A Guide to CIPQ: What is it, and should I take it?

Right around this time, students in Malaysia who have finished their high school studies are most likely starting their A-level studies. Some of the A-level colleges may be offering the Cambridge International Project Qualification (CIPQ) to complement their A-level studies. If you are one of them and are pondering whether to take up the qualification or not, you have come to the right place.

As someone who has taken the CIPQ as part of my A-level studies, I will be publishing a guide to CIPQ, spread out over a series of posts over the month of August, to aid and enlighten prospective students surrounding the qualification, especially those who come from the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) background.

This is the first issue of the series and it will be based on an overarching premise: should one take up the CIPQ? I will address this based on the 5W1H format: Why, What, Who, When, Where, and How?

What is the CIPQ?

As Cambridge International puts it, the CIPQ is a ‘brand new standalone qualification, designed to provide an opportunity for learners to develop [relevant] skills and dispositions by carrying out research into a topic of their choice linked to their AS or A Level studies.’ [see link to Learner’s Guide below]

It is essentially a 5000-word academic research essay that is similar to a final-year undergraduate thesis, though a lot less intense and demanding: think of it as a middle ground between an undergraduate thesis and high school English essay. This means that it is no longer the essays you write during SPM English where you do not need to prove or provide statistics, nor cite your sources.

In the UK, it is also known as the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Do look out for names along the lines of EPQ or CIPQ. Some British boarding schools in foreign countries may use the name EPQ more than CIPQ. But fret not, it is the same qualification, it is only the matter of differences in naming.

To know more, there will be links for resources at the bottom of this guide to Cambridge International’s own learner’s guide for the qualification.

Photo by Dan Dimmock on Unsplash

Why should one consider taking up the CIPQ?

To distil it down, the number one justification is encapsulated in one single word: research. Although higher education still entails exam-taking, and the studying and subsequent memorisation of knowledge, research forms a significant part of higher education. After all, higher education is about breaking the boundaries of learning and rote memorisation, and promoting the culture and practice of synthesis, innovation, development, and investigation. Hence, CIPQ will be an invaluable preparation for higher education, and a great addition to your portfolio for not only university admissions, but also employment.

To put it in layman’s terms, the CIPQ will equip you with the necessary foundational research skills (like analysis, referencing and citations, and synthesis) needed to conduct academic research which is part and parcel of higher education.

Who should take up the CIPQ?

While any A-level student can take up the CIPQ, there are general traits and characteristics of students which can set them up for a higher success rate.

The CIPQ is an intense academic undertaking which requires serious commitment. If not balanced properly, you risk your main A-level results, which defeats the purpose of this qualification and your decision to study A-levels.

Some attributes that are expected in a candidate of the CIPQ include, but are not limited to: high levels of independence, discipline, determination, organisation, and passion. You can think of it as another extracurricular: while some people prefer attending club meetings and organising club activities, there are some others (like myself) who will choose independent academic projects instead; the CIPQ offers just that. So it is more about how you would like to enrich your experiences outside of the classroom.

Essentially, if you think you have good organisation capabilities, and are interested in academic writing, the CIPQ would be a very wise choice. However, if you do not think you possess the traits mentioned, do not be discouraged. One can still take up the CIPQ to develop the skills needed for university.

Always keep in mind, though, that you should never sacrifice your main A-level results by committing too much to the CIPQ. You must balance your priorities.

When should you take up the CIPQ?

Colleges usually offer the CIPQ to students in their AS level. That would be the ideal timeframe as the AS part of your A-level studies will be less demanding than your A2 part.

Depending on your intake and the start of your studies, you are usually given the length of around 6 months to complete your CIPQ, which parallels your AS level study period. That being said, it is completely dependent on whether your school offers A-levels as an 18-month or 24-month course. After the period, you will submit your CIPQ around the time you sit for your AS level Cambridge exams.

The length of time afforded to you to undertake the CIPQ will play a major role in your actual research itself with regards to the scope of research, and planning of time. I will cover this topic in a later issue of this series.

How does the CIPQ work?

The CIPQ includes a plethora of stages like thinking, planning, reading, writing, rereading, rewriting, and polishing; I will be distilling it down to the major stages that one can expect during their time with CIPQ.

1. Sign up: You are to sign up for the qualification and attend the relevant briefings. Briefings and meetings are important in giving you a sense of what the qualification entails.
2. Introductory classes and brainstorming: Having attended a series of introductory classes with your school’s CIPQ coordinator, you will be prompted to come up with your research topic and question. Once completed, your coordinator will go through the viability of your research question with you.
3. Desk research for proposal: Once satisfied with the research question, you will start your initial literature review (i.e. desk research) on the topic.
4. Proposal writing: You will be required to justify your research methods and question (including scope of research) with the findings from your literature review.
5. Proposal result: Your coordinator will assess the suitability of your proposal. Depending on the result, you will either be given the green light, or be required to resubmit a new proposal.
6. Research and planning: After the proposal stage, you will start your in-depth research and planning of your project.
7. Writing: You are to write and rewrite multiple drafts of your essay.
8. Vetting: Your supervisor will informally vet your papers throughout the writing process, and will advise you when it is suitable for a formal submission for approval.
9. Viva voce: Once submitted, your coordinator will conduct a viva voce session, where you are to present the findings of your research, and are expected to clarify any questions they may have. This is when any concerns from the assessors will be raised and resolved with a final polish of your essay.
10. Formal submission: You will submit your project to your school, who will formally submit your work to Cambridge International.

TL;DR Takeaways

The CIPQ is an academic research project where you write a 5000-word essay over the course of roughly 6 months, most likely during your AS level studies. It is an excellent preparation for university studies, equipping you with foundation-level academic research skills. If you have good organisational skills and discipline, in addition to an interest in academic writing, this will be a good choice.

However, it is always wise to seek counselling with your academic advisors on whether you should take up the qualification or not.

I will be posting the in-depth processes and guidance for each of the major stages, so stay tuned for my latest posts!

Resources

Course Website: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-advanced/cambridge-ipq/

Learner’s Guide: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/608552-2023-2025-syllabus.pdf

FAQ’s about the CIPQ: https://help.cambridgeinternational.org/hc/en-gb/articles/360000600137-FAQs-for-the-Cambridge-International-Project-Qualification-Cambridge-IPQ-9980

Disclaimer: Any information given is based on the author’s own experience; the author’s views are personal and do not represent the opinions of any other entity. Every effort has been taken to ensure resource links and information provided in this article are up to the date of publishing (18th of August) and comply with fair use standards.