The EPQ presentation: explaining maths to a non-specialist audience
You present your project and answer questions. AQA asks for a live presentation to a non-specialist audience, with your supervisor recording the questions and your answers; Pearson asks for the findings to be presented to an audience, with questioning. Your centre sets the format and length.
A simple structure
- Your title and why it interested you.
- What you set out to do (your aims).
- How you did it: sources, methods, the key maths in one or two pictures.
- What you found: the answer to your title.
- What went wrong, what you changed and what you learned.
- What you would do differently.
Explaining maths to non-specialists
- Lead with a picture or a small example before any formula.
- Show one equation per slide at most, and say in words what it means.
- Use a live demonstration if you built a model or artefact.
- Keep the full derivations in the dissertation, not on the slides.
Questions to prepare for (our list)
- Why did you choose this title, and how did it change?
- What was the hardest piece of maths, and how did you understand it?
- How reliable were your sources or data?
- What assumptions does your model or argument make?
- What would change your conclusion?
- What would you do differently next time?
Practise with someone who does not take maths: if they can follow it, your audience will.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an EPQ presentation?
Your centre sets the length and format. Plan for a short talk followed by questions, and rehearse to time.
Who watches the EPQ presentation?
An audience your centre arranges. AQA specifies a non-specialist audience, so explain the maths as you would to a friend who does not take it.
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.