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Essay checker: free online paper corrector

Your best chance for an A+ essay. Try our free essay checker below.

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Get more suggestions to enhance this text and all your future writing

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Why should you use a free essay checker?

The simple answer? Good grammar is necessary, but it's not easy. You've already done countless hours of research to write the essay. You don't want to spend countless hours correcting it too.

You'll get a better grade

Good grammar, or its absence, can determine if you get a good grade or a failing one. Impress your lecturer not just with how grammatically sound your writing is but how clear it is and how it flows.

You'll save time

Essay writing can be a long and tedious process. ProWritingAid's essay checker saves you the hassle by acting as the first line of defense against pesky grammar issues.

You'll become a better writer

Essay writing is a particular skill and one that becomes better with practice. Every time you run your essay through ProWritingAid's essay corrector, you get to see what your common mistakes are and how to fix them.

Good Writing = Good Grades

It's already hard to know what to write in an essay. Don't let grammar mistakes hinder your writing and prevent you from getting a good grade. ProWritingAid's essay checker will help you write your best essay yet. Since the checker is powered by AI, using it means that grammar errors don't stand a chance. Give your professors something to look forward to reading with clear, concise, and professional writing.

Illustration of character grading a paper with A+

How does ProWritingAid's essay checker work?

Your goal in essay writing is to convey your message as best as possible. ProWritingAid's essay checker is the first step toward doing this.

Get rid of spelling errors

ProWritingAid's essay checker will show you what it thinks are spelling errors and present you with possible corrections. If a word is flagged and it's actually spelled correctly, you can always choose to ignore the suggestion.

Fix grammar errors

Professors aren't fans of poor grammar because it interrupts your message and makes your essay hard to understand. ProWritingAid will run a grammar check on your paper to ensure that your message is precise and is being communicated the way you intended.

Get rid of punctuation mistakes

A missing period or comma here and there may not seem that serious, but you'll lose marks for punctuation errors. Run ProWritingAid's essay checker to use the correct punctuation marks every time and elevate your writing.

Improve readability

Make sure that in the grand scheme, your language is not too complicated. The essay checker's built-in Readability report will show if your essay is easy or hard to read. It specifically zones in on paragraphs that might be difficult to read so you can review them.

What else can the essay checker do?

The editing tool analyzes your text and highlights a variety of key writing issues, such as overused words, incohesive sentence structures, punctuation issues, repeated phrases, and inconsistencies.

You don't need to drown your essay in words just to meet the word count. ProWritingAid's essay checker will help to make your words more effective. You'll get to construct your arguments and make sure that every word you use builds toward a meaningful conclusion.

Transition words help organize your ideas by showing the relationship between them. The essay checker has a built-in Transition report that highlights and shows the percentage of transitions used in your essay. Use the results to add transitions where necessary.

An engaging essay has sentences of varying lengths. Don't bore your professor with long, rambling sentences. The essay checker will show you where you need to break long sentences into shorter sentences or add more sentence length variation.

Generally, in scholarly writing, with its emphasis on precision and clarity, the active voice is preferred. However, the passive voice is acceptable in some instances. When you run your essay through ProWritingAid's essay checker, you get feedback on whether you're using the passive or active voice to convey your idea.

There are specific academic power verbs, like appraise , investigate , debunk , support , etc., that can add more impact to your argument by giving a more positive and confident tone. The essay checker will check your writing for power verbs and notify you if you have less than three throughout your essay.

It's easy to get attached to certain phrases and use them as crutches in your essays, but this gives the impression of boring and repetitive writing. The essay checker will highlight your repeats and suggest contextually relevant alternatives.

Gain access to in-house blog reports on citations, how to write a thesis statement, how to write a conclusion, and more. Venture into a world of resources specific to your academic needs.

What kinds of papers does ProWritingAid correct?

No matter what you're writing, ProWritingAid will adapt and show you where your edits are needed most.

  • Argumentative
  • Descriptive
  • Textual analysis
  • Lab reports
  • Case studies
  • Literature reviews
  • Presentations
  • Dissertations
  • Research papers

Professors and students love using ProWritingAid

If you're an English teacher, you need to take a look at this tool - it reinforces what you're teaching, highlights strengths and weaknesses, and makes it easier to personalize instruction.

prowritingaid customer

Jennifer Gonzales

Only reason I managed to get an A in all my freshman composition classes.

ProWritingAid customer

Chris Layton

Great tool for academic work. Easy to use, and the reports and summary evaluation of your documents in several categories is very useful. So much more than spelling and grammar!

prowritingaid customer

Debra Callender

Questions & Answers

1. how do i use the essay checker online tool.

You can either copy and paste your essay in the essay checker field or upload your essay from your computer. Your suggestions will show once you enter text. You'll see a number of possible grammar and spelling issues. Sign up for free to get unlimited suggestions to improve your writing style, grammar, and sentence structure. Avoid unintentional plagiarism with a premium account.

2. Does the essay checker work with British English and American English?

The essay checker works with both British English and American English. Just choose the one you would like to use and your corrections will reflect this.

3. Is using an essay checker cheating?

No. The essay checker won't ever write the essay for you. It will point out possible edits and advise you on changes you need to make. You have full autonomy and get to decide which changes to accept.

4. Will the essay checker autocorrect my work?

The essay writing power remains in your hands. You choose which suggestions you want to accept, and you can ignore those that you don't think apply.

5. Is there a student discount?

Students who have an eligible student email address can get 20% off ProWritingAid Premium. You can apply for a student discount through Student App Centre .

6. Does ProWritingAid have a plagiarism checker?

Yes. ProWritingAid's plagiarism checker will check your work against over a billion webpages, published works, and academic papers, so you can be sure of its originality. Find out more about pricing for plagiarism checks here .

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CoGrader is the AI Essay Grader that helps teachers provide quality feedback on essays in 80% less time.

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The AI Essay Grader that makes   grading a breeze

Grading essays manually is a never-ending task that consumes valuable time and energy, often leaving teachers frustrated and overwhelmed

With CoGrader, grading becomes a breeze. You will have more time for what really matters: teaching, supporting students and providing them with meaningful feedback.

Meet your CoGrader

Leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to get draft Feedback on your students' assignments instantaneously and see class data analytics.

Save time and Effort

Streamline your grading process and save hours or days.

Ensure fairness and consistency

Remove human biases from the equation with CoGrader's objective and fair grading system.

Provide better feedback

Provide lightning-fast comprehensive feedback to your students, helping them understand their performance better.

Class Analytics

Get an x-ray of your class's performance to spot challenges and strengths, and inform planning.

Google Classroom Integration

Import assignments from Google Classroom to CoGrader, and export reviewed feedback and grades back to it.

Canvas and Schoology compatibility

Export your assignments in bulk and upload them to CoGrader with one click.

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How does CoGrader work?

It's easy to supercharge your grading process

Import Assignments From Your Platform

CoGrader works with Google Classroom, Canvas and Schoology.

Define Grading Criteria

Use our rubric template, based on your State's standards, or set up your own grading criteria to align with your evaluation standards, specific requirements and teaching objectives.

Get Grades, Feedback and Reports

CoGrader generates detailed feedback and justification reports for each student, highlighting areas of improvement together with the grade.

Review and Adjust

The teacher has the final say! Adjust the grades and the feedback so you can make sure every student gets the attention they deserve.

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CoGrader: the AI copilot for teachers.

You can think of CoGrader as your teaching assistant, who streamlines grading by drafting initial feedback and grade suggestions, saving you time and hassle, and providing top notch feedback for the kids. You can use standardized rubrics and customize criteria, ensuring that your grading process is fair and consistent. Plus, you can detect if your student used ChatGPT to answer the assignment.

CoGrader considers the rubric and your grading instructions to automatically grade and suggest feedback, using AI. Currently CoGrader integrates with Google Classroom and will soon integrate with other LMS. If you don't use Google Classroom, let your LMS provider know that you are interested, so they speed up the process.

Try it out! We have designed CoGrader to be user-friendly and intuitive. We offer training and support to help you get started. Let us know if you need any help.

Privacy matters to us and we're committed to protecting student privacy. We are FERPA-compliant. We use student names to match assignments with the right students, but we quickly change them into a code that keeps the information private, and we get rid of the original names. We don't keep any other personal information about the students. The only thing we do keep is the text of the students' answers to assignments, because we need it for our grading service. This information is kept safe using Google’s secure system, known as OAuth2, which follows all the rules to make sure the information stays private. For a complete understanding of our commitment to privacy and the measures we take to ensure it, we encourage you to read our detailed privacy policy.

CoGrader finally allows educators to provide specific and timely feedback. In addition, it saves time and hassle, ensures consistency and accuracy in grading, reduces biases, and promotes academic integrity.

Soon, we'll indicate whether students have used ChatGPT or other AI systems for assignments, but achieving 100% accurate detection is not possible due to the complexity of human and AI-generated writing. Claims to the contrary are misinformation, as they overlook the nuanced nature of modern technology.

CoGrader uses cutting-edge generative AI algorithms that have undergone rigorous testing and human validation to ensure accuracy and consistency. In comparisons to manual grading, CoGrader typically shows only a small difference of up to ~5% in grades, often less than the variance between human graders. Some teachers have noted that this variance can be influenced by personal bias or the workload of grading. While CoGrader works hard to minimize errors and offer reliable results, it is always a good practice to review and validate the grades (and feedback) before submitting them.

CoGrader is designed to assist educators by streamlining the grading process with AI-driven suggestions. However, the final feedback and grades remain the responsibility of the educator. While CoGrader aims for accuracy and fairness, it should be used as an aid, not a replacement, for professional judgment. Educators should review and validate the grades and feedback before finalizing results. The use of CoGrader constitutes acceptance of these terms, and we expressly disclaim any liability for errors or inconsistencies. The final grading decision always rests with the educator.

Just try it out! We'll guide you along the way. If you have any questions, we're here to help. Once you're in, you'll experience saving countless hours and procrastination, and make grading efficient, fair, and helpful.

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How to Write the Perfect Essay: A Step-By-Step Guide for Students

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  • June 2, 2022

good essay grade

  • What is an essay? 

What makes a good essay?

Typical essay structure, 7 steps to writing a good essay, a step-by-step guide to writing a good essay.

Whether you are gearing up for your GCSE coursework submissions or looking to brush up on your A-level writing skills, we have the perfect essay-writing guide for you. 💯

Staring at a blank page before writing an essay can feel a little daunting . Where do you start? What should your introduction say? And how should you structure your arguments? They are all fair questions and we have the answers! Take the stress out of essay writing with this step-by-step guide – you’ll be typing away in no time. 👩‍💻

student-writing

What is an essay?

Generally speaking, an essay designates a literary work in which the author defends a point of view or a personal conviction, using logical arguments and literary devices in order to inform and convince the reader.

So – although essays can be broadly split into four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive – an essay can simply be described as a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. 🤔

The purpose of an essay is to present a coherent argument in response to a stimulus or question and to persuade the reader that your position is credible, believable and reasonable. 👌

So, a ‘good’ essay relies on a confident writing style – it’s clear, well-substantiated, focussed, explanatory and descriptive . The structure follows a logical progression and above all, the body of the essay clearly correlates to the tile – answering the question where one has been posed. 

But, how do you go about making sure that you tick all these boxes and keep within a specified word count? Read on for the answer as well as an example essay structure to follow and a handy step-by-step guide to writing the perfect essay – hooray. 🙌

Sometimes, it is helpful to think about your essay like it is a well-balanced argument or a speech – it needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question in a coherent manner. ⚖️

Of course, essays can vary significantly in length but besides that, they all follow a fairly strict pattern or structure made up of three sections. Lean into this predictability because it will keep you on track and help you make your point clearly. Let’s take a look at the typical essay structure:  

#1 Introduction

Start your introduction with the central claim of your essay. Let the reader know exactly what you intend to say with this essay. Communicate what you’re going to argue, and in what order. The final part of your introduction should also say what conclusions you’re going to draw – it sounds counter-intuitive but it’s not – more on that below. 1️⃣

Make your point, evidence it and explain it. This part of the essay – generally made up of three or more paragraphs depending on the length of your essay – is where you present your argument. The first sentence of each paragraph – much like an introduction to an essay – should summarise what your paragraph intends to explain in more detail. 2️⃣

#3 Conclusion

This is where you affirm your argument – remind the reader what you just proved in your essay and how you did it. This section will sound quite similar to your introduction but – having written the essay – you’ll be summarising rather than setting out your stall. 3️⃣

No essay is the same but your approach to writing them can be. As well as some best practice tips, we have gathered our favourite advice from expert essay-writers and compiled the following 7-step guide to writing a good essay every time. 👍

#1 Make sure you understand the question

#2 complete background reading.

#3 Make a detailed plan 

#4 Write your opening sentences 

#5 flesh out your essay in a rough draft, #6 evidence your opinion, #7 final proofread and edit.

Now that you have familiarised yourself with the 7 steps standing between you and the perfect essay, let’s take a closer look at each of those stages so that you can get on with crafting your written arguments with confidence . 

This is the most crucial stage in essay writing – r ead the essay prompt carefully and understand the question. Highlight the keywords – like ‘compare,’ ‘contrast’ ‘discuss,’ ‘explain’ or ‘evaluate’ – and let it sink in before your mind starts racing . There is nothing worse than writing 500 words before realising you have entirely missed the brief . 🧐

Unless you are writing under exam conditions , you will most likely have been working towards this essay for some time, by doing thorough background reading. Re-read relevant chapters and sections, highlight pertinent material and maybe even stray outside the designated reading list, this shows genuine interest and extended knowledge. 📚

#3 Make a detailed plan

Following the handy structure we shared with you above, now is the time to create the ‘skeleton structure’ or essay plan. Working from your essay title, plot out what you want your paragraphs to cover and how that information is going to flow. You don’t need to start writing any full sentences yet but it might be useful to think about the various quotes you plan to use to substantiate each section. 📝

Having mapped out the overall trajectory of your essay, you can start to drill down into the detail. First, write the opening sentence for each of the paragraphs in the body section of your essay. Remember – each paragraph is like a mini-essay – the opening sentence should summarise what the paragraph will then go on to explain in more detail. 🖊️

Next, it's time to write the bulk of your words and flesh out your arguments. Follow the ‘point, evidence, explain’ method. The opening sentences – already written – should introduce your ‘points’, so now you need to ‘evidence’ them with corroborating research and ‘explain’ how the evidence you’ve presented proves the point you’re trying to make. ✍️

With a rough draft in front of you, you can take a moment to read what you have written so far. Are there any sections that require further substantiation? Have you managed to include the most relevant material you originally highlighted in your background reading? Now is the time to make sure you have evidenced all your opinions and claims with the strongest quotes, citations and material. 📗

This is your final chance to re-read your essay and go over it with a fine-toothed comb before pressing ‘submit’. We highly recommend leaving a day or two between finishing your essay and the final proofread if possible – you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes, allowing you to return with a fresh pair of eyes and a more discerning judgment. 🤓

If you are looking for advice and support with your own essay-writing adventures, why not t ry a free trial lesson with GoStudent? Our tutors are experts at boosting academic success and having fun along the way. Get in touch and see how it can work for you today. 🎒

1-May-12-2023-09-09-32-6011-AM

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How to Write Top-Graded Essays in English

How to Write Top-Graded Essays in English

5-minute read

  • 7th December 2022

Writing English papers and essays can be challenging at first, but with the right tools, knowledge, and resources, you can improve your writing skills. In this article, you’ll get some tips and tricks on how to write a top-graded essay in English.

Have you heard the saying “practice makes perfect”? Well, it’s wrong. Practice does make improvement, though. Whether you’re taking an English composition class, studying for the IELTS or TOEFL , or preparing to study abroad, you can always find new ways to practice writing in English.

If you practice on a daily basis, you’ll be exercising the skills you know while challenging yourself to learn even more. There are many ways you can practice writing in English daily:

  • Keep a daily journal.
  • Write practice essays.
  • Do creative writing exercises .

Read in English

The best way to improve your writing is to read English books, news articles, essays, and other media. By reading the writing of other authors (whether they’re native or non-native speakers), you’re exposing yourself to different writing styles and learning new vocabulary. Be sure to take notes when you’re reading so you can write down things you don’t know (e.g., new words or phrases) or sentences or phrases you like.

For example, maybe you need to write a paper related to climate change. By reading news articles or research papers on this topic, you can learn relevant vocabulary and knowledge you can use in your essay.

FluentU has a great article with a list of 20 classic books you can read in English for free.

Immerse Yourself in English

If you don’t live in an English-speaking country, you may be thinking, “How can I immerse myself in English?” There are many ways to overcome this challenge. The following strategies are especially useful if you plan to study or travel abroad:

  • Follow YouTube channels that focus on learning English or that have English speakers.
  • Use social media to follow English-speaking accounts you are interested in.
  • Watch movies and TV shows in English or use English subtitles when watching your favorite shows.
  • Participate in your English club or salon at school to get more practice.
  • Become an English tutor at a local school (teaching others is the best way to learn).

By constantly exposing yourself to English, you will improve your writing and speaking skills.

Visit Your Writing Center

If you’re enrolled at a university, you most likely have a free writing center you can use if you need help with your assignments. If you don’t have a writing center, ask your teacher for help and for information on local resources.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

Use Your Feedback

After you submit an English writing assignment, you should receive feedback from your teacher on how you did. Use this feedback to your advantage. If you haven’t been getting feedback on your writing, ask your teacher to explain what issues they are seeing in your writing and what you could do to improve.

Be Aware of Your Common Writing Mistakes

If you review your feedback on writing assignments, you might notice some recurring mistakes you are making. Make a list of common mistakes you tend to make when writing, and use it when doing future assignments. Some common mistakes include the following:

  • Grammar errors (e.g., not using articles).
  • Incorrect vocabulary (e.g., confusing however and therefore ).
  • Spelling mistakes (e.g., writing form when you mean from ).
  • Missing essay components (e.g., not using a thesis statement in your introduction).
  • Not using examples in your body paragraphs.
  • Not writing an effective conclusion .

This is just a general list of writing mistakes, some of which you may make. But be sure to go through your writing feedback or talk with your teacher to make a list of your most common mistakes.

Use a Prewriting Strategy

So many students sit down to write an essay without a plan. They just start writing whatever comes to their mind. However, to write a top-graded essay in English, you must plan and brainstorm before you begin to write. Here are some strategies you can use during the prewriting stage:

  • Freewriting
  • Concept Mapping

For more detailed information on each of these processes, read “5 Useful Prewriting Strategies.”

Follow the Writing Process

All writers should follow a writing process. However, the writing process can vary depending on what you’re writing. For example, the process for a Ph.D. thesis is going to look different to that of a news article. Regardless, there are some basic steps that all writers should follow:

  • Understanding the assignment, essay question, or writing topic.
  • Planning, outlining, and prewriting.
  • Writing a thesis statement.
  • Writing your essay.
  • Revising and editing.

Writing essays, theses, news articles, or papers in English can be challenging. They take a lot of work, practice, and persistence. However, with these tips, you will be on your way to writing top-graded English essays.

If you need more help with your English writing, the experts at Proofed will proofread your first 500 words for free!

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How to Get Good Grades on Your Essay: 15 Ways to Get Over Bad Scores

Get Good Grades on Your Essay

Get Good Grades on Your Essay

Struggling with low essay grades? Been there. Let’s explore 15 game-changing ways to turn those bad scores around.

I’ve got you covered, from unlocking your creativity to mastering the art of editing. Together, we’ll unravel the secrets to crafting top-notch essays and securing the grades you deserve.

Are you ready to transform your essay game? Let’s dive in!

good essay grade

1. Understand the Essay Grading Criteria

I always delve into the intricacies of grading criteria to boost your essay grades. I start by comprehending the rubric and unraveling the specific expectations set forth.

Extra credit scores

I dive into the components crucial for evaluation—content, structure, and style—gaining insights into what makes a stellar essay.

Equally significant is adhering to the requirements—mind the word count, adhere to prescribed formats, and employ meticulous citation methods.

This understanding serves as the compass guiding your essay toward excellence, ensuring it aligns with the standards outlined by grading rubrics.

Through this awareness, you pave the way for a well-crafted, top-tier essay that resonates with academic excellence.

2. Choose the Right Essay Topic

Embarking on an essay journey begins with choosing the right topic, a process that demands thoughtful consideration.

I opt for a subject that not only intrigues you but also holds relevance to the context of your assignment.

I align your topic with your strengths, leveraging areas where your knowledge and passion converge. I take into account my audience and meticulously adhere to assignment guidelines.

After selecting a compelling and fitting topic, you set the stage for an engaging and well-executed essay , showcasing your prowess and ensuring resonance with both your interests and the requirements of the task at hand.

3. Research and Gather Information

The research phase of my essay journey involves employing effective strategies for gathering information .

I use both online and offline sources, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of your chosen topic.

I evaluate sources meticulously, considering their credibility and relevance to my essay’s context.

As I delve into the wealth of information available, I take thorough notes and employ effective organizational methods.

Normally, this meticulous approach to research lays the foundation for a well-informed and substantiated essay, providing the necessary depth and authority to my written work.

4. Craft a Strong Thesis Statement

Formulating a robust thesis statement is pivotal to essay success. I articulate a clear and focused argument that serves as the guiding beacon throughout your essay.

thesis statement

I ensure the thesis encapsulates the essence of my entire piece, providing direction to my narrative.

I elevate its impact by making the statement provocative or thoughtful, inviting readers to delve deeper into your essay’s exploration.

Typically, this intentional crafting of the thesis lays the groundwork for a compelling and purposeful essay that resonates with readers and fulfills the objective of your writing.

I prefer composing a compelling introduction by employing engaging hooks or anecdotes that captivate your audience from the outset.

I clearly articulate the essay’s purpose and thesis, setting a strong foundation for my narrative.

I offer necessary context and background information to orient readers and provide them with a comprehensive understanding of the essay’s subject matter.

Such an introduction not only grabs attention but also establishes a framework for the ensuing exploration, ensuring readers are invested and prepared for the journey ahead in my well-crafted essay.

5. Develop Coherent Body Paragraphs

Constructing coherent body paragraphs involves implementing clear topic sentences that act as guiding beacons for each paragraph.

I support my arguments with well-chosen evidence and examples, fostering a robust foundation for my essay.

I go beyond mere presentation and delve into the analysis and interpretation of evidence, providing depth and nuance to your assertions.

I ensure that each paragraph contributes meaningfully to the overall narrative, enhancing the cohesion and persuasiveness of your essay.

6. Mastering the Art of Analysis and Critical Thinking

Mastering the art of analysis and critical thinking transcends mere description, delving into the realms of “why” and “how.”

critical thinking

I elevate your essay by showcasing a profound understanding through critical analysis, unraveling layers of meaning.

I integrate diverse perspectives and, when appropriate, counterarguments to demonstrate a nuanced grasp of the subject. This depth of thought not only enriches your essay but also positions you as a thoughtful and discerning writer.

I embrace the complexity inherent in your topic, inviting readers to engage with my ideas at a profound level.

7. Effective Use of Evidence and Examples

I thoughtfully selected pertinent and persuasive evidence that aligns with your thesis. I ensure meticulous citation, encompassing quotes, statistics, and examples, adhering to the appropriate referencing style.

The art lies not just in presenting evidence but in seamlessly connecting it back to my thesis, reinforcing the overarching narrative.

Still, such measures ensure a cohesive and compelling structure, reinforcing your essay’s central message with robust supporting materials.

8. Craft a Strong Conclusion

I summarize key points judiciously, avoiding mere repetition. Reinforce your thesis and main arguments, emphasizing their significance.

I elevate your conclusion with a thoughtful or provocative closing statement that resonates with the essay’s essence. This final paragraph should leave a lasting impression, providing closure while inviting reflection.

After synthesizing the essay’s core elements, your conclusion seals the narrative with impact, ensuring your reader departs with a sense of fulfillment and insight.

9. Refining Your Writing Style

Here is the thing: I employ clear and concise language to enhance readability. I vary sentence structures for a smooth, engaging flow.

I weed out wordiness and redundancy to maintain precision and impact.  A judicious blend of simplicity and sophistication in my expression elevates your writing.

I strive for a balance that ensures your ideas shine without unnecessary complexity. Remember, a polished writing style enhances the overall quality of your essay, captivating readers and allowing my content to shine through with clarity and eloquence.

10. Keen Editing and Proofreading of your Essay

Meticulous editing and proofreading are paramount to elevating your essay. I scrutinize for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, ensuring precision.

I read my essay aloud, which enhances clarity and coherence, identifying nuances otherwise overlooked.

I solicit constructive feedback from peers or mentors, incorporating valuable insights. The iterative process of revision refines your work, cultivating a polished, error-free final draft.

I embrace this crucial step to present an impeccable essay where each word contributes to the overall impact, fostering a favorable impression of your writing prowess.

11. Structural and Formatting Considerations

I consider structural and formatting aspects to enhance my essay. I maintain consistency in formatting, including font and margins, fostering a professional appearance.

I stick to the prescribed citation style, whether APA, MLA, or others, reinforcing academic integrity.

I finalize the title thoughtfully, ensuring it encapsulates the essence of my essay. These details, often underestimated, contribute significantly to the overall presentation and coherence of my work, showcasing my commitment to precision and attention to detail.

I pay heed to these nuances elevates the quality of my essay, reflecting a conscientious approach to academic writing.

12. Time Management and Revision Strategies

I embrace the power of multiple drafts; revisions refine and elevate my work. I recognize when external input is beneficial, seeking feedback for a fresh perspective.

Efficient time utilization, coupled with a commitment to revision and openness to feedback, contributes significantly to essay excellence.

I balance these elements fosters a comprehensive approach to essay crafting, demonstrating diligence and a desire for continuous improvement in your writing endeavors.

13. Handling Essay Critique and Feedback

I view feedback as a tool for improvement, not as a critique. Implement suggestions effectively, addressing weaknesses and enhancing strengths.

editing essay

I learn from mistakes and evolve my writing style, which contributes to continuous improvement. It’s a dynamic process—each critique is an opportunity to refine my skills.

A positive approach to feedback fosters resilience and a commitment to growth in your essay-writing endeavors.

14. Staying Motivated and Focused

I set realistic goals and expectations to sustain motivation in essay writing. I break down tasks into manageable steps, aligning them with my capabilities and deadlines.

Finding inspiration can involve exploring diverse sources, discussing ideas, or seeking creative stimuli.

Managing stress and procrastination requires effective time management strategies and recognizing personal triggers.

I implement self-care practices, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle contributes to a focused mindset.

Finally, I navigate challenges with a proactive approach, I foster a sustainable motivation that propels my essay writing journey.

15. Celebrating Success and Improvement

I take time to acknowledge my achievements and progress in essay writing. I celebrate milestones, whether they’re completing a challenging assignment or refining my writing style.

I recognize personal growth in writing skills, identifying areas where I’ve improved. I use feedback as a valuable tool to fuel future success, turning constructive criticism into opportunities for enhancement.

After celebrating success and embracing a growth mindset, you will foster a positive relationship with your writing journey, motivating continued improvement and excellence.

Lastly, overcoming bad scores and achieving excellence in essay writing involves understanding grading criteria, choosing engaging topics, and refining your writing skills. Embrace critique, stay focused, and celebrate progress.

You will not only elevate your grades but also cultivate a fulfilling and successful writing journey by incorporating these strategies.

Josh Jasen working

Josh Jasen or JJ as we fondly call him, is a senior academic editor at Grade Bees in charge of the writing department. When not managing complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In his spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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  • Example of a great essay | Explanations, tips & tricks

Example of a Great Essay | Explanations, Tips & Tricks

Published on February 9, 2015 by Shane Bryson . Revised on July 23, 2023 by Shona McCombes.

This example guides you through the structure of an essay. It shows how to build an effective introduction , focused paragraphs , clear transitions between ideas, and a strong conclusion .

Each paragraph addresses a single central point, introduced by a topic sentence , and each point is directly related to the thesis statement .

As you read, hover over the highlighted parts to learn what they do and why they work.

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Other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about writing an essay, an appeal to the senses: the development of the braille system in nineteenth-century france.

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

In France, debates about how to deal with disability led to the adoption of different strategies over time. While people with temporary difficulties were able to access public welfare, the most common response to people with long-term disabilities, such as hearing or vision loss, was to group them together in institutions (Tombs, 1996). At first, a joint institute for the blind and deaf was created, and although the partnership was motivated more by financial considerations than by the well-being of the residents, the institute aimed to help people develop skills valuable to society (Weygand, 2009). Eventually blind institutions were separated from deaf institutions, and the focus shifted towards education of the blind, as was the case for the Royal Institute for Blind Youth, which Louis Braille attended (Jimenez et al, 2009). The growing acknowledgement of the uniqueness of different disabilities led to more targeted education strategies, fostering an environment in which the benefits of a specifically blind education could be more widely recognized.

Several different systems of tactile reading can be seen as forerunners to the method Louis Braille developed, but these systems were all developed based on the sighted system. The Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris taught the students to read embossed roman letters, a method created by the school’s founder, Valentin Hauy (Jimenez et al., 2009). Reading this way proved to be a rather arduous task, as the letters were difficult to distinguish by touch. The embossed letter method was based on the reading system of sighted people, with minimal adaptation for those with vision loss. As a result, this method did not gain significant success among blind students.

Louis Braille was bound to be influenced by his school’s founder, but the most influential pre-Braille tactile reading system was Charles Barbier’s night writing. A soldier in Napoleon’s army, Barbier developed a system in 1819 that used 12 dots with a five line musical staff (Kersten, 1997). His intention was to develop a system that would allow the military to communicate at night without the need for light (Herron, 2009). The code developed by Barbier was phonetic (Jimenez et al., 2009); in other words, the code was designed for sighted people and was based on the sounds of words, not on an actual alphabet. Barbier discovered that variants of raised dots within a square were the easiest method of reading by touch (Jimenez et al., 2009). This system proved effective for the transmission of short messages between military personnel, but the symbols were too large for the fingertip, greatly reducing the speed at which a message could be read (Herron, 2009). For this reason, it was unsuitable for daily use and was not widely adopted in the blind community.

Nevertheless, Barbier’s military dot system was more efficient than Hauy’s embossed letters, and it provided the framework within which Louis Braille developed his method. Barbier’s system, with its dashes and dots, could form over 4000 combinations (Jimenez et al., 2009). Compared to the 26 letters of the Latin alphabet, this was an absurdly high number. Braille kept the raised dot form, but developed a more manageable system that would reflect the sighted alphabet. He replaced Barbier’s dashes and dots with just six dots in a rectangular configuration (Jimenez et al., 2009). The result was that the blind population in France had a tactile reading system using dots (like Barbier’s) that was based on the structure of the sighted alphabet (like Hauy’s); crucially, this system was the first developed specifically for the purposes of the blind.

While the Braille system gained immediate popularity with the blind students at the Institute in Paris, it had to gain acceptance among the sighted before its adoption throughout France. This support was necessary because sighted teachers and leaders had ultimate control over the propagation of Braille resources. Many of the teachers at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth resisted learning Braille’s system because they found the tactile method of reading difficult to learn (Bullock & Galst, 2009). This resistance was symptomatic of the prevalent attitude that the blind population had to adapt to the sighted world rather than develop their own tools and methods. Over time, however, with the increasing impetus to make social contribution possible for all, teachers began to appreciate the usefulness of Braille’s system (Bullock & Galst, 2009), realizing that access to reading could help improve the productivity and integration of people with vision loss. It took approximately 30 years, but the French government eventually approved the Braille system, and it was established throughout the country (Bullock & Galst, 2009).

Although Blind people remained marginalized throughout the nineteenth century, the Braille system granted them growing opportunities for social participation. Most obviously, Braille allowed people with vision loss to read the same alphabet used by sighted people (Bullock & Galst, 2009), allowing them to participate in certain cultural experiences previously unavailable to them. Written works, such as books and poetry, had previously been inaccessible to the blind population without the aid of a reader, limiting their autonomy. As books began to be distributed in Braille, this barrier was reduced, enabling people with vision loss to access information autonomously. The closing of the gap between the abilities of blind and the sighted contributed to a gradual shift in blind people’s status, lessening the cultural perception of the blind as essentially different and facilitating greater social integration.

The Braille system also had important cultural effects beyond the sphere of written culture. Its invention later led to the development of a music notation system for the blind, although Louis Braille did not develop this system himself (Jimenez, et al., 2009). This development helped remove a cultural obstacle that had been introduced by the popularization of written musical notation in the early 1500s. While music had previously been an arena in which the blind could participate on equal footing, the transition from memory-based performance to notation-based performance meant that blind musicians were no longer able to compete with sighted musicians (Kersten, 1997). As a result, a tactile musical notation system became necessary for professional equality between blind and sighted musicians (Kersten, 1997).

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

Bullock, J. D., & Galst, J. M. (2009). The Story of Louis Braille. Archives of Ophthalmology , 127(11), 1532. https://​doi.org/10.1001/​archophthalmol.2009.286.

Herron, M. (2009, May 6). Blind visionary. Retrieved from https://​eandt.theiet.org/​content/​articles/2009/05/​blind-visionary/.

Jiménez, J., Olea, J., Torres, J., Alonso, I., Harder, D., & Fischer, K. (2009). Biography of Louis Braille and Invention of the Braille Alphabet. Survey of Ophthalmology , 54(1), 142–149. https://​doi.org/10.1016/​j.survophthal.2008.10.006.

Kersten, F.G. (1997). The history and development of Braille music methodology. The Bulletin of Historical Research in Music Education , 18(2). Retrieved from https://​www.jstor.org/​stable/40214926.

Mellor, C.M. (2006). Louis Braille: A touch of genius . Boston: National Braille Press.

Tombs, R. (1996). France: 1814-1914 . London: Pearson Education Ltd.

Weygand, Z. (2009). The blind in French society from the Middle Ages to the century of Louis Braille . Stanford: Stanford University Press.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

  • Ad hominem fallacy
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  • Appeal to authority fallacy
  • False cause fallacy
  • Sunk cost fallacy

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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

  • An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
  • Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
  • A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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When it comes to human language, not only all these essay fixers and essay chekers prove little help. Actually, the human language is so complex and tricky that few AI-powered tools find their way around it. Think of Google Translate or Amazon virtual assistant - Alexa. Though, they can perform some basic tasks, when it comes down to some serious task, they just fail.

Getting back to the questions why we created this free paper rater, I was doing some research on writer graders and free online proofreading apps, and was stunned by how many students write in Google such queries like "rate my essay" or "grade my paper for free". I tried, if not all of the paper raters, but quite many to fairly state they don't do what they promise.

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Coming to the US to study from Germany, I always struggled with getting an A for my papers, no matter how good my content was, grammar mistakes were constantly spoiling all the fun. Having used a dozen of online essay raters and writing checkers, and having no significant result. That's why a friend of mine suggested I should use online editing services.

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How to Get Good Grades in High School

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The transition to high school causes academic whiplash for many students. It’s hard to adapt to a new environment and get good grades when you’re given more independence in your assignments and are expected to learn more challenging materials.

In this guide, I’ll go through the most important strategies that will help you to get good grades in high school and beyond.

Basic Academic Survival Strategies

Let's start with the most fundamental strategies for getting good grades. A strong foundation is the key to success!

Strategy #1: Read Directions and Rubrics Carefully

Read the directions thoroughly on every assignment you get.  If you don’t follow the directions, you won’t get a good grade even if what you do would be considered solid work on a slightly different project. If your teacher tells you to write a seven-page essay, and you only write five, you'll get points taken off even if you do a good job. Don't sacrifice your grade just because you were careless or chose to ignore the instructions!  

Sometimes when students misinterpret directions, they blame the teacher for giving them a bad grade.  Even if you disagree with the structure of an assignment, being stubborn about it probably won’t get you anywhere.  You should re-educate yourself on the expectations for the class so that you don’t give the teacher another chance to deduct points from your assignments. In these cases, you’re probably just dealing with a strict teacher who likes to stick to very specific guidelines.  Once you know what the his or her standards are, you will be able to reliably earn high grades. 

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Strategy #2: Listen and Participate in Class

A trait that is consistent in people who get good grades is that they pay attention in class. You may think that you can just space out in class, study hard later, and ace the test.  If school has always been a breeze for you, this might be true up to a point, but it will catch up with you when you run into something that isn’t as easy to understand.

If you pay attention in class, you’ll spend less time studying in the long run.  Why is this? It’s because you’ve already absorbed a lot of the information you need to know just by being engaged while your teacher is talking.

You can even go a step farther and take notes in class to reinforce what you’re learning in a different way. It's smart to get into this habit before college so that you don’t struggle with note taking in lecture classes. If you learn how to summarize the main points of a lesson now, it will be easier for you to take notes at times when they’re even more critical.  

Class participation is another big part of this.  Participation is important for a couple of reasons.  First and foremost, it might be a part of your grade! In some cases, class participation accounts for ten percent or more of your final grade. Even if it isn't a part of your grade, participating in class will help you understand the material more thoroughly and let the teacher know that you care about the subject.

For me, class participation was always very difficult because I was shy and afraid that I would say the wrong thing. If you have this issue, I would recommend sitting as close to the front of the classroom as possible so that it feels like you’re just talking to the teacher and not addressing the whole class. Also, try not to overthink it! I can’t tell you how many times I had an answer in my head that I decided was dumb only to hear someone else say it thirty seconds later. Even if your answer is incorrect, you should view it as a learning opportunity that may help you to understand the material better.

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Strategy #3: Ask for Help Sooner Rather Than Later

Often, the key to success is knowing when to ask for help, and high school classes are no exception. If you don’t understand a concept, don’t wait until you’ve already bombed a test to get help. Approach your teacher as soon as possible, and ask if he or she would be willing to meet you after school to go over the material. By doing this, you can avoid bad grades before they happen and build a positive relationship with your teacher.

Of course, all of this is easier said than done. It's hard to ask for help if your teacher is less friendly or you’re a super independent person. If you’re worried about approaching your teacher, stick to a script. You can just say “Teacher’s Name, I’m having some difficulty understanding this unit. I was wondering if you might be able to talk through the main concepts with me after school at some point. I’ll come up with a list of my questions.”

If you prepare a list of questions for your teacher, it will be easier for you to get the information you need and for your teacher to explain things in a way that is helpful to you. You should also remember that there’s absolutely no shame in asking for help.  It’s really the smartest thing you can do if you’re struggling, and it will only lead to better grades in the future. 

Strategy #4: Don’t Rely on Your Family and Friends Too Much

Another way of saying this is “don’t cheat,” but sometimes the definition of cheating can be nebulous. If you and your friends help each other on a homework assignment, that’s probably fine depending on the distribution of work. However, if you directly copy a friend’s homework (even if they say it’s ok), it’s definitely a form of cheating whether or not the homework counts toward your grade.

Avoid doing this, especially if you want to get good grades in the long term.  If you copy your friends’ homework assignments, you’re committing self-sabotage.  I know it’s a cliche that you only hurt yourself by cheating, but in this case it's true. If you rely too heavily on the knowledge of others for small assignments, larger assignments like tests and papers will be even more difficult since you never learned the material for yourself.  

Also, don't let your parents edit your papers extensively or do the bulk of the work in figuring out homework problems.  They probably mean well, but it will do you more harm than good if you’re not learning on your own terms. Eventually, you’ll have to write an essay or solve math problems on a test, and you may fall short of your potential if you don't have experience doing these things independently. 

Expert Study Strategies

Many students have trouble getting good grades in high school because they don't know how to study effectively. Here are a few of the best ways to improve your test scores through the use of smart study strategies.

Strategy #5: Always Do the Homework (Even If It Doesn’t Count!)

Most teachers in high school assign regular homework, although some may not check it or incorporate it directly into your grade. Some students view this as a free pass to ignore homework assignments, which can is a very bad idea.  In subjects like math and science in particular, homework assignments are critical if you want to gain full comprehension of the material.  In math, your understanding of one unit of study is often a necessary foundation for your understanding of the next unit. Knowledge builds on itself.

If you start skipping homework assignments, you may get confused when the teacher moves on to a new unit.  Ultimately, you could become completely lost and perform poorly on assignments that do count towards your grade. 

Doing homework assignments will also help you psychologically. If you’re staying on top of things in a class, you'll be more confident in your knowledge.  Homework assignments are a way of studying consistently over time. If you do the homework, you may not have to study as much for tests because you’ll already have a solid understanding of what you need to know. 

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Strategy #6: Know the Difference Between Reading It Over and “Getting It”

Just reading over the material before a test won't cut it unless you have a photographic memory. You need to actively absorb the information, not just skim over it and hope it will stick in your brain. Surface-level knowledge won't help you, especially when you're dealing with open-ended questions on a test. You should be able to recall the facts without any hints or prompting.   

If you have review sheets to study before a test, I would recommend reading them in small, manageable sections.  After you read each section carefully, look away from it and see if you can repeat the facts back to yourself.  Don’t move on from a section until you’re able to do this.

One thing that I’ve found very helpful in cases like this is to make up some sort of weird mnemonic. It can be an acronym or just something memorable that has a random association with the information you need to know. The more bizarre the memory device you come up with, the more likely you are to remember the facts. 

After you’ve read everything over yourself and feel relatively confident, you can have someone else step in and quiz you on the information.  To be sure that you have a full understanding of what you need to know, you should be able to answer questions about how different facts connect to each other rather than just regurgitating the facts themselves.  For example, if you’re studying for a history test, you might have someone ask you a question like “what were the main factors that led to the French Revolution” that requires you to draw from a few distinct facts to reach a separate conclusion.  

Strategy #7: Study Between Tests, Don’t Cram

There is a certain glamour for some students in the late-night pre-test cram session. However, sacrificing your sleep and sanity will not get you a better grade on the test (no matter how much cooler it might be than planning ahead).

The best way to ensure that you don’t panic before a test (or on the test itself) is to make a habit of going over the material that you’ve learned regularly and not just when it gets down to the wire. You’ll retain it better, and you’ll get a good night’s sleep to recharge your brain. 

In the week before a big test, you can study for an hour or so every night rather than studying for five hours the night before.  As you build up your knowledge, you’ll feel more and more confident. On the night before the test, instead of trying to study every little detail that you need to know, you can do a quick review of the main concepts to reassure yourself that you’re in good shape. 

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Strategies for Structuring Your Work  

Strategy #8: make project timelines (don’t procrastinate).

If you hope to earn high grades without suffering from excessive amounts of stress, you must overcome your procrastination habits.  It's especially hard to manage your time responsibly on long-term projects. It may seem like you have forever to complete the assignment, but time will always catch up with you. 

If you're a procrastinator, I highly recommend making a timeline whenever you get a long-term assignment. If you have a project that’s due in a month, set aside the first week for brainstorming, make a rough outline of the project in the second week, flesh it out as much as possible in the third week, and spend the rest of your time perfecting it. This is a vague timeline because it depends on the type of project you’re doing and what it involves, but you get the idea.

If you save the last week for polishing your work and fixing mistakes, you’ll end up with a final product that’s a much better representation of your abilities.  Sticking to a schedule like this can be tough, so you might want to ask your teacher to help monitor your progress by checking in with you periodically. Some teachers already set up checkpoints for longer term projects because they know students have trouble avoiding procrastination. If this is the case, stick to the schedule and avoid falling behind!

Strategy #9: Stay Organized

Many of these tips will be useless if you don’t keep track of all the materials for your classes.  Cultivating good organizational habits will not only help you succeed in high school; it will pay off in spades when you get to college as well.

Always mark the beginning of each new unit in your notebook, and keep a binder or folder for each class.  This way, when you study for tests, you won’t be freaking out about where a certain review sheet went or why there seems to be nothing relevant in your notebook. Avoid just throwing papers into your backpack. I’ve made the mistake of doing this many times in the past, and you WILL forget where you put them when you need them most.

It's also a good idea to write down your homework assignments in an agenda book so that you don’t miss anything. It’s easy to forget about smaller assignments if your brain is focused on a big project or test that’s coming up. Even if you don’t have a concrete homework assignment in every class, you should make note of any potential work you might do that night.  If you have light assignments in your other classes, this will remind you to catch up on a long term project or start studying a bit for a test that’s coming up in a week.

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What's Next?

Worried about your GPA? Here are four strategies for raising your GPA in high school fast.

If you're not sure whether your GPA is high enough for your goals, read this article on what a good GPA means for college.  

Still trying to figure out your courses? Check out our expert guide on which classes you should take in high school.  

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?   We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download them for free now:

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Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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    Eventually, you'll have to write an essay or solve math problems on a test, and you may fall short of your potential if you don't have experience doing these things independently. Expert Study Strategies. Many students have trouble getting good grades in high school because they don't know how to study effectively.

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