TL;DR

• EPQ research requires a focused question, not a broad topic.

• Primary and secondary sources serve different purposes in your project.

• Your methodology section determines whether your findings are credible.

• Peer-reviewed journals are valid EPQ sources and publication targets.

• Structured feedback before submission improves your final grade.

You have chosen to do an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) and now you are staring at a blank document wondering where to start. That feeling is normal. The EPQ is one of the most open-ended qualifications a UK student can take, and that freedom is exactly what makes it difficult. You are not being asked to answer a question someone else set. You are being asked to find the question yourself, research it rigorously, and produce something original.

Most students underestimate how much the research phase shapes the final grade. A well-researched EPQ with a modest argument will consistently outperform a bold argument built on weak sources. The research process is not a box to tick before you start writing. It is the work.

This guide walks through every stage of EPQ research in the order you need to complete it. Follow the sequence and you will avoid the most common mistakes that cost students marks.

What Is an EPQ and Why Does Research Quality Matter So Much?

An EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) is a standalone qualification, equivalent to half an A-Level, that requires students to independently research and produce either a 5,000-word dissertation or an artefact with a 1,000-word report. It is assessed on the quality of your research process, your critical thinking, and your ability to manage a project independently, not just on the final product.

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), one of the main EPQ awarding bodies in the UK, states in its published specification that marks are awarded across four objectives: managing the project, using resources and research skills, developing and realising the project, and reviewing outcomes. Research quality directly affects at least three of those four objectives. That means a weak bibliography does not just hurt one section. It pulls down your score across the board.

Universities also read EPQ statements carefully. Admissions tutors at Russell Group universities have publicly stated that a strong EPQ demonstrates the kind of independent thinking they want to see at degree level. The research behind your project is the evidence that you can think like an undergraduate.

How to Build a Focused EPQ Research Question

A strong EPQ research question is specific, arguable, and researchable within the time and resources available to a school student. It should not be answerable with a yes or no. It should not be so broad that a library of books could not settle it. The best questions sit in the middle: narrow enough to answer thoroughly, wide enough to have genuine academic debate around them.

Here is a reliable process for building your question from scratch:

1. Write down your general area of interest in one sentence. Example: artificial intelligence in healthcare.

2. Read two or three overview articles or textbook chapters on that area. Note the debates, the gaps, the disagreements between experts.

3. Pick one specific disagreement or unanswered question from your reading.

4. Rewrite it as a question that begins with “To what extent,” “How far,” or “Why.”

5. Test it: can you find at least five credible academic sources that speak directly to this question? If not, adjust until you can.

This process forces you to read before you commit to a question, which is how professional researchers work. It also means your bibliography starts building naturally from day one.

How to Find and Evaluate Sources for Your EPQ Research Guide

Good EPQ sources are credible, relevant, and current. Peer-reviewed journal articles, books published by academic presses, government reports, and primary data you collect yourself all count as strong sources. Wikipedia, personal blogs, and news articles without named authors do not, though they can point you toward better sources.

The best free databases for school students include Google Scholar, PubMed (for science and medicine topics), JSTOR (for humanities and social sciences), and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), which lists thousands of freely available peer-reviewed journals. Your school library may also provide access to databases like Britannica Academic or EBSCO.

When you find a source, ask four questions before you use it. First, who wrote it and what are their credentials? Second, where was it published and was it peer-reviewed? Third, when was it published and is it still current for your topic? Fourth, does the author cite their own sources, and do those sources check out? A source that fails two or more of these tests should not appear in your EPQ bibliography.

If you are planning to submit your research beyond the EPQ itself, understanding how to choose the right journal for your research paper will help you identify which publications carry genuine academic weight.

What Should Your EPQ Methodology Section Include?

Your methodology explains how you gathered and analysed your evidence. It is the section that separates a research project from an essay. A dissertation EPQ without a clear methodology will struggle to score in the top mark band, regardless of how well-written the rest of it is.

A methodology for a dissertation EPQ typically covers three things. First, your research approach: are you using qualitative analysis, quantitative data, or a mix of both? Second, your source selection criteria: how did you decide which sources to include and which to exclude? Third, your analytical framework: what lens are you using to interpret the evidence? For example, a history EPQ might use historiographical analysis. A psychology EPQ might use a cognitive framework.

If you are conducting primary research, such as surveys, interviews, or experiments, your methodology also needs to address ethical considerations. The British Educational Research Association (BERA) publishes ethical guidelines for educational research that are a useful reference point for student researchers conducting surveys or interviews involving other people.

Students who want to take their research further and eventually publish it can find a detailed walkthrough of the full process in this guide on how to publish a research paper as a high school student.

If you want structured feedback on your EPQ draft before you submit it, Publication Compass is a platform that lets you upload your paper, receive detailed suggestions, and identify journals that match your research area, all without needing a human supervisor to be available.

How to Structure and Write Your EPQ Dissertation

An EPQ dissertation follows a structure similar to an undergraduate research paper. The standard structure has five components, and completing them in order prevents the most common structural problems.

1. Introduction: State your question, explain why it matters, outline your methodology, and preview your argument. This section should be written last, even though it appears first.

2. Literature review: Summarise and critically evaluate the existing research on your topic. Show where experts agree, where they disagree, and where the gap is that your project addresses.

3. Main body: Present your evidence and analysis in logical sections. Each section should advance your argument. Do not summarise sources. Analyse them.

4. Discussion: Interpret your findings. What do they mean? What are their limitations? What questions remain unanswered?

5. Conclusion: Answer your research question directly. Do not introduce new evidence here. Reflect on what you would do differently if you repeated the project.

The literature review is the section most students write too early and too superficially. Write it after you have read deeply, not after you have skimmed broadly. A literature review that only describes what sources say, without evaluating them critically, will not score well under the EPQ assessment criteria.

For a broader look at the full research and writing journey, the Young Researcher Complete Guide covers each stage in detail.

Which Journals Accept EPQ-Level Research?

Several peer-reviewed journals are specifically designed to publish research by school-age students. Submitting your EPQ to one of these journals is not required for the qualification, but it adds significant weight to a university application and proves that your work met an external standard beyond your school.

The Journal of Student Research (JSR) publishes work from high school and undergraduate students across all disciplines and uses a peer-review process. The Journal of High School Science focuses on STEM subjects and accepts submissions from students worldwide. The International Journal of High School Research covers a broad range of topics and is open to international submissions.

Each journal has specific formatting and submission requirements. Read their author guidelines before you write your final draft, not after. Reformatting a completed dissertation to meet a journal's style requirements is time-consuming and avoidable. A detailed breakdown of what these journals publish and how to submit is available in the guide to the Journal of Student Research scope, requirements, and submission process.

If you are considering submission to a peer-reviewed journal after completing your EPQ, the full submission process is covered in this post on how to submit a research paper to a peer-reviewed journal.

How to Reference Correctly in an EPQ

Referencing is not optional and it is not just about avoiding plagiarism. Correct referencing shows your examiner that you understand the academic conversation you are joining. Every claim you make that comes from a source must be cited. Every source you cite must appear in your bibliography. These two lists must match exactly.

The most common referencing styles used in UK schools are Harvard and APA (American Psychological Association). Your school or awarding body will specify which one to use. If they do not, Harvard is the safer default for most subjects. Use a reference management tool such as Zotero or the citation tool in Google Scholar to build your bibliography as you research. Leaving referencing until the end is one of the most reliable ways to lose marks on an otherwise strong project.

One practical rule: every time you paste a quote or paraphrase a source into your draft, add the citation immediately. Do not write a note to yourself to do it later. Later never comes.

Frequently Asked Questions About EPQ Research

How many sources does an EPQ dissertation need?

There is no fixed minimum, but most high-scoring EPQ dissertations use between 15 and 25 sources. Quality matters more than quantity. Ten strong peer-reviewed sources will score higher than 30 weak ones. Your sources should represent a genuine range of perspectives on your question, not just evidence that supports your argument.

Can I use primary research in my EPQ?

Yes. Primary research, such as surveys, interviews, or experiments you design and conduct yourself, is valid and often impressive. If you include primary research, you must address ethical considerations and explain your methodology clearly. The British Educational Research Association publishes ethical guidelines that apply to student-led research involving human participants.

How is the EPQ research log assessed?

The production log is assessed as part of the “manage” objective in the AQA EPQ specification. It should record your research decisions, the sources you considered and rejected, the problems you encountered, and how you solved them. A log that only lists what you did, without reflecting on why, will not reach the top mark band.

Can an EPQ be published in an academic journal?

Yes. Several journals specifically publish student research, including the Journal of Student Research and the Journal of High School Science. Your EPQ will need to meet the journal's formatting and quality requirements. Many students revise their EPQ after receiving their grade before submitting to a journal. Exploring the best peer-reviewed journals for high school researchers is a good starting point.

What is the difference between a literature review and a bibliography?

A bibliography is a list of every source you used. A literature review is a critical analysis of the most important sources relevant to your question. The literature review appears in the body of your dissertation. The bibliography appears at the end. They serve different purposes and both are required in a strong EPQ dissertation.

Start Your EPQ Research on Solid Ground

The EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) research guide above covers the full sequence from question to submission. The single most important action you can take right now is to start reading before you commit to a question. Students who read first and question second produce sharper, more credible projects. Every other step in this guide depends on that foundation.

When your draft is ready, getting structured feedback before submission will catch the gaps your own reading cannot. For more on the full research and publication journey, visit the Publication Compass blog.