JotCast | Year 12 RfE - EPQ 04.07.19

Molly

4:00

Hello everyone! Myself and the lovely Matthew from Talent Spotting are here today to chat to you, along with our headline act Matt, who is the resident expert on all things EPQ! We look forward to reading all your questions.

Anonymous

4:01

Hi all,

Molly

4:01

Hi @Anonymous!

Anonymous

4:02

just wanted to ask if I want to study dentistry, will the admissions team prefer a student to have EPQ

Grace

4:02

Hello, im looking to study mathematics at university and am looking to complete an EPQ in this topic. I wanted to do it on fractals or about fermats last theorem but my teacher says i need a question which i can critically analyse to get the top marks. Any help or ideas would be much appreciated!?

Anonymous

4:03

Hello

Guest

4:03

Matthew

4:04

Hi @anonymous! Hi @guest!

DOH

4:04

Whats the most important part of the project e.g. the quality of dissertation, log etc?

Matt

4:04

Hi @Grace. Thats a really good question. Your teacher has given some good advice. The most successful EPQ's tend to demonstrate your critical ability. You don't want to write an EPQ project that is a description of something. I would suggest an area which demonstrates that critical perspective.

Anonymous

4:05

And what percentage of offers made are usually to those with EPQ? Approximately?

Molly

4:07

Thanks for your question @Anonymous - admissions teams are very varied across all the institutions, so there's no right or wrong answer for this one unfortunately! EPQs are becoming much more popular with admissions teams in general currently, so it's never going to be a bad thing to do one. Some departments will favour it and provide lower offers to students with an EPQ, but it's currently at the discretion of departments. In terms of percentage offers with EPQ, that's too secret info for us really, so you'd need to get in touch with admissions directly.

The official line from Leeds about EPQs is this:

Although UK students are not required to take the Extended Project Qualification, we appreciate it provides the opportunity for you to develop important research and academic skills. We encourage you to provide further information on your project in your personal statement and at interview as it is often taken into account if you narrowly miss the grades outlined in our offer to you. In some cases admissions tutors may make an alternative offer to applicants that involves successful completion of the Extended Project (for example, AAB plus A in the Extended Project as an alternative to AAA at A-Level). Please contact the relevant admissions team to find out more.

Becca

4:07

Afternoon everyone. I was wondering if the English EPQ is the same as participating in the Welsh Baccalaureate as there is a dissertation of 5000 words.

Matthew

4:07

Hi @DOH. Good question. I'd say that the most important part of any research project is choosing the topic/question to begin with and backing up your research/writing with reference to secondary material. What you really need to demonstrate are independent research skills.

Matt

4:09

Thank you for your question @Becca. I am not too familiar with the Welsh Baccalaureate. The advice I give students studying the EPQ is that is a very similar to a dissertation, so I imagine there will be a lot of similarities. In particular, with the skills you need to complete the projects successfully. Such as critical thinking, time management and online researching.

Dee

4:10

How can I make my EPQ stand out from all the rest?

Anonymous

4:11

If I don’t do an EPQ what do you think I should do that has a similar value so I can impress admission tutor

Matt

4:13

Hi @Dee. The best EPQs demonstrate a genuine interest in a subject area or a curiosity that you have. Try your best to be original and do something you have a real passion for. The best EPQs are those that show the student have really thought about the subject area. and have that genuine interest in what they are discussing about.

Becca

4:14

Thank you @Matt for replying to my question.

Anon

4:14

Are there any tips and tricks to master the EPQ?

Matt

4:14

Thank you @Becca. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Matthew

4:15

Hi @anonymous. An EPQ basically demonstrates that you have taken an independent interest into a particular area of a subject, so I would advise just looking into the areas of research offered within your chosen department and doing some reading! That way you can demonstrate a passion for the subject and an ability to undertake independent research.

Anonymous

4:17

Thanks Matt!! Enjoy your evening guys

Molly

4:17

@Anon in the same way as most big pieces of work, it's all about the work you put in as to what you get out. Make sure you're making full use of the taught sessions offered by your sixth form/college, and that you're not leaving everything to the last minute. Have a plan of action and set yourself deadlines that you stick to! Research can be quite time consuming, as can writing, but make sure that you're not leaving everything to the last minute and you've got pen to paper well in advance of your deadline. Your tutors are there to help, so make the most of them too!

4:18

Enjoy your evening too @Anonymous! We'll be here until 5pm if you think of any more burning questions!

Guest

4:18

I study French at A level and we write two essays for the exam, but there are also other components. Does this make it an essay based subject, and therefore, would Oxford university classify it as one? Also, does EPQ count as an essay based subject?

laraib

4:19

Hi, does doing an EPQ benefit you at uni?

Matt

4:21

Hi @laraib. There is a lot of research that shows students who have taken part in the EPQ tend to perform better at University compared to those that haven't on average. The skills learnt on the EPQ like: Independent learning, critical thinking, online researching and referencing and plagiarism in particular are really useful when you are at Uni

GUEST

4:21

What should NOT be included in the EPQ?

Guest

4:21

How can an EPQ benefit a UCAS application?

Molly

4:22

@GUEST your EPQ is a specific topic to you, so it's up to you and your tutor about what you can and can't include really. Remember that it's a formal piece of academic writing, so no informal language, jokes, or anything like that. Your tutor is best placed to give you advice about what to include/omit from your EPQ though, so get in touch with them if you're unsure!

Guest

4:22

Which subjects are acceptable for an EPQ?

Matthew

4:23

Hi @Guest. I studied French at A-level and at University and I would say it is definitely classed as an essay based subject. You would need to check with the admissions team at Oxford University though to see how they interpret it. An EPQ is an extended piece of writing so it will definitely count as essay based. It is effectively an extended essay.

Guest

4:23

Hi I am going to start my epq and i am not sure about the topic i should choose. I have interest in cyber security and also in hair and beauty. Can somebody please recommend me a question related to these topics.

Matt

4:23

Hi @guest. The best UCAS application use a format that demonstrates your passion and aptitude for the course you have applied for. You need to give evidence why you have the skills to successfully complete the course. You can use the EPQ as a really good example of demonstrating particular skills which Unis really value

Guest

4:23

How is an EPQ assessed?

Molly

4:24

@Guest anything that is not to do with your current A Level study - an EPQ on a particular area of Chemistry that you're interested in (for example) is fine, but an EPQ about an inorganic Chemistry module you're currently completing as part of your A Levels wouldn't be acceptable.

Matt

4:25

Hello @guest. The EPQ is judged in three areas. The production log, the actual report you produce/ or artifact and then the presentation at the end which summarises what you have learnt.

Guest

4:25

How is an EPQ completed?

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