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Higher education

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Original poster

A'Levels EPQ - Is it worth it?

150 replies

Shimy · 28/02/2019 10:46

Those of you with dc who did or are doing an EPQ with their A'levels, would you say it was worth it in terms of offers they received in the end? I noticed quite a few universities on their websites saying they'll get a reduced offer by one grade if they get an A. It just made me wonder wether it was worth all that additional work. Dc1 has not done an EPQ but dc2 is the type that might rise to this kind of challenge. Of course there is benefit in just doing the work for the sense of achievement in itself but would like to hear peoples thoughts. Also what did your dc do their EPQ in?

OP posts:
LittleKitty1985 · 28/02/2019 18:09

@Shimy - your DS2 sounds fantastic, I hope my DS grows up to be like that Smile

@goodbyestranger - the marking is holistic, so there isn't a specific number of marks for the process vs the essay. & the assessment objectives overlap/support each other - good planning & research will lead to a good essay

Original poster
Shimy · 28/02/2019 18:18

Kitty -What a kind thing to say! thank you Smile

OP posts:
Stopyourhavering64 · 28/02/2019 18:55

Ds did EPQ, gave him the extra points he needed for his preferred Uni ....he's now studying that subject (Geography) at Uni after changing his mind on results day about what he wanted to study at Uni! ....and had to go through clearing
His excellent result with EPQ meant he got the revised choice of course and gave him added experience of essay writing which has been a godsend

sluj · 28/02/2019 18:58

DS1 did an EPQ for 2016 entry and only Southampton were interested in it. Fast forward to DS2 entry this year and virtually every university he looked at were prepared to lower the offer for an EPQ. He's gutted he didn't bother now. Some of them would look at them for one off bursaries too.
There has been a massive increase in value since AS levels were scrapped, in my opinion.

Fazackerley · 28/02/2019 19:08

UEA give a bursary for an A at epq I think.

oneteen · 28/02/2019 19:14

DD had the opportunity of doing an EPQ (current Yr12), but after evaluation decided she didn't think it would add value to her Uni application (but I guess this is because she is doing all sciences and her chosen degree course in Biochemistry). She's looking to be head of house on the Yr13 leadership team and she also mentors a Yr10 Chemistry student within the school so I guess its a case of balance - she's not one for doing extra work if not needed although she does extend her knowledge in the science field and seems well read.

ErrolTheDragon · 28/02/2019 19:39

As far as my DD could tell, the Cambridge interviewers used the content of her PS to decide what not to ask her about!Grin

I reckon it's one of those things that what you get out of it depends a lot what you put into it, and do it as an end in itself not as a means to an end.

goodbyestranger · 28/02/2019 20:07

Yes quite Errol!

Does being Head Girl take up a lot of time then? It shouldn't do, surely?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 28/02/2019 20:21

It was really beneficial for dd, not for the offer, I really don't think it's worth putting in effort into something like that just to potentially lower the offer, much better to put more time into a levels.

But from a learning how to write up a piece of research formally it was invaluable and the knowledge gained is giving her a bit of a boost in her course .

Original poster
Shimy · 28/02/2019 20:25

I quite agree with you Errol, and if a young person can take that all on board without necessarily linking it to grade offers, then its been a terrific learning experience.

OP posts:
OKBobble · 28/02/2019 20:36

Yes, the admin side is as DS said fairly dull but also really easy to pick up good marks as it is merely "conforming to what they want in the mark scheme" and "explaining". He found the subject matter of his essay interesting and good practice for other History essay competitions he wanted to enter. He appreciates that if he is lucky enough to get an Oxford interview they may never want to know about his EPQ or myriad of other history super curricular reading and writing.

He procrastinated about starting it but once he got going he liked the reading and research elements. It is all good preparation. However as someone else said I wouldn't do it if it were to the detriment of actual A level grades. DS is lucky I think that his school do it in year 12.

goodbyestranger · 28/02/2019 20:39

sluj the take up for the EPQ has slumped for the current Y13s and Y12s at our school despite the grades achieved by those taking it being exclusively A*/A.

I'm very surprised at the idea of a finger in the wind/ 'holistic' mark being given. Is that actually the case? Would the exam boards allow that? It certainly wasn't the case, although I'm happy to be corrected if things have moved on, obviously.

Ah ok Cole. The Grin emojii was misleading in that case - not sure why it was there.

oneteen · 28/02/2019 20:42

Does being Head Girl take up a lot of time then? It shouldn't do, surely?

DD's not looking to be Head Girl - she would like to be Head of House because she likes the role which brings together the girls from Yr3 upwards in lots of fun activities - House Glee etc ...its more something she would enjoy doing (not boring) and develop other skills like team building - she is just broadening her skills in a different way ...I think EPQ is great for the Dc who would enjoy this type of extended project and learn from the experience...

goodbyestranger · 28/02/2019 20:46

OkBobble so what your DS says contradicts with the notion of 'holistic' marking and is in line with what my DC seem to say of the mark scheme.

goodbyestranger · 28/02/2019 20:50

I see oneteen I thought you meant Head Girl but same difference. None of those roles should be so time consuming that they squish out academic things surely?

LittleKitty1985 · 28/02/2019 21:07

@goodbyestranger I don't think @OKBobble is contradicting anything, at least not for AQA, although I'm less familiar with other exam boards.

The assessment objectives are:
AO1: managing the project (10 marks)
AO2: using resources (10 marks)
AO1: development and realisation (20 marks)
AO1: review (10 marks)

It's holistic because the evidence for these can come from any piece of evidence, it's not X marks for the essay and Y marks for the production log. To get an A/A*, each objective has to meet the descriptor of "clear and detailed"
throughout the whole project

So for example, explaining clear and detailed reasons for why certain pieces of research are included in the final draft of the essay could be credited in the top band for AO1, AO2 and/or AO3. I think this is what @OKBobble meant

LittleKitty1985 · 28/02/2019 21:09

Oops, the A* made some of my post bold, ignore that

OKBobble · 28/02/2019 21:09

I wasn't the one who said it was hokistically marked. I think we were told that AQA only about 25%of the marks relates to the actual report itself and the remainder to the process and them stating why they did somethibg,changed something,rejected something etc whicg he said was easy to pick marks up for by just sitting and writing answers that fitted the mark scheme. In effect he felt that 25% of the marks came from 90% of his effort and time and that 75% of the marks came from 10% of his time!

I am glad he did it for the practice reasons I listed before. At his school they can do an EPQ which as discussed is process driven or they can do an internal project which obviously carries no UCAS points but which is outcome driven. There are a high proportion of students at DS school who are doing STEM a levels and they tend to pick this route as more relevant to their studies.

OKBobble · 28/02/2019 21:11

Oh dear - look at all my typos- fat thumbs on my phone and after 9pm!!

oneteen · 28/02/2019 21:14

@Goodbye - my DD looks at EPQ in the same view as your yr12 DD...she would find it tedious and feels that having done DT to GCSE level she has the necessary project skills...so it's good to develop other skills that may be useful when it comes to employment (after all the end goal is employment)..academically she is doing some of the most challenging A levels in terms of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics ..so its nice to add a leadership role too that DD will actually find fun and enjoy too.

LittleKitty1985 · 28/02/2019 21:14

Ah I take back my defence of you @OKBobble, you're wrong about the marks I'm afraid. You can reassure your DS that the time he spent on the essay was worth it - if the essay was poor quality then the AO1 and AO3 marks would have been very low (& probably AO2 too)

OKBobble · 28/02/2019 21:15

Ok seeing Little Kitty's explanation makes more sense to me.

anniehm · 28/02/2019 21:19

It can help on very popular courses or specialist, but not worth stressing about over. Dd opted for a 4th a level instead

OKBobble · 28/02/2019 21:39

In that case Kitty I will take back my comment that your explanation made more sense GrinWink

Couchpotato3 · 28/02/2019 21:59

DS did all the reading and research for his EPQ and wrote up the 'content' part. He then rather lost interest and couldn't face writing up the process stuff and has just dropped it to concentrate on his A levels. Thankfully his first choice uni isn't bothered and he did learn a lot from doing it, so he has had the benefit from it, but won't get the qualification. He picked a very broad topic initially and then refined it down to something more specific and it was discussed at his uni interviews.