate interest in careers / courses they are applying for after sixth form.
This is a snippet from The Parents' Guide to Post-16 Options. If you’d like the full version, it's here: The Parents' Guide to Post-16 Options
EPQs: giving your teen chance to enjoy independent learning
There’s much less supervision than your teen is used to when taking EPQs: your teen will be expected to complete their project independently. The research, structure and composition of the project is their choice, and meeting deadlines is their responsibility. This approach is much closer to what will be expected at university, or even in the workplace, and can be a good way to help your child develop the skills they'll need when they leave school or college.
However, this style of working doesn't suit everyone, so think about whether your teen is ready to cope with the added pressures an EPQ may bring, particularly if they already have a demanding school schedule - use our questions below to guide you.
Is an EPQ right for your teen?
Does your teen enjoy working independently? The EPQ suits students who like researching, planning and organising their own work.
Do they have a topic they’re excited about? Motivation is key. A strong EPQ usually starts with genuine curiosity.
Are they taking on a manageable workload? An EPQ is roughly half an A level. It’s achievable, but students already stretched by A levels or extracurricular commitments may find it too much - it's about 100-120 hours' work on average
Will it support their future plans? For competitive courses — especially psychology, law, business, medicine‑related subjects — an EPQ can strengthen a personal statement and sometimes lead to reduced university offers.
If your teen is unsure about their next steps, an EPQ can also help them test out an interest before committing to it at university or in a career.
What does an EPQ involve?
EPQs can be carried out in any of the below four formats:
Research report (a 5,000-world essay)
Investigation or field study
Performance (usually accompanied by a 1,000 word report)
Artefact (e.g., product design, creative work)
Your teen will plan their project, carry out research, produce their final piece, and present their work. Assessment focuses on planning, decision‑making, research quality and reflection — all skills universities look for.
What can my teen choose to do as their EPQ?
Students can choose the subject matter for their EPQ, and there are very few restrictions on the angle they take. This is an excellent opportunity to focus the EPQ on their interests, hobbies or future degree or career plans.
Some examples of EPQ titles include:
Is it right that footballers are paid 1,000 times more than a nurse?
Is it ethical to have a child to save another child’s life?
Should we use parkland in London to build housing for the homeless?
How far can gaming improve cognitive skills in young people?
How effective are community‑led climate initiatives in reducing carbon emissions?
How can theatre be used to raise awareness of mental health issues in young people?
How far has social media changed the way the public views political campaigns?
Design a sustainable packaging solution for small businesses.
EPQ and university applications
An EPQ is worth 28 UCAS points (half an A or V level), although it's value could be considered more than that. Some universities will make lower offers for students with a strong EPQ, many use EPQs as evidence of course interest and it can help students stand out - especially for competitive courses.
What are the benefits of doing an EPQ?
There are many ways taking an EPQ can help your teen's development:
grow in confidence, independence and self-motivation
build the independent research / study skills they'll need later
demonstrate passion for a topic, particularly helpful if they're applying for an apprenticeship or university course in the same subject area as their EPQ
provide a useful talking point during interviews
learn key skills that are useful in the workplace.
provide an incredibly rewarding learning experience on a subject they really care about
How will my child be assessed?
Students are assessed against four objectives, including their ability to plan and organise, obtain and select information from a range of sources, make decisions, and evaluate outcomes.
Final words
Taking an EPQ can have several benefits for your teen, from growing self-confidence, honing independent study skills and providing evidence of interest for future jobs or university application. If your teen chooses a topic that genuinely interests them, it can be one of the most rewarding parts of sixth form. However, it’s also important to recognise when the extra workload might be too much — every teen is different, and there’s no “right” choices.
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