How to write an essay at university level (UK), get higher marks!

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If you’re seeking guidance on essay-writing at a university level in the UK, this guide will walk you through how to write an essay to get higher marks.

We’ll cover the entire process step-by-step, including research, structuring, writing, and final review.

Breaking the essay-writing process into manageable steps is a vital skill for your university studies, particularly during high-pressure coursework seasons when you have multiple assignments to submit.

Why You Should Focus on Getting High Marks on your Essay

Achieving high marks on written assignments is one of the smartest ways to secure your desired degree classification, whether you’re aiming for a first, a 2:1, or simply a pass.

Unlike exams, where performance can be influenced by factors beyond your control (like nerves or fatigue), essays offer a controlled environment.

You have time to plan, write, revise, and perfect your work before submission.

By following this guide, you’ll gain a clear understanding of how to produce high-quality essays that meet academic standards.

Step 1: Essay Research – Gathering Data and Collecting Evidence

The first step is thorough research. Many students make the mistake of conducting research as they write, leading to disorganised evidence and weaker arguments.

Start by understanding the essay question. Break it down, and if it’s too broad, narrow its scope.

Don’t hesitate to ask your lecturer for clarification if needed—this ensures you stay focused and on topic.

Next, dedicate time to finding and downloading relevant academic papers. Reading abstracts is a quick way to assess whether a paper is relevant to your topic.

Keep your research organised by creating a catalogue of evidence. For instance, rename files to reflect their content or purpose (e.g., “Introduction_Evidence1.pdf”).

Store everything in a dedicated folder to avoid losing track of your materials.

As you read, note down any ideas that come to mind, even if they seem minor or incomplete.

These notes can later develop into critical points in your essay. Making this a habit ensures that no valuable insights are forgotten!

Step 2: Planning and Structuring Your Essay

With your research complete, it’s time to plan your essay. A clear structure is essential for high marks.

Essays generally follow a basic framework: introduction, main body (discussion), and conclusion.

But planning goes beyond identifying these sections—it involves deciding how to present your arguments and evidence logically and cohesively.

How to Write an Essay: Introduction

Your introduction sets the tone for the essay and engages the reader. A common mistake is overloading the introduction with too much detail.

Instead, focus on outlining how you will address the essay question.

For example: “In this essay, I will [state how you will answer the question] by examining [briefly mention your methods and evidence].”

You might also explain why you chose specific methods or sources, but keep it concise.

Avoid answering the question outright here—that’s the job of the main body. Additionally, include an overview of how your essay is structured, which helps guide the reader.

Many students find it easier to write the introduction after completing the main body, as this allows them to summarise their approach more effectively.

How to Write an Essay: Main Body

The main body is where you present your arguments, supported by evidence from your research.

Continuously refer back to the essay question to ensure you’re staying on track.

When doing so, stop several times and ask yourself: “Did I understand the question?”e.g. analyse, describe, assess, evaluate, discuss etc”.

Each paragraph should focus on one point. Start with a clear topic sentence, followed by evidence (and why it’s relevant), and conclude with an explanation of how it supports your argument.

Avoid lengthy paragraphs by breaking them into smaller sections with subheadings where appropriate.

It is also important to define technical terms clearly, assuming the reader has no prior knowledge. This is often forgotten and might lead to negative feedback and marks!

Additionally, ensure that paragraphs flow logically by linking the end of one to the beginning of the next.

This might follow a chronological order, contrasting perspectives, or another logical progression based on your topic.

How to write an Essay: Conclusions

The conclusion is more than just a summary of your main body—it’s your opportunity to leave a strong impression.

Begin by restating the essay question and summarising your key points. Use simple language to show that you’ve fully understood the concepts.

To elevate your conclusion, incorporate critical thinking. For instance, discuss any limitations of your methods or evidence. (tip: you can find those in the “limitations” section of the academic papers you have used for your essay!)

Highlight areas where further research might be valuable or suggest questions for future exploration.

Example of critical thinking you can include in the essay conclusions:

• Do the methods used have limitations? List/comment on them.
• Has the data/evidence collected been limited for some reason? (e.g. poor data availability, wordcount limit etc.) Mention this.
• Did your answer(s) pave the way for other interesting questions? Mention how those can be the topics for further essays.

This adds depth and shows your engagement with the topic.

Step 3: Final Review – Proofreading, Editing, and Submission

After finishing your first draft, take a break. Returning with fresh eyes helps you spot errors and improve clarity.

Proofread your essay by reading it aloud, which makes confusing sentences or awkward phrasing more noticeable.

Simplify overly complex sentences and ensure your grammar and punctuation are correct.

Check that your sources are cited and referenced correctly, following your university’s guidelines. This is essential for avoiding plagiarism and maintaining academic integrity.

Finally, ensure your essay complies with submission requirements, including the correct formatting, cover page, and any required details (e.g., student number and course name).

Adding a table of contents before the introduction can definitely help getting higher marks on the structure criteria!

Once you’ve made these adjustments, read your essay again to confirm it flows well and addresses the question effectively.

Congratulations—you’re ready to submit!

By following these steps, you’ll not only improve your essay-writing skills but also increase your chances of achieving the marks you aim for.

With practice, this process will become second nature, helping you excel in your academic journey.

Best books to improve academic writing in the UK

If you are particularly struggling with academic writing, below you can find some recommended study guides that will help you write better essays and improve your grades.

Depending on your needs, some of those are generic whereas others are designed for specific aspects of academic writing. (p.n. all links to Amazon UK)

• How to Write Essays & Assignments by Jonathan Weyers & Kathleen McMillan;
• How to Write for University: Academic Writing for Success;
• How to Write Better Essays by Bryan Greetham;
• The Student Phrase Book: Vocabulary for Writing at University by Jeanne Godfrey;
• Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide by Richard Pears & Graham Shields;
• Critical Thinking Skills: Effective Analysis, Argument and Reflection by Stella Cottrell.

How to write an essay, conclusions

In this post we went through how to write an essay at a university level step-by-step. We split the essay writing process in 3 main phases:

• Research, data and evidence collection;
• Structure, from the introduction to the conclusions;
• Editing, proofreading and submission.

Ideally, you should aim at getting very high marks on your written assignments as those will count for your final course/degree grade.

Hopefully, this post will help you improve your marks and lead you to better feedback and overall grades.

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