To do an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) well, you need a focused research question, credible sources, clear analysis and a well-managed project plan.
This guide focuses primarily on research-based written EPQs, although the qualification can take other forms depending on the exam board.
A strong written EPQ is not simply about choosing an interesting topic. It is about showing that you can refine a question, judge the quality of your evidence, build a reasoned argument and keep track of the decisions you make along the way.
Here is how to approach each stage more effectively.
What Makes a Strong EPQ?
You need to show that you understand your question, can make sensible decisions about your research, and are able to reach reasoned conclusions based on the evidence you have found.
A strong EPQ will usually have:
- a specific research question;
- a clear reason for choosing it;
- reliable sources from more than one perspective;
- comparison and evaluation of evidence;
- a logical argument;
- evidence that you managed the project carefully; and
- honest reflection on what changed during the process.
In fact, discovering that your original question is too broad, finding that an important source is unreliable or deciding to change your approach can all become valuable parts of your EPQ.
What matters is that you can explain why you made those decisions and what you learnt from them.
How to Choose and Refine a Good EPQ Topic
Choosing your EPQ topic is one of the most important and one of the hardest decisions you will make.
For a research-based written EPQ, a strong topic is one that gives you enough material to investigate without becoming so broad that barely scratching the surface. Other EPQ formats may be structured differently, so the scope should always suit the type of project you are completing.
A good EPQ topic should usually be:
- Focused: you can explore it in depth rather than covering an entire subject.
- Manageable: you can complete it within the time and word-count requirements.
- Interesting: you will still want to read about it several months from now.
- Researchable: you can find enough credible sources to support different viewpoints.
- Evaluative: the topic gives you scope to assess evidence, weigh different factors and reach a reasoned judgement.
If your starting idea is too broad, refine it step by step.
For example, if you are interested in artificial intelligence, you might start with the broad subject of AI, narrow it to artificial intelligence in education, and then refine it further into a focused research question such as: “To what extent should generative AI be used to support independent learning among sixth-form students?”
A more focused question gives your project clearer boundaries and makes it easier to decide what evidence is relevant.
If your EPQ question feels too broad, try narrowing it by:
- age group;
- location;
- time period;
- case study;
- industry;
- theme; or
- comparison.
Narrowing your question shows that your thinking is becoming more precise.
How Do You Find and Evaluate EPQ Sources?
Start with sources that are relevant to your research question and come from credible places, such as academic journals, books, government publications, universities and recognised organisations.
Do not rely on a source simply because it appears high in a search result. Check who wrote it, where it was published, what evidence it uses, how current it is and whether its claims can be supported elsewhere.
For a strong EPQ, aim to use a range of sources and compare them rather than treating every source as equally reliable.
How Do You Move From Summary to Analysis in an EPQ?
A summary tells the reader what the source says. Analysis goes further by examining the evidence, assumptions and limitations of a source, and explaining how these affect your answer to the research question.
For example, imagine you find three historians offering different explanations for the same event. Simply describing each argument shows that you have understood the sources, but analysis requires you to compare them more closely.
Look at the strength of the evidence each historian uses, when the source was written, what may be missing, and where the arguments agree or differ. From there, you can judge which explanation is more convincing, or whether different sources help explain different parts of the issue.
You do not need to prove that one source is entirely right and another entirely wrong. A stronger EPQ often reaches a more balanced judgement based on the quality and relevance of the evidence.
How to Manage Your EPQ as an Ongoing Project
An EPQ can stretch across several months, so breaking it into smaller tasks can make it much easier to manage.
Set specific milestones, such as:
- finding your first group of academic sources;
- finalising your research question;
- completing a section;
- checking your references; and
- drafting your conclusion.
Keep a brief record of important decisions as you go. If you change your research question, reject a source or alter your approach, note what changed and why.
Do not wait until the end of the project to reconstruct your reasoning from memory. These notes will give you stronger material for your reflection.
You should also keep reviewing your research question. As you learn more, you may realise that part of it is too broad or that a slightly different focus would lead to a stronger project. Make these changes deliberately rather than simply drifting into a different topic.
EPQ Progress Checklist
Use this checklist throughout your research-based written EPQ to review where you are, what has changed and what still needs attention.
Your Research Question
- Is my question focused enough to answer in depth?
- Is it still relevant to the direction of my research?
- If I changed it, have I recorded what changed and why?
Your Sources
- Am I using a range of credible sources?
- Have I checked who produced each source and what evidence it uses?
- Have I noted any sources I decided not to use, and why?
Your Analysis
- Am I evaluating evidence rather than only summarising it?
- Have I considered the strengths and limitations of key sources?
- Does each section help me answer my research question?
Your Project Management
- Am I meeting the milestones in my project plan?
- Have I recorded important decisions or changes as they happen?
- Do I need to adjust my next steps based on what I have found?
Your Reflection
- Can I explain how my thinking has developed?
- Can I identify decisions that improved or changed my project?
- Have I kept enough notes to reflect on the process at the end?
EPQ FAQs
What makes a good EPQ question?
A good EPQ question is focused, manageable, researchable and open to debate. It should allow you to compare evidence and reach a reasoned judgement.
Can I change my EPQ question after I have started?
Yes. Your question may develop as your research progresses. Keep a record of what you changed and why.
How do I know whether an EPQ source is reliable?
Check who wrote it, where it was published, what evidence it uses, how current it is and whether its claims can be verified elsewhere.
What is the difference between summary and analysis in an EPQ?
Summary explains what a source says. Analysis evaluates the evidence and considers how it helps answer your research question.
How can I stay organised during my EPQ?
Break the project into smaller milestones, record important decisions and review your research question regularly.
What Should You Keep in Mind During Your EPQ?
Your EPQ does not need to follow your original plan perfectly. Questions can change, sources can prove less useful than expected, and your argument may develop as you learn more.
What matters is that you make those changes thoughtfully and can explain the reasoning behind them.
Keep returning to your research question throughout the project and ask: Is this helping me answer it clearly and convincingly?
That single check can help keep your research, analysis and writing focused.
Want support with your EPQ and wider university preparation?
Contact BE Education to speak with our advisors about strengthening your academic profile and university application.
