A document explaining how to start on your EPQ, what to download and where to look for things.
This is a Narrated PowerPoint describing what is where on this site. It contains the main pieces of information about EPQ.
This is a Narrated PowerPoint talking generally about the Paperwork required.
Instructions: Clicking on the section name will show / hide the section.
This is the booklet to introduce EPQ
There is a Narrated PowerPoint to go with this.
This is the Project Log form to keep a record of what you did throughout your project
There is a Narrated PowerPoint to go with this.
This is specifically for deciding on an initial viable title to gain approval for it.
There is a Narrated PowerPoint on choosing a title.
This is the full Project Proposal Form.
There is a Narrated PowerPoint to go with this.
The milestones and dates have been set to those for the Aspire/Standard dissertation EPQ timings, which are not appropriate for ETQ.
A calendar designed to help you with your project planning for the PPF.
There is a Narrated PowerPoint to go with this.
A calendar designed to help you with your project planning for the PPF.
There is a Narrated PowerPoint to go with this.
This is a table for you to keep a record of your research as you do it. It is not a bibliography. Note that there are a number of pages with the heading row repeated at the top of each page.
Ensure that EVERY source you consult is in this table and that you have used the Ws (see 'Introduction to EPQ' booklet) to evaluate them. Doing it as you go along leads to fewer identikit evaluations and a more impressive record.
An example with spurious entries of how to fill in the Research Record Table
This is the cover sheet for your EPQ. You need to delete the routes that do not apply to you. They are in the corresponding order
Dissertation 01
Investigation 02
Performance 03
Artefact 04
All the relevant submission types are there - do not break them down into subsections. Delete those that would not apply to you. See below for the expected submission types.
Dissertation: All the documents collectively are an A4 report - they would normally be tagged together.
Investigation: All the documents collectively are an A4 report - they would normally be tagged together.
Artefact: All the documents collectively are an A4 report - they would normally be tagged together. You might also have a sketchbook if you were doing something Art based. Your actual artefact such as a poster or a piece of textile work should exist only as a good picture or pictures of it. If you were creating a film (MP4 format) or a piece of music (MP3 format) then you should submit both the final artefact and the development files showing that you refined the outcome to your assessor via TEAMS.
A general introduction to EPQ as a whole - please note that all timings are for the Standard timetable.
A brief explanation of what it is about
A bit of a help as to what to fill in where
All about the title and the rules for them
What to fill in where - some advice
This is about how to use the Project Calendars.
This contains examples of good log entries
A document showing how log entries can be developed to get better marks using a fictional Beans EPQ
These are some ideas for essay structures. It is not an exhaustive list.
A guide as to how to write an abstract together with some examples
Please note that no real presentation would be this long or this boring. It is a selection of slide headings students have chosen to use in the past that you may find helpful for inspiration.
These are a selection of slides picked from different presentations to make particular points. There is no significance to the distribution of slide headings/topics.
These are the criteria against which your presentation is assessed. They are mostly about your delivery of the presentation.
The key thing is for you to practice giving your presentation so you get the timing right and you do not um and ah.
You can use cue cards but make sure you use a large font so they are easy to read at a glance and do not just read from them.
This is a guide as to what to include.
A guide as to what to write when evaluating how you carried out your project. Please note it is a set of prompts and is a basis not an exhaustive description.
Your end-product should not just be a list of the answers to these questions but should read coherently.How to use Word to keep your sources organised and make referencing your work and producing the Bibliography easy
How to use Word to generate a Table of Contents for your written work
The section relating to artefacts. Contains a helpful general overview of what is expected and the marking criteria.
The section relating to dissertations. Contains a helpful general overview of what is expected and the marking criteria.
The section relating to investigations. Contains a helpful general overview of what is expected and the marking criteria.
The section relating to performances. Contains a helpful general overview of what is expected and the marking criteria.
This is Edexcel's own EPQ website.
This is a free online course from Bath University
A free online course from Southampton University
A university view of the benefits of doing an EPQ
A set of study skills documents relating to researching and producing a piece of work.
It is where you should upload your IPPF with your working title and your Project Calendars.
This is your plan for your writing for your Dissertation OR for your writing for your Investigation OR for the written background research relating to your Artefact (see p21 of the "Introduction to EPQ" booklet re planning your writing).
2) Research evidence version 1:
(The PPF should have the first few items you looked at for research into the viability of your title and no more, these should also appear in your Research Table).
For a dissertation this should consist of the Research Record Table (on GOL and should have been downloaded) full of entries showing what you have looked at and evaluated the usefulness of. It should contain all the sources you have look at and then selected from. TOP TIP - fill it in as you go along. You are aiming for a minimum of 20 sources actually used for a dissertation (good dissertations may well have significantly more than this). I would expect more than the number you use to appear in your Research Table as you should show that you have selected what you use from what you found. You are not expected to have necessarily completed all of your research.
For other routes, a Research Record Table, which is possibly not as long, but also take pictures of your sketches/storyboards/notebooks etc. to show a good chunk of preparatory research work has been done. Then either convert the images to a PDF or put the pictures into a document and save that as a PDF before uploading.
TARGET DATES TO UPLOAD BY:
1) Updated version of your PPF (PPF v2)
You may have added an amended timescale, thought of other additions or altered your title in some way for example. Changes should be visible either by striking through what is replaced or putting new material in a different colour. New timelines can be a new page in a different colour or new versions of the Project Calendars. Revised timelines can start from the point at which you changed them.
2) Updated version of your log (PAL v2)
This should be the version of your log up to this point.
1) your updated Research (v2)
- updated version of the Research Table
- first versions of any new parts of the short story or similar you will be writing and any updated versions of those created earlier and uploaded
- Any film scheduling, story boarding, characterisation, scripts, lighting etc. in preparation for the creation of a video artefact
- images of work done since the last assignment for art based artefacts, IMPORTANT: put them in a document and then save it as a PDF and submit only that.
- music files since the last assignment for music composition artefacts. Please put them in the folder already shared with both your mentor and myself on OneDrive (create one if you did not do so last time) and upload a document to GOL that states the name of the folder you have shared, the files that should be visible and what they relate to (good file naming helps here). Please do not try to upload the files themselves - it won't work.
- video files for films. Please put them in the folder already shared with both your mentor and myself on OneDrive (create one if you did not do so last time) and upload a document to GOL that states the name of the folder you have shared, the files that should be visible and what they relate to (good file naming helps here). Please do not try to upload the files themselves - it won't work.
2) "2000 words":
- the 2000 words you wrote for a dissertation or investigation - it does not have to be the introduction
- the first version of your written research for a Performance or an Artefact
1) your log up to this point.
2) as appropriate from the following:
- your dissertation/investigation first draft
OR
- images of your artefact work for art based artefacts since the last assignment leading to & first steps in creating the final piece. IMPORTANT: put them in a document and then save it as a PDF and submit only that.
OR
- any new music files since the last assignment and the first version of the final piece for music compostion artefacts. Please put them ithe folder already shared with both your mentor and myself on OneDrive and upload a document to GOL that states the name of the folder you have shared, the file that should be visible (good file naming helps here). This particularly applies to new files in a folder you may have already shared. Please do not try to upload the files themselves - it won't work.
OR
- any new video files since the last assignment and the first version of the final piece for film artefacts. Please put the files in the folder you should already have shared with both your mentor and myself on OneDrive and upload a document to GOL that states the name of the folder you have shared and the new files that should be visible (good file naming helps here). Please do not try to upload the files themselves - it won't work.
Candidate Record Sheet - signed by you - print, sign and then save as a PDF
PPF
PAL
Research Record
Abstract for dissertations and investigations
Outcome - the dissertation/ the investigation report / the artefact created and supporting development. If you have created an artefact then it should be a good picture of what you have created, and snaps of the work you did in your sketchbook. Create a PDF - drop the pictures in sequence into a Word document (or similar) and then save as a PDF.
Evaluation
Presentation slides - print 4 or 6 to a page on Word or a PDF writer and submit the Word or PDF file.
Your work will be assessed by your mentor.
All the marking criteria are clearly set out in the assessment objectives at the end of each route's specification section.
Less experienced mentors are supported by more experienced mentors and the EPQ coordinator. Work from each mentor is cross-moderated to ensure consistency. A sample will then be moderated under the direction of the EPQ coordinator. The Examination Board will moderate the work of those students that it selects and calls.
Internally moderated marks will be available at the beginning of May provided there is no disruption due to COVID-19.
Requests for review of moderation are to be made in line with the Exams Policy within five calendar days of being informed of the moderated mark. It is expected that students speak with their supervisors in the first instance, before completing a request for a review of moderation form.