EPQ question

[victoriousprima]

DD has just gone into year 13 and overhead someone talking about an EPC, and she's decided she wants to do one too. College have told her that it takes about 12 hours, and that she can use a piece of creative writing that she's already done for most of it.

This doesn't sound right to me - although I don't know - and I wondered if anyone knew (I've heard @toomanypillows is an expert)

DD is aiming high for University and I don't want her to commit to this in her final year of sixth form if they're giving her incorrect information, and it's actually going to take 120 hours or something.

College don't send many students to university and have form for getting HE stuff completely wrong so I just wanted to check.

Thank you!

120 hours. It’s a massive amount of work and I wouldn’t recommend it in year 13.

DD did the epq in year 12. It was very demanding.
i would be unhappy with that sort of commitment in the final year

Yes, 120 guided hours (curriculum here: www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/projects/project-qualifications/EPQ-7993/specification-at-a-glance).

The final piece of work itself I believe makes up only part of the mark, they also have to keep a log of their 'journey' which also holds marks. It's like a mini-dissertation, a useful skill in independent research and bringing that information together, but quite demanding. DD did hers in Y12 (it took all year).

Yes it's definitely not 12 hours! I supervised one where the student did a piece of creative writing then wrote a report on it. There is a whole process of planning/creating/reviewing to go through and a complex project log to complete.

Hello. Not sure about being an expert, but I do teach it.
It's 120 guided learning hours and is the equivalent of a 1 year 6th course (an AS level or half an A Level)

In terms of doing it in year 13, it very much depends on how the college or 6th form can support it. My 6th form do it in year 13 with the entire cohort, and we do it as classroom based lessons, so they get 2 hours a week plus their own time to complete.
We start in September, first draft in for Feb and then final deadline for hand in is beginning of April. We then mark and internally moderate before being sent to the examiners in mid May.

So, our process takes 7 months with a good deal of self study time.

If she's looking at submitting a story, that would be an artefact and a written report - however I'd be quite wary of the advice that she could simply submit something she's already done. The story itself would need to be based on research and the report would record how she originated her ideas, and supported herself through that process. She could use an existing story as a benchmark of where she is, but wouldn't be able to submit it as is.

It can definitely be done in year 13, but with good and committed guidance, because she will need to make sure she hits a bunch of deadlines

It would be worth speaking with whoever is the adviser to get some specific idea of what the undertaking would be.

Hope that helps

Thank you all - I suspected there was more to it. We'll have to make sure she's fully aware of what she's doing, and that she has appropriate support.