1. DO YOU WANT SOME EXTRA WORK? The Extended Project (EPQ)

2. The Extended Project 2015 Are you looking around for another Superactivity? Do you want the freedom to choose your own research area? Do you want to work in greater depth?

3. University of Cambridge policy: “We welcome the introduction of the Extended Project and would encourage you to undertake one as it will help you develop independent study and research skills.”

4. University of Sheffield policy: “We … encourage students to complete an EPQ, where possible, as we value the development of skills in independent study and research, which an EPQ can offer.”

5. University of Southampton “The University of Southampton has a special interest in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), and students who are inquisitive and ask pertinent questions.”

6. What’s involved? The product (usually a 5,000 word essay) A production log A presentation Working with a staff supervisor

7. When? Choose your topic by June Work over the summer Finish by December

8. Why? Raise your profile Prepare for university Potential interview material Choose your own topic Improve your skills Not primarily for UCAS points

9. Who? Not everybody! Oxbridge candidates High achievers Good work ethic Scientists not excluded Not wikipedia addicts!

10. Topics from previous years: ‘Salman Rushdie, master of magical realism.’ Evaluate the validity of this statement. To what extent is economic growth in mainland China sustainable and benefiting the whole population? To what extent was americanisation responsible for changes to French society between 1945 and 1970?

11. Topics from previous years: The public and schizophrenia: how knowledge and opinion relate Euclidean and non-Euclidean Geometry: to what extent do the angles in a triangle maintain a sum of 180º? 3D printing has been described as the next great disruptive technology – is this a fair statement?

12. Topics from previous years: To what extent did women voters vote for Margaret Thatcher? To what extent is vegetarianism the solution to the global food crisis? Why was there another emperor after Nero? Are economic bubbles inevitable? To what extent did the British Empire's oppression of Africans influence 20th Century literary achievements?

13. Comments by Bablake students: “I have learnt a great deal about Psychology that is not taught in the A Level course. My experience with the EPQ will allow me to perform better at university as it has introduced me to independent research and the best ways to go about it.” Daisy Twigger, 2009 “From this project I gained the ability to plan and research on a large scale and arrive at my own conclusions, while also taking in the viewpoint of other historians.” Matthew Lewis, 2010

14. Comments by Bablake students: “It was the presentation that best gathered together my thoughts. I have never before been able to speak so fluently, and with such confidence, on any topic. But because this was my own – something I had created, nurtured, made into reality, as I desired to do – I had no trouble.” Nadine Naguib, 2009 “Whereas before I tended to isolate historical events, I now think more about connections between different factors.” Kathryn Jones, 2013

15. Comments by Bablake students: “It was really interesting to study the issues surrounding Chinese economic reforms in greater depth as it has always been a topic which I had hoped to conduct further research on.” Jim Chen, 2009 “I have encountered difficulties in management and organisation and realised how hard it can be, which, by the end of the project, taught me the importance of you setting yourself targets which will be useful for university.” Sam Lewis, 2010

16. Comments by Bablake students: “My main advice to others undertaking the project would be to really choose something that interests you. The parts I struggled most to write about and read about were the less interesting parts. Also make sure you do as much as possible early on when you aren’t feeling the pressure of other work.” Sam Mason, 2010 “The most important element is that you choose something which you enjoy. It is important to stay self-motivated (as the supervisor is there to supervise, not spoon feed you), and this is more likely to happen if you feel as if your project has a personally enriching value.” Hannah Elsy, 2011

17. Comments by Bablake students: “There is no particular format that has to be adhered to like other types of essays – the work is totally your own, and there is a real sense of achievement when it is finally completed!” Heather Bruck, 2011