Organisation- the one word procrastinators, like me, despise.

Let’s get something straight: organisation in the EPQ is not just about being neat. It is literally AO1 (Manage) marks. The examiner is asking:

Can this student independently plan, organise, and carry out a long-term project?

So your system needs to manage EPQ things, not just “tasks”.

Here’s what that actually looks like.

EPQ Timeline (linked to the Production Log)

This isn’t just a to-do list. It should mirror the stages of the Production Log.

Example Timeline Structure

Stage What This Means Deadline Evidence for Log
Initial Ideas Brainstorm + background reading Week 2 Notes on topic exploration
Part A Proposal Finalise question + plan research Week 4 Candidate Proposal section
Research Phase Literature review + source gathering Weeks 5–9 Research notes, evaluated sources
Planning Review Check progress + adjust timeline Week 10 Log reflection on time management
Mid-Project Review Reflect on direction changes Week 14 Title refinements, challenges
Writing Phase Draft analysis + discussion Weeks 15–18 Evidence of argument development
Product Review Edit + improve structure Week 19 Supervisor feedback response
Presentation Prep Slides + practice Week 21 Presentation Record
Final Reflection Evaluate skills & project Week 22 Summary & Reflection

Why this is EPQ-level organisation:

You’re planning in line with assessment checkpoints, not just “write essay”. I would also recommend creating a more niche timeline for certain moments (especially when researching!!) I initially loved using the timeline function, but as time went on, I often found myself toggling between the table function, so opted to use that for the rest of my project (if you’re interested in it though, I recommend watching this video to learn how to use it!)

Research Log (AO2 evidence)

This isn’t just saving links. It shows:

Example EPQ Research Entry

Source: Ofcom Media Nations Report 2023