Uptake and results in the Extended Project Qualification 2008-2015 - Research report - March 2016

Oct 20, 2026

Upload by Jiven

Descriptive analysis of uptake and outcomes in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) between 2007/08 and 2014/15, covering overall entries, proportions relative to A level cohorts, and session timing within sixth form. Using the National Pupil Database KS5 extract, the report examines longitudinal patterns and a focused view of the 2014/15 cohort. It discusses qualification structure, participation growth, levelling trends, and grade distributions from A* to U including X (withdrawals).

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Results

Longitudinal analysis

Uptake and results in the Extended Project Qualification 2008-2015 Statistics Report Series No.101 Tim Gill March 2016 Research Division Assessment, Research and Development Cambridge Assessment 1 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1GG Introduction This report presents a descriptive analysis of uptake and results in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), between 2007/08 and 2014/15 . The EPQ is a level 3 stand-alone qualification taken by sixth form students. It involves undertaking a substantial project in an area of personal interest, where the outcome can range from writing a dissertation or report to putting on a performance or organising an event. In recent years the EPQ has seen substantial increases in entries, perhaps partly because it is seen as good preparation for university study and is now included in offers by some higher education institutions. Therefore it is of interest to consider which groups of students are taking EPQ and how they perform. Prior to 2007/08 the numbers of students taking EPQ were very small. The data for the analysis was taken from the National Pupil Database (NPD) . This is a database held by the Department for Education, consisting of results for all students in all qualificationsand subjects in schools and colleges in England, as well as pupil and school background characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity and level of deprivation. Students taking EPQ do so as part of their sixth form studies so the Key Stage 5 (KS5) extract of the NPD was used. Results Two separate analyses were undertaken: first a longitudinal analysis, comparing uptake and results for all years between 2007/08 and 2014/15; and secondly, a more detailed analysis of the most recent cohort of students (2014/15) . Longitudinal analysis Table 1 presents the number of entries for EPQ in each year from 2007/08 to 2014/15. Entries are also presented as a percentage of all students taking an A level in that year. It should be noted that the figure for 2014/15 does not include all students submitting their project in that year, because of the way that the NPD is structured. The KS5 database only includes students who are aged 16 to 18 and have attempted at least one level 3 qualification equivalent in size to an A level. Therefore, any year 12 students taking the EPQ (which is only equivalent in size to an AS level) in 2014/15 and not taking an A level or equivalent at the same time will not appear in the NPD for that year. However, in previous years the number of students for whom this was the case was not large (e.g. around 1,600 students took the EPQ in 2013/14 but did not appear in the NPD until 2014/15) . Table 1 : Entries for EPQ 2007/08-2014/15 | Academic Year | Entries for EPQ | % of A level students | | --- | --- | --- | | 2007/08 | 1,946
6,013
18,704
27,620
33,197
35,543
38,131
38,049 | 0.7
2.1
6.3
9.3
11.2
12.0
13.3
13.0 | | 2008/09 | | | | 2009/10 | | | | 2010/11 | | | | 2011/12 | | | | 2012/13 | | | | 2013/14 | | | | 2014/15 | | | In 2007/08 the EPQ was in a pilot phase, which explains why the numbers of students was solow in that year. Table 1 demonstrates the large increase in entries (both in terms of overall numbers and percentages of A level students) , particularly between 2008/09 and 2011/12 . In recent years the entries have been levelling off somewhat. Table 2 breaks these entries down by the year group and session of entry. This shows when during sixth form study students submitted their project. Table 2: Entries for EPQ 2007/08-2014/15, by year group and entry session | Academic Year | Entries for EPQ | Winter Y12 | Summer Y12 | Winter Y13 | Summer Y13 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2007/08 | 1,946
6,013
18,704
27,620
33,197
35,543
38,131
38,049 | 0.1 | 19.2 | 8.8 | 68.7 | | 2008/09 | | 0.0 | 16.3 | 6.9 | 74.8 | | 2009/10 | | 0.1 | 13.2 | 12.2 | 72.4 | | 2010/11 | | 0.1 | 11.8

FAQs

What is the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and how do students complete it?

EPQ is a level 3 stand-alone qualification for sixth form students, requiring a substantial project based on personal interest. Outcomes can include writing a dissertation or report, or producing a performance or organising an event.

Which data source is used to analyze EPQ uptake and results?

The analysis uses the National Pupil Database (NPD), specifically the KS5 extract, which includes results for students aged 16 to 18 attempting at least one level 3 qualification equivalent in size to an A level.

How are EPQ grades presented in the report, and what does an X grade mean?

EPQ is graded from A* to U, and the report also includes entries graded 'X'. 'X' indicates students who withdrew before submitting their project, and the report notes that X percentages were higher for EPQ than for AS or A levels.

Oct 20, 2026

Upload by Jiven