Project Qualifications
Introduction to the
Projects Qualifications
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Project Qualifications
The three project levels – Level 1 Foundation,
Level 2 Higher and Level 3 Extended – are
flexible and can be easily integrated into your
curriculum to enrich your students’ learning.
Together, they offer students a way of
acquiring sophisticated study skills and a
route into Higher Education and employment.
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Project Qualifications

Foundation Project – Level 1


60 guided learning
hours
GCSE short course at
Level 1
Graded A*-B
The Foundation Project can encourage students who struggle with traditional
academic study by inspiring them to complete a practical project, such as
producing an artefact or learning a new practical skill.
Via the foundation projects students could:
• Gain a focus for learning at school
• Build sufficient confidence to engage with other subjects
Our specification is designed to allow both these possibilities, and to provide a
clear structure within which, with some guidance, all learners can:
• Develop transferable and core skills to apply in a future workplace,
apprenticeship or further study
• Become inquisitive and independent learners
• Experience new areas and methods of study, including how to plan and
review their progress
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Project Qualifications

Higher Project – Level 2


60 guided learning
hours
GCSE short course at
Level 2
Graded A*- C
By offering the Higher qualification to your students, they can discover the joys
of independent learning, take responsibility for their own study and develop
new life and study skills.
If you want to push bright students beyond the requirements of their
mainstream subjects, the Higher Project specification gives them a focused
structure in which to deepen their knowledge in a particular field.
You could use the Higher Project as part of a Gifted and Talented programme
or to provide students who are struggling with the Extended Project, Level 3
with the option to be assessed at level 2.
Offering the Higher Project could also:
• Provide a foundation for progression to the Extended Project
• Introduce students to key academic and project management skills
• Support of culture of independent learning
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Project Qualifications
Extended Project – Level 3




120 guided learning hours
A2 level challenge
Graded A*-E
70 UCAS points at A*
Our EPQ provides an opportunity for students to exercise their abilities beyond the A-level syllabus
and prepare for university or their future career. They can also use it to earn extra UCAS point.
Our EPQ specification allows each student to embark on a largely self-directed project. They start by
taking responsibility for the choice and design of an individual project, or individual role in a group
project, and during the process learn to:
•
•
•
•
Mature into critical, reflective and independent learners
Develop and apply decision-making and problem-solving skills
Increase planning, research, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills
Demonstrate creativity, initiative and enterprise.
Offering the AQA EPQ may also bring other benefits:
•
A boost to recruitment by making your curriculum more attractive
•
Motivating students by allowing them to pursue personal interests not covered by traditional
qualifications
•
Students applying their new skills in other areas of study.
•
Aiding progression to and success at university.
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Project Qualifications
Extended Project – Level 3




120 guided learning hours
A2 level challenge
Graded A*-E
70 UCAS points at A*
The EPQ helps bridge the FE/HE skills gap;
Universities are very supportive of the EPQ because it is ideal preparation for
undergraduate study. More and more universities are welcoming the EPQ as an indicator
of realised skills and potential ability in the fiercely competitive arena of entrant selection.
“The EPQ provides an excellent introduction to the type of work (students) will be
expected to do at university. It encourages development in all the skills required of our
undergraduates, such as research, analysis, independent work and thought, and the
ability to communicate ideas… We recommend that students discuss their project in their
personal statement and illustrate the ways it has helped to build on both their academic
skills and intellectual curiosity”
University of Southampton
The University is supportive of the requirement to undertake an Extended Project … It is
expected that some admissions tutors may make two alternative offers to those offering
this qualification, one of which involves success in the Extended Project (e.g. either AAA
at A-level or AAB at A-level plus Extended Project).
University of Bristol
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Project Qualifications
At all three levels…
Learners are required, with appropriate support and
guidance from you, to:
 Choose an area of interest
 Draft a title and determine the aims and objectives of
their project for formal approval by their supervisor and
project coordinator
 Plan, research and carry out the project
 Deliver a presentation to a non-specialist audience
 Provide evidence of all stages of project development
and production for assessment using the clearly
structured production log.
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Project Qualifications
At all three levels…
Project students follow the same basic project process and have to supply the
following evidence for assessment:
• Project product, in the form of
1. A research based written report. The recommended length of the report
is appropriate to each level. At level 1: 1,000 words. At level 2: 2,000 words.
At level 3: 5,000 words.
OR
2. An artefact (e.g. a piece of music or drama, an event, a piece of art or a
realised design such as a lighting system) with a shorter research based
written report. The recommended word counts are; At level 1: 250-500
words. At level 2: 500-2,000 words. At level 3: 1,000 minimum.
• Completed Production Log which helps students to record the process
they have undertaken
• Presentation of the completed Project to a non-specialist audience.
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Project Qualifications
What do students actually do?
Ben Greenwood, former A-level student at Queen Mary’s
College:
‘I Love films and film posters have always been something I enjoyed…I knew I was going to do
something artistic at university. I wanted something I could physically show…that was about independent
learning and research…they were very impressed by that.’
Click here for more information on Ben’s Extended Project.
Isis Marcus-Deardon, former Level 1 Foundation Project
student, Isis:
‘I went to the Natural History Museum and looked at bugs. Some of the butterflies and the insects have
really beautiful patterns on them and so I thought I could use that in my dress designs.’
Click here for more information on Isis’ Level 1 Foundation Project.
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Project Qualifications
At all three levels…
Students are taught to understand and apply independent learning, research and project
management skills. 30 guided learning hours are devoted to teaching these skills.
You appoint a project coordinator who is responsible for:
•Coordinating the delivery of the taught skills element
•Supporting the supervisors
•Approving project titles with appropriate advice to the supervisor and student
•Ensuring that all supervisors mark to the same standard.
We support your coordinator with free standardisation meetings, a free adviser from our
team of moderators and direct contact with the projects team at AQA.
Each student has an allocated supervisor who is responsible for:
•Initial approval of project titles
•Advice and support throughout the process
•Marking the completed projects.
We support your supervisors with clear specifications, exemplar material, guidance on
delivery and CPD meetings.
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Project Qualifications
Support for Delivery - AQA
The support from AQA is excellent:
 Free adviser - your allocated expert will be available to give you
guidance and advice by email and telephone throughout all stages of
launching and delivering the Projects.
 Direct support from the subject team at AQA.
 Free standardisation meetings to help you get your marking right.
 Range of CPD - running throughout the year in key locations including
Introductory Meetings and training on the Taught Element.
 On-site Support bookable via the AQA CPD team.
 Secure Key Materials – access to a range of resources including
marked projects to exemplify the standard.
 Case studies of how other schools and colleges are successfully
delivering the projects at
http://www.aqa.org.uk/qualifications/projects.php.
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Project Qualifications
Support for delivery – Universities
Get direct support for delivery from universities up and down the country.
Universities recognise the need for students to progress and develop their skills over
time. Some universities and higher education institutions are backing the Projects by
working directly with schools and colleges to help deliver the taught skills element.
Contact your local university for support or visit our website www.aqa.org.uk/projects to
get a flavour of the support that’s out there and appropriate contact details of the
following universities:
University of Wolverhampton
Brunel University London
University of Essex
University of Southampton
University of Sheffield
University of Manchester
University of Hertfordshire
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Extended Project Qualification
Next Steps
Visit the projects website at www.aqa.org.uk/projects to
read the specification and review the case studies
Call the projects team for support on 0161 957 3980 or
email us at projects@aqa.org.uk
Register for an adviser at www.aqa.org.uk/projects
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