Guides from the people who mark, edit and write this work
No listicles and no motivation. Just the specific, practical things that move a grade, written by our academic writers, editors and subject leads.
- Written by our academics and editors
- Specific advice, not motivation
- Updated when policies change
- Free to read, nothing gated
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Recent articles
Newest first. Each one is written by someone who does this work rather than by a content team.
Writing Guides7 min read
What markers actually mean when they write "more critical analysis"
It is the most common piece of feedback in higher education and the least specific. Here is what the phrase means in practice, and what to do about it.
Writing Guides8 min read
Choosing a dissertation topic you can still stand in month six
Most bad dissertation experiences start with the topic, not the writing. Four tests that catch an unworkable question before you commit to it.
Study Skills6 min read
Note-taking that is still useful three months later
Most student notes are transcription, which is why they are useless at revision. A few structural changes make them worth the time they cost.
Writing Guides7 min read
Presenting data in a report without losing the reader
A chart nobody can read costs marks twice: once for the chart and once for the argument it was supposed to support. Practical rules for tables and figures.
Study Skills6 min read
Extensions and mitigating circumstances: how to ask properly
Most rejected extension requests fail on process rather than on merit. What these systems are actually for, and how to use them before it is too late.
FAQs
About these guides
Who writes them, how current they are, and what you can do with them.
The same academics, editors and subject leads who work on student assignments here. Every post carries a named author and their role, so you can see whose experience it comes from rather than reading anonymous content.
The principles hold broadly, but referencing styles, rubric wording and academic integrity policies vary by institution and sometimes by department. Where that matters we say so, and we always recommend checking your own handbook before acting on anything.
Roughly twice a month during term time, and we revise older guides when something changes, such as a referencing style updating or an institutional policy shifting. Each post shows its publication date so you can judge how current it is.
Yes, and most of what we publish comes from questions students actually ask us. Send the topic on WhatsApp and if it comes up often enough it goes on the list.
Read them, apply them and cite them if you quote them. What you should not do is copy passages into an assignment, for the same reason you would not copy from any other published source.
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