UK universities mark essays on a 0-100 scale, with 70+ being First Class, 60-69 being 2:1, and 50-59 being 2:2. Most students think the difference between these grade bands is about intelligence or research quality.
Wrong.
The difference is usually about 10 completely avoidable mistakes that cost you 10-20 marks every single time.
I lie not, I’ve seen brilliant 2:2 essays become solid 2:1s just by fixing these problems. Same research. Same brain. Better execution.
The Big One: Describing Instead of Analyzing
This thing right here kills more grades than anything else.
Research from UK universities shows that “too descriptive” is the most common feedback students receive. Moreover, descriptive writing keeps you in the 50-60% range while critical analysis gets you into 60-70%+ territory.
What does this actually mean?
Descriptive writing tells your lecturer what happened: “Smith (2023) found that poverty increased by 15% in urban areas between 2020 and 2022.”
Critical writing tells them why it matters: “Smith’s (2023) 15% increase in urban poverty reveals fundamental flaws in current welfare policy, particularly affecting single-parent households who lack access to childcare support.”
See the difference? One just reports information. The other analyzes what that information means for your argument.
Furthermore, UK lecturers don’t want you to prove you can read. They want you to prove you can think about what you’ve read.
Not Actually Answering the Question
This one sounds obvious until you realize how often it happens.
The essay question asks: “Evaluate the effectiveness of current climate policies.”
Students write 3000 words describing what the policies are, when they were implemented, and who created them. Then they add one paragraph at the end saying “these policies are somewhat effective.”
That’s not evaluation. That’s avoidance.
Additionally, UK marking criteria explicitly state that not addressing the question directly can drop you an entire grade band, regardless of how well-written your essay is.
Fix: Read the question three times. Underline the instruction word (evaluate, discuss, analyze, compare). Make sure every paragraph connects back to that specific instruction.
Writing Like You’re Sending a WhatsApp Message
“The policy didn’t work and it’s kinda obvious why.”
Sister, this is not how academic writing sounds.
Common essay mistakes include using contractions, slang, and informal language that immediately signal to markers that you don’t understand academic conventions.
Wrong:
- “It’s basically about…”
- “Lots of people think…”
- “This proves it’s really important…”
Right:
- “This concerns…”
- “Research indicates…”
- “This demonstrates significant implications…”
As we discussed in our article about international students UK essays, the transition to UK academic language trips up even the most brilliant students.
Having a Weak or Missing Thesis
Your thesis statement should tell your lecturer exactly what you’re arguing and how you’ll prove it. Not having one is like starting a journey without knowing your destination.
Weak thesis: “This essay will discuss social media and mental health.”
Strong thesis: “While social media platforms claim to prioritize user wellbeing, their engagement-driven algorithms systematically promote content that exacerbates anxiety and depression, particularly among adolescents aged 13-17.”
The strong version tells your reader your position, your evidence category, and your specific focus. Everything in your essay should connect back to proving this statement.
Paragraph Structure That Makes No Sense
PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) worked in secondary school. However, UK universities require more sophisticated paragraph development.
Each paragraph needs:
- Clear topic sentence stating your point
- Evidence from credible sources
- Analysis of what that evidence means
- Connection to your overall argument
- Transition to the next idea
Furthermore, if your paragraphs are just four quotes glued together with “this shows that,” you’re doing it wrong.
Referencing Errors That Scream Amateur
We covered this extensively in our Harvard referencing guide, but the quick version: missing page numbers, wrong citation format, and no access dates for websites cost you marks.
Moreover, UK marking rubrics specifically penalize referencing errors, even when the content is strong.
Introduction and Conclusion That Say Nothing
Your introduction should outline your argument and roadmap your essay. Your conclusion should synthesize your findings and answer “so what?”
What students actually write:
Introduction: “This essay will discuss three main points about education policy.”
Conclusion: “In conclusion, education policy has three main points as discussed above.”
Both useless. Neither adds value. Additionally, they waste precious words that could strengthen your argument.
Quoting Instead of Paraphrasing
Long quotes make your essay look like you couldn’t be bothered to understand the material well enough to explain it yourself.
UK lecturers want to see YOUR analysis, not someone else’s words taking up your word count. Furthermore, excessive quoting signals weak comprehension and drops you into the 50-59% range.
Rule: If you can say it in your own words while citing the source, do that instead of quoting.
Ignoring Your Module Handbook
Every module has specific requirements: referencing style, formatting rules, word count tolerance, submission requirements. Nevertheless, students ignore these and lose marks on technicalities.
Check:
- Exact word count requirements (some penalize going over/under)
- Specific referencing style your module uses
- Font size and line spacing requirements
- Whether you need a bibliography or just a reference list
Submitting Without Proofreading
Grammar mistakes, typos, and spelling errors tell your lecturer you didn’t care enough to proofread. Additionally, UK marking criteria explicitly mention that poor grammar and spelling affect your grade.
Moreover, simple mistakes like “their/they’re/there” confusion make you look careless, even when your analysis is strong.
Tools That Actually Help
Grammarly catches basic errors but misses UK English conventions. Therefore, use:
- Your university’s writing center for essay structure feedback
- Cite Them Right for referencing help
- Hemingway App for readability checks
- Your module handbook for specific requirements
- Office hours with lecturers for clarification
Finally, the most successful students treat essay writing like a process, not a one-night event. They draft, revise, get feedback, and polish before submission.
Your brain is capable of First Class work. These 10 mistakes are what’s standing between you and those grades.
Fix them, and watch your marks climb.
Ready to stop making expensive mistakes and start submitting essays that actually showcase your intelligence? Book a consultation to get your essay reviewed before submission and learn exactly what’s costing you marks.