Are EPQs worth doing?

[Sarahcoggles]

DS is about to start second year of 6th form. Usual story - bright but lazy - started 6th form with AAA predictions, but now probably more like Cs. He's doing history, geography and French, and wants to study geography at university.

His school offer EPQ but didn't mention it until end of last term, and the kids are meant to choose their topics over the summer, and start doing it next term. They've had very little support and no one seems to be guiding them at all. Annoyingly the other local 6th form did theirs last year so they're all finished.

My understanding is that EPQ gives you some extra UCAS points, which can help with university places, but that it's a reasonable amount of work.

DS is wondering if he should not bother to do an EPQ, and should focus on his A levels more, given that time is limited and he needs to improve his grades.

Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this?

If he's lazy, my advice would be to absolutely not do the EPQ. Lazy kids ice use it as an excuse to be behind with their A Level work, and they end up under-performing in everything.

I work in a 6th form team and we only advise doing EPQ if you are very strong in essay-based subjects, as it does involve a mini dissertation of c. 5000 words, and needs to be well researched etc. Better to just focus on the 3 A levels, especially if he's on the lazier side anyway.

Whilst some universities will lower their grade requirements for those who also have a good grade in EPQ, it isn't a given, so shouldn't be done at the cost of his A level grades. For more competitive places, it can make the difference in tiebreaker type situations though, and if there is a particular topic students are passionate about, then doing the EPQ is a good way to research it, and they can mention this in their personal statement to highlight enthusiasm for their chosen subject.

I teach EPQ and think it's a great qualification, and I do believe students can learn loads from it. It also secured my daughter's place at a RG uni this year. She got the A and just met the reduced requirements for the uni. It also gave her lots to talk about in her uni interview. So I'm a big fan of the EPQ.

But... your son is doing history and geography. Both have large NEA requirements, and you say your son is lazy. IMO, this does sound a bit like a recipe for disaster. Has he done it in his first year, it would have given him the skills to prepare for his NEA. But juggling two sets of NEA alongside the EPQ... that's a tall order. Throw in the laziness, and well I wouldn't risk it tbh.

My youngest is starting her A levels in the next couple of years. She's going to do her EPQ in her first year, as she has chosen 3 A levels with NEA. It does sound a big ask, if I'm being honest.

Well, he has some spare time now I'm guessing? If so, then now is the time for DS to really research what's involved with EPQ's - look at examples of high scoring projects, read examiners notes, brainstorm some ideas. EPQs can be great fun and they can add value to his application for University /apprenticeships/work - but they whole point is that they require a "high degree of planning, preparation, research and autonomous work". If DS is too busy/otherwise occupied to do that research now, then he would probably be best to focus on just trying to get the best grades he can at A levels.

I did an EPQ and would recommend it. I found it really helped me when I got to uni to have already had practice of writing longer pieces of work, doing proper citations, research etc.
Also I missed my uni offer and I think the EPQ helped me be accepted despite that - offer was AAA, I got AAAA and A in EPQ.

I'm surprised they only mentioned it last term, I thought most schools did it in lower sixth so not to interfere with uni applications and studying for exams in the second.
It doesn't sound right for him if he has catching up to do in his regular A levels, but also it doesn't HAVE to be an essay. My daughter is doing hers based on the school magazine she has created. As the first issue came out end of the summer term she is doing it late (for her school) and has spent a good part of the summer doing work on it so she will be freer to do the next issue as well as her A levels and can amend the first draft essay as needed (for her about 1000 words not the usual 5000, though of course she has written over 2000).
I think the EPQ serves one of two purposes. It can either be an additional research project connected to what they want to do in the future, or, as in my daughter's case, doing something she's really interested in but only tangentially related to her future degree plans.
Unless he has a true interest in something he wants to explore, he's better served to concentrate on his A levels.

Thanks all.

There's no doubt that the concept of the EPQ is a good one, and if done well can be interesting and useful.

My concern is that both history and geography have a coursework component that makes up 20% of the A level, so he's got lots of work to do before the actual exams. He's had a load of work to do over the summer holiday, and while he hasn't exactly grafted constantly, he has spent a reasonable amount of time on it. There'll be more to do when he goes back.

I'm disappointed that his school have left the EPQ so late, it would have been so much better to do it in the lower 6th.

He's started to say that with all the course work he has to submit (by Christmas I think), he thinks his time may be better spent on that rather than the EPQ.

I just don't know what to say when he asks my opinion (other than do some more bloody work, which I'm not allowed to say apparently!)

My daughter is starting sixth form in September, and at hers it’s mandatory unless doing four A levels (and I think even that needs to be discussed before being allowed to quit it). So I guess they think an EPQ is a reasonable expectation of most students, and could obviously be beneficial when making applications.

However, as pp have said, the fact that it’s only been mentioned now and not in first year, and you saying that no guidance has been offered, suggests they really won’t be very helpful if he does do it. The fact that he’s already struggling with his grades, and an EPQ does sound like a lot of work, suggests to me that he’d probably be better off focusing on just his A-levels.

I teach EPQ and will be leading it in my school from September. We start it in year 12 with a deadline of Easter of y13, although a number of motivated students finish by Christmas of y13. In your DS's case, given his other subjects, I think it's a bit late to start unless he can pull his finger out now.

I agree with those who say not to do an EPQ - in your son's case.

Dd started to think about one (in yr 12 tho) and then she and her teachers agreed she should focus on A level subjects and grades.

In yr 13, and with a history if not doing much work, an EPQ would surely be a further waste of time. As I understand it, the benefit In terms of Uni is only if you gain an A in it. Better for him to focus on improving his A level grades, esp at this late stage.

I was thinking that too - a D in EPQ is worse than not doing it at all. A bit like putting a job on your CV that you were sacked from!