Supporting the Level 3 Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in physics

Extended projects provide students with an opportunity to carry out an in-depth study, based on personal interest or an aspect of a subject they are studying. It takes the form of either a dissertation, or a number of other forms, which could include an investigation or field study, or an artefact, backed up with paperwork.

A Level 3 EPQ is equivalent to half an A-level and is currently graded A* to E, with up to 70 points on the UCAS tariff.  The free-standing qualification is offered by the four awarding organisations in England and Wales.

The following resources are designed to help support the delivery of Level 3 Extended Projects in physics in schools and colleges, whether through investigation or research-based. The case studies all describe real projects carried out by real students in Years 12/13. However, Henry, Lily, Marisa and Usain are not their real names, and some other details have been changed. We gratefully acknowledge their work and the helpful comments of an EPQ Chief Examiner and an EPQ Principal Moderator as we prepared these materials.