How to write a maths EPQ dissertation: structure and word count
A maths EPQ dissertation is an argument: every section should move the reader towards the answer to your title. Equations, tables and graphs carry much of the content, so plan by sections and ideas, not words alone.
Word count
AQA asks for about 5,000 words for a dissertation; Pearson estimates 5,000 to 6,000; WJEC's 2019–20 FAQ gives a minimum of 5,000 as guidance (WJEC FAQ ). For OCR, see its H857 specification . These are guidance: your school will tell you what counts. Full details are on the mark scheme page.
A structure that suits maths
| Section | What it does |
|---|---|
| Title page and contents | Your title as a question; your centre tells you what else to include. |
| Introduction | Why the question matters, your aims and the method you will follow. |
| Research review | What your sources say, compared and judged for reliability, ending with the gap your project fills. |
| The mathematics (two to four sections) | Definitions, derivations, proofs, models or analysis, each section ending with what it established. |
| Discussion | What the results mean, the assumptions, and the limits of what you can claim. |
| Conclusion | A direct answer to your title, and what remains open. |
| References and appendices | Every source; long tables, data and code that support but do not carry the argument. |
Presenting mathematics
- Use an equation editor, not screenshots.
- Define every symbol before you use it and keep notation consistent.
- Number the equations you refer back to.
- Label every graph and say in the text what it shows.
- When you follow a proof from a source, cite it and explain each step in your own words.
- Put long code in an appendix, but explain in the body what it does and why.
Before you submit
- The conclusion answers the title directly.
- Every source used is cited where it is used and listed at the end.
- Every symbol is defined; every graph is labelled.
- Assumptions and limitations are stated.
- Any use of AI tools is acknowledged as your school requires.
- Your log records the changes you made and why.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an EPQ dissertation?
About 5,000 words for AQA, an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 for Pearson and at least 5,000 for WJEC/Eduqas (guidance in WJEC's 2019–20 FAQ). For OCR, see its H857 specification. These are guidance figures; check your school's rules on what counts.
Do equations count towards the EPQ word count?
Schools follow their board's guidance on what counts, so ask your supervisor rather than guessing.
Does a maths EPQ need a literature review?
You need to show you have researched the topic and judged your sources. In a maths EPQ that is usually a short research review before the mathematics.
Your EPQ must be your own work. These pages coach: ideas, structure, checklists and planning. Submitting text, proofs, code or analysis written by someone else or by an AI tool as your own is malpractice. How to use help and AI honestly.