You have finished your assignment. The references are in place, the word count is close enough and you have read it twice. You are ready to submit.
Before you submit, go back to the brief and marking criteria. Have you covered everything they ask for?
You might spend 20 minutes fixing a sentence and still miss a requirement that carries a lot of marks.
Check the content before you start proofreading. Here’s what to look at before you upload your assignment.
1. Turn the assignment brief into a checklist
Open the brief and read the question slowly. Don’t just look at the topic. Pay attention to what you have been asked to do.
The University of Portsmouth suggests looking at three things: the task words, the content words and the limits of the question.
Take this example:
“Compare the leadership styles of two organisations and explain how each affects employee performance.”
Before submitting, ask yourself:
- Have I covered two organisations, not just one?
- Have I compared their leadership styles?
- Have I explained the effect on employee performance?
- Have I stayed focused on these points?
You might have written a lot about leadership, but that doesn’t mean you have answered this question. Go back to the exact wording and check.
2. Check your assignment against the marking criteria
Now take out your marking rubric.
Do not just read it. Turn each important criterion into a question you can answer.
| Marking Criterion | Ask yourself |
| Critical analysis | Where have I interpreted or questioned the evidence? |
| Application | Where have I applied the theory to the case? |
| Evaluation | Where have I made a supported judgement? |
| Evidence | Are my important claims supported by relevant sources? |
The University of Sheffield says marking criteria show what your work will be judged on. Use them when checking your assignment.
However, the marking criteria do not always tell you how to structure the assignment. Oxford Brookes explains that these are qualities to show across your work, not necessarily separate sections.
3. Check the command words before you submit
Look closely at the words used in your assignment question. They tell you what to do in your answer.
If it says analyse, have you explained how things are linked or why something happens?
If it says evaluate, have you made a judgement and backed it up with evidence?
If it says compare, have you explained how the two things are alike and different?
The University of Portsmouth has a free guide to common assignment words. Their meaning can differ between subjects, though, so check your module guidance as well.
4. Give more attention to the criteria worth more marks
Not every part of your rubric necessarily carries the same weight.
For example, imagine your criteria are:
- Knowledge — 20%
- Application — 20%
- Critical analysis — 40%
- Presentation — 20%
If you’ve only got an hour left to check your work, start with the section worth 40% of the marks. Make sure your critical analysis is strong before spending time on headings or small formatting fixes.
Sheffield also advises students to check how marks are split across the criteria and use that to decide what to focus on.
5. Try the “brief → criteria → evidence” test
This is one of the easiest ways to spot a gap.
Make three columns:
| What the brief asks | What the criteria require | Where I show it |
| Evaluate X | Supported judgement | Sections 2–3 |
| Apply theory | Relevant application | Section 3 |
| Use research | Appropriate evidence | Sections 2–4 |
| Make Recommendations | Justified recommendations | Conclusion |
Now look at the final column.
If you cannot point to a section where you have dealt with one of the requirements, stop there. You may have found something that needs fixing before submission.
6. Mark your own work before your tutor does
You do not need a complicated system.
Take your marking criteria and give yourself a simple strong / needs work / missing rating for each area.
Check:
- Have I covered the learning outcomes?
- Is my argument clear?
- Have I applied the relevant theory?
- Have I used suitable evidence?
- Is there enough analysis?
- Have I followed the required structure?
- Is my conclusion supported by what I discussed?
UWE Bristol has used an assignment self-assessment sheet covering areas such as structure, reading, referencing, application, appraisal, discussion, learning outcomes and coverage. It is a useful example of how to approach a self-check, although your own university’s criteria should always take priority.
7. Do the final technical checks
Once you have checked the main requirements, move on to the small things that are easy to miss when you are tired.
Check your:
- word count
- referencing style
- in-text citations
- reference list
- headings and formatting
- tables, figures and appendices
- file type and file name
- submission location
For referencing, use the guide required by your university or module. Do not assume Harvard is automatically the right style. Your module instructions come first.
If you are checking a literature review, for example, make sure your sources and citations follow the specific requirements given for that assessment rather than relying on a general referencing rule.
Your 10-minute check before submitting
If you are short on time, ask yourself these six questions:
1. Have I answered every part of the brief?
2. Have I addressed the marking criteria?
3. Have I followed the command words?
4. Have I focused on the criteria carrying the most marks?
5. Does my conclusion answer the actual question?
6. Am I uploading the correct final file?
If you can answer all six confidently, you have completed a useful final check. If not, online assignment help may give you a second pair of eyes before submission.
What if your final check shows a problem?
Found a gap in your answer but aren’t sure how to fix it? Or perhaps your research and ideas aren’t coming together as expected.
At Elite Assignments, we provide academic support tailored to your assignment requirements, with affordable pricing and on-time delivery to help you meet your deadline.
From sorting out referencing and formatting to getting help with a specific type of assignment, we work around your brief and the requirements you need to meet.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What if my assignment brief and marking rubric seem to ask for different things?
Read the brief for what you need to do and the rubric for how it will be assessed. If they still seem inconsistent, ask your tutor before making major changes.
2. What should I do if I am over the word count?
Cut repeated points, unnecessary background and anything that does not help answer the question. Keep the content linked to the brief and marking criteria.
3. What should I check on the day I submit my assignment?
Check the word count, references, formatting, file name and file type. Then open the final file and make sure you are uploading it to the correct submission area.
4. Can I change my assignment after uploading it?
It depends on your university and submission system. Check your module’s rules to see whether you can replace the file before the deadline.
5. Are there any online tools I can use to check my assignment before submitting?
Yes. Use your university’s marking checklist first. Cite Them Right is useful for referencing. The University of Manchester’s Academic Phrasebank can help when you’re stuck on how to phrase an idea.