Edexcel EPQ (ZPJ30): Units, Activity Log, Marking and Grades

By Michael Thompson · Education Specialist; 10 years teaching the IB at Bromsgrove School · Published 24 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026

The Edexcel EPQ - formally the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Extended Project, qualification code ZPJ30 - is a standalone Level 3 qualification first taught in 2008 that lets sixth-form students pursue an independent research or creative project. It is graded A* to E and carries up to 28 UCAS Tariff points, making it worth half an A-level. Students choose one of four routes - Dissertation, Investigation/Field Study, Performance, or Artefact - and complete 120 guided learning hours including a taught element. This guide explains how Pearson structures, marks and grades the EPQ, what documents you produce, and how the Edexcel version differs from AQA, OCR and WJEC.

Key Takeaways

In This Article

  1. What is the Pearson Edexcel EPQ?
  2. UCAS Tariff points for the Edexcel EPQ
  3. Assessment objectives and the epq edexcel mark scheme
  4. Edexcel EPQ grade boundaries
  5. The four unit routes: Dissertation, Investigation, Performance and Artefact
  6. The Edexcel EPQ activity log and other required documents
  7. The presentation: what Pearson's specification says
  8. How Edexcel EPQ differs from AQA, OCR and WJEC
  9. What to do next

1. What is the Pearson Edexcel EPQ?

The Edexcel EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) is the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Extended Project, qualification code ZPJ30, graded A*-E. It carries up to 28 UCAS Tariff points, requires 120 guided learning hours including a taught element, and has been running since first teaching in 2008. Students complete one of four unit routes: they do not mix and match.

The four routes are:

One counter-intuitive feature of the qualification: Pearson's ZPJ30 specification sets no word count in the main specification document. Approximate lengths sit in the individual unit guidance, so the figure a student targets comes from their unit document and tutor-assessor, not from a single published rule.

Pearson frames the EPQ around independent research and frames it explicitly within its Future Skills for Employability framework, which is worth keeping in mind when writing the project proposal: the skills you demonstrate managing the project are assessed separately from the product itself.

2. UCAS Tariff points for the Edexcel EPQ

The Edexcel EPQ (ZPJ30) sits on the UCAS Tariff at exactly half the weight of a full A-level. The points ladder runs:

GradeUCAS Tariff points
A*28
A24
B20
C16
D12
E8

Per UCAS, Tariff points "translate your qualifications and grades into a numerical value" used by higher education providers when setting entry requirements, and "some universities, colleges, and conservatoires refer to UCAS Tariff points in their course entry requirements". The key word is "some": not every university, college, or conservatoire refers to Tariff points at all, and those that do may apply them differently course by course.

The practical gotcha worth knowing: a qualification carrying Tariff points does not automatically count towards entry for any specific course, even at a provider that uses the Tariff. A university might list a Tariff-point threshold on its general admissions page and then exclude the EPQ from the calculation for a particular programme. Always check at course level, not just institution level.

UCAS also notes that some employers use Tariff points in their selection processes, but states this is "not encouraged" and places responsibility for accuracy on the employer rather than UCAS itself.

Before banking those 28 points in your predicted-grade total, confirm with each course that the Edexcel EPQ counts towards their offer conditions.

3. Assessment objectives and the epq edexcel mark scheme

The Pearson Edexcel EPQ is marked out of 54 marks across four assessment objectives (AOs). The split is not equal: one objective carries nearly half the available marks on its own.

Assessment objectiveDescriptionMarksWeighting
AO1Manage917%
AO2Use resources1222%
AO3Develop and realise2444%
AO4Review917%

Source: Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Extended Project specification, Issue 4

AO3 is the dominant objective. At 44%, the product or output you produce, whether a dissertation, investigation, performance, or artefact, carries more weight than planning (AO1) and reflection (AO4) combined. That matters for how you allocate time.

Marking uses a best-fit approach, not a tick list. Your tutor-assessor reads your evidence against the unit's marking grid and judges which band it most closely fits as a whole. There is a specific quirk worth knowing for the two 9-mark objectives, AO1 and AO4: the specification states that "the mark band descriptors describe the mid-point of the band", so work that fits a band's description is awarded 2, 5 or 8, with the marks either side used where the work falls short of, or goes beyond, that description in a few respects.

Once your centre has marked your work, Pearson moderates those marks. A sample is reviewed against the national standard, and marks are adjusted where the centre's judgements deviate from it.

4. Edexcel EPQ grade boundaries

The Edexcel EPQ uses a 54-mark raw scale for every unit. Pearson's boundaries document explains that raw marks are converted to points for all its Project qualifications, and the overall ZPJ30 qualification is reported in those points rather than the raw figure: the June 2026 points boundaries are A* 28, A 24, B 20, C 16, D 12, E 8 (U 4). The numbers match the UCAS Tariff ladder, but they are Pearson's own points scale, and they are what the results slip shows.

Current raw boundaries (June 2026) are the same across all four units, P301, P302, P303 and P304:

GradeRaw mark (out of 54)
A*50
A44
B38
C33
D28
E23

These figures also applied for January 2026, June 2025 and January 2025, so the boundaries have been stable across four consecutive series. The one exception is June 2024, when P302 (Investigation/Field Study) and P303 (Performance) sat one mark lower throughout: A* 49, A 43, B 37, C 32, D 27, E 22. P301 and P304 were not affected.

A practical point worth noting: Pearson's boundary document for each series lists the four units (P301-P304) in raw marks and the overall ZPJ30 qualification in points, so read the row for your own unit code rather than the ZPJ30 line.

Pearson runs two series each year, January and June. For students sitting in January, Pearson's student guidance states that grades arrive in March.

The gap between grade boundaries is roughly 5-6 marks at most levels, which reflects how closely the Edexcel EPQ mark scheme distinguishes performance bands. Check the current boundary document for your unit before drawing conclusions from historical figures.

5. The four unit routes: Dissertation, Investigation, Performance and Artefact

Pearson offers four separate units under the ZPJ30 qualification. You pick one route and complete one unit. The AO structure is the same across all four, so the 54 marks available and the weighting of each objective stay the same whichever path you take, but the specification says there is one marking grid for each unit, with descriptors written for that route.

Unit codeRouteWorking-title format (Pearson's guidance)
P301DissertationAn arguable question
P302Investigation / Field StudyA testable hypothesis
P303PerformanceA commission brief
P304ArtefactA design brief

P301 Dissertation. Pearson's guidance for students suggests a working title that is a clear, specific question with room for argument and counter-argument. Its example is: "Should young teenagers be banned from social media?" A question that admits only one reasonable answer will make it hard to demonstrate AO2 and AO3 effectively.

P302 Investigation / Field Study. Pearson's guidance suggests a working title framed as a hypothesis you can test. Its example is: "Is increased use of social media associated with poorer mental health amongst young teenagers?" The phrasing implies data collection and analysis, and the same guidance says you will largely be collecting your own data for this unit.

P303 Performance. Pearson's guidance suggests a working title written as a commission brief, for instance: "Make a video for a teenage audience on how to learn to play the electric guitar." The product is the performance itself, but the written record of your planning and reflection is still assessed against the same AOs.

P304 Artefact. Pearson's guidance suggests a working title written as a design brief, for example: "Design a child's go-kart with only reused materials." Note Pearson uses the UK spelling "artefact" throughout its documentation.

On word count: the Pearson specification sets no word count for any unit. Approximate lengths appear in the separate unit guidance documents for each route. Take the figure from your own unit document and confirm it with your tutor-assessor, as the figure may differ between routes.

6. The Edexcel EPQ activity log and other required documents

A Pearson Edexcel EPQ student submits more than the final project. The specification lists what must be submitted for assessment: the project proposal form, the activity log, records of the research carried out, the project outcome (or, for Performance and Artefact, records of it and supporting evidence), the evaluation and evidence of the presentation. Understanding what each one is, and when it must be ready, matters before the work begins.

The main documents are:

The non-obvious gotcha with the proposal checker is timing. Because the second-staff sign-off must happen before the project starts, a late conversation with your tutor-assessor can stall the whole process. The 'proposal checker' role is a Pearson requirement that does not exist by that name at AQA, OCR, or WJEC.

How Pearson's vocabulary differs from other boards:

BoardLog document nameProposal/planning document
Pearson EdexcelActivity logProject proposal form
AQAProduction Log and Assessment Record(combined in the Production Log)
OCRProject Progression Record (PPR)Verification of Topic and Title (VTT) form, or the centre's own version
WJECCandidate Production Record (part of the Candidate Assessment Record submitted for assessment)Proposal and Title form (EPF1)

The names are not interchangeable. If your centre uses AQA-style terminology by habit, check you are completing the correct Edexcel EPQ forms, which are available through the Pearson guidance for students page.

7. The presentation: what Pearson's specification says

On completing their project, every learner must prepare and deliver a presentation. According to the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Extended Project specification, it "should be a succinct summary of the main features" of the project, and the audience may ask questions afterwards. The presentation is assessed as part of AO4 by the same tutor-assessor who supported the learner throughout.

Format is flexible. The specification states the presentation "may be produced and/or delivered by any means suitable", with aids including PowerPoint slides, wall displays and printed handouts all permitted. A traditional face-to-face oral delivery with Q&A is the anticipated format, but the specification is explicit that "there is no time limit and longer presentations are permissible."

There is a practical tension worth noting. Pearson's guidance for students states "The presentation will last no more than 10 minutes", which sits alongside the specification's open-ended position. The two documents are not in conflict so much as speaking to different audiences: the specification gives centres discretion, while the student guidance sets a working norm. Follow your centre's instructions.

Two rules in the specification carry real consequences:

The one-attempt rule is the detail most likely to catch learners off guard. Treat the presentation as a single-sitting assessment, not a rehearsal.

8. How Edexcel EPQ differs from AQA, OCR and WJEC

The frame is shared across all awarding bodies: every board uses the same UCAS Tariff ladder (A* 28 points down to E 8 points), the same four assessment objectives and the same A*-E grading scale, but the mark totals differ - Pearson 54, AQA 50, Cambridge OCR 60, WJEC 100. A student switching boards mid-course would recognise the broad structure. The differences are in the detail, and the detail matters.

Pearson Edexcel (ZPJ30) uses a 54-mark grid split across four assessment objectives, as set out in the Level 3 specification. The supporting documents are called the activity log and the project proposal form. Before a student can start, a second member of staff (named in the specification as the 'proposal checker') must check and sign the proposal form. Pearson also runs four named units (P301-P304) with distinct level descriptors per route, and moderates centre marks centrally.

AQA calls its equivalent document the Production Log and Assessment Record, not an activity log.

OCR uses a Project Progression Record (PPR).

WJEC splits the paperwork into a Candidate Production Record and a separate Candidate Assessment Record.

One practical point: because vocabulary and level descriptors differ between boards, guidance written for AQA or OCR will not map cleanly onto the Pearson edexcel EPQ. Always work from your own board's current specification, not a generic summary.

9. What to do next

Your most time-sensitive task is confirming which unit route you are on before your project proposal form is submitted. The proposal form is checked and signed by a second member of staff (the proposal checker) before your project begins, so a wrong unit code at that stage creates paperwork that is harder to undo later.

This week: download the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Extended Project specification PDF and check the marking grid for your unit, P301 (Dissertation), P302 (Investigation/Field Study), P303 (Performance), or P304 (Artefact). Then ask your tutor-assessor to confirm in writing which unit code your centre has registered you on. Confirm this before your proposal form leaves your hands.

FAQ

What is the Edexcel EPQ marked out of?

The Pearson Edexcel EPQ is marked out of 54 raw marks across four assessment objectives: AO1 Manage (9), AO2 Use resources (12), AO3 Develop and realise (24), and AO4 Review (9).

What are the Edexcel EPQ grade boundaries?

For June 2026 (and consistently since January 2025), the raw mark boundaries for all four units are: A* 50, A 44, B 38, C 33, D 28, E 23, out of a maximum of 54.

Can you get an A* in the Edexcel EPQ?

Yes - the EPQ is graded A* to E; for the June 2026 series, Pearson set the A* boundary at 50 out of 54 raw marks for all four unit routes (P301-P304).

How is the Edexcel EPQ marked?

Your tutor-assessor marks your work by 'best fit' against Pearson's marking grid - not a checklist; for the 9-mark objectives (AO1 and AO4) the descriptors describe the mid-point of each band, so typical awards are 2, 5 or 8. Pearson then moderates a sample of centre marks.

How many words is the Edexcel EPQ dissertation?

Pearson's main specification page gives no word count; approximate lengths are set out in the separate unit guidance documents for each route, so you should take the figure directly from your unit document and confirm it with your tutor-assessor.

When do Edexcel EPQ results come out?

The EPQ has two assessment series each year (January and June); Pearson's student guidance states that grades for the January series arrive in March - check with your centre for the exact release date for your series.

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