EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT
BONUS POINTS GAINING THE ACADEMIC EDGE Head of English at MPW Cambridge, Krystian Mazurkiewicz, unpacks the importance of Extended Project Qualifications in university admissions
G etting one step ahead in the highly competitive world of university applications, where the establishments in question often have little to distinguish between students with similar predicted grades, is one of the many benefits MPW Cambridge students are discovering in their Extended Project Qualifications (EPQs). Aside from the luxury of extra Ucas points – and potentially adjusted entry requirements – these qualifications open up a range of desirable skills, including independent research, organisation, academic writing and referencing: the mainstay of most undergraduate degrees. It showcases the ability to go beyond the A-level curriculum, but perhaps the most understated element is the opportunity for a student to work autonomously on a topic that’s inspiring to them. MPW Cambridge student Eva Spall is on the verge of completing her EPQ on the psychological effects of a horror video game. She is looking at the construct of fear from a physical and emotional
standpoint, as well as the effectiveness of different genres of horror through how it has developed in the media. The extended journey of her project evolution has not only developed her knowledge of research methods – a benefit to her chosen A-level subjects and, in particular, strategies for analysis – but has also added dimensions to her Ucas application. Additionally, it has helped develop confidence in approaching interviews and giving group presentations. She acknowledges how the qualification’s creative and self-determining approach has made technical terms far less intimidating, allowing her to advance ideas with a wide variety of undiscovered secondary sources, ranging from academic research papers and journals to other scholarly materials. Freya Wilkinson, another ambitious student, has just completed her EPQ on understanding how novelist George Orwell the ‘political thinker’ fits into the context of his works. This project enabled her to provide strong evidence of enhanced skills in her upcoming personal statement to support her application to study English literature. As an aspiring Oxbridge student, this multi-disciplinary topic will inevitably provide a key point of discussion in an
interview for a place at one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Asked what she thought about the wider benefits of the project, she stated that the enterprising nature of this qualification helped her appreciate the bigger picture when approaching research. Although she admitted an initially challenging uncertainty about her development, and how she would negotiate large volumes of literature, she pointed to the enjoyment of delving into a personal area of interest on a regular basis. This helped her establish a broad overview of the topic, inspiring her to write a piece of greater quality. The college is currently supporting its highest number of EPQ projects, with a firm conviction among those delivering the qualification that it has helped cultivate students who are active learners, academically skilled and more resilient to the many challenges that lie ahead. MPW Cambridge is a leading independent fifth- and sixth-form college based in the heart of Cambridge. For more information, visit mpw.ac.uk/locations or call 01223 350158
SKILL UP An EPQ prepares students for university life by teaching them all about independent research
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK MARCH 2024 65
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