Assignment Guidance & Feedback

Many assignment problems begin before the first sentence. A student reads "evaluate" as "describe", spends a third of the word count on background, or realises late that the task needed a named theoretical framework. Guidance catches these problems early.

What it means

This service covers the whole life of an ordinary assessed task, such as a coursework essay, a case study, a Hausarbeit or a short report. At the start, we help you read the brief and the marking criteria closely and turn them into a plan. Later, we can read the outline or draft you have written and explain what is working, what is missing and what to prioritise.

Problems it addresses

• Instructions that feel vague, or that mix the actual task with formatting and submission rules
• Command words such as analyse, critically evaluate, compare or justify that you are not sure how to interpret
• Marking criteria written in abstract language, for example "demonstrates depth of understanding"
• A word limit that you keep exceeding in the introduction and running out of in the analysis
• Earlier feedback such as "lacks focus" or "does not answer the question" without an explanation of why
• Several deadlines in the same fortnight and no clear order of work

When you might need it

• You have just received a brief and want to be sure you understand it before you start reading.
• You are studying abroad for the first time and the assessment style differs from what you know.
• You are writing in English as an additional language and want to check you have read the instructions correctly.
• You have a draft but suspect it has drifted away from the question.

How the guidance works

1. Share your brief and draft. Send the brief, the marking criteria and anything you have written so far, using the contact form. Tell us your level, subject and deadline.
2. Agree scope and quote. We read your materials and send a quote that sets out what the guidance will cover and how it will be delivered. There is no fixed price list.
3. Receive written feedback. Depending on your stage, this is a planning discussion, comments on your outline, or comments on your draft against the criteria.
4. Revise in your own words. You decide what to change and make every change yourself.
5. Follow-up, if agreed. Where the quote includes it, you can ask questions about the feedback by message or call.

What to prepare

• The full assignment brief, exactly as your university issued it
• The marking criteria, rubric or grade descriptors
• Module handbook pages on word limits, formatting and referencing style
• Your outline, notes or draft, even if incomplete
• Feedback from a previous, similar assignment
• Your deadline and any competing deadlines

What you receive

Depending on the scope agreed in your quote, this can include:

• an explained breakdown of the brief, showing the task, the command words and what the criteria reward
• a suggested allocation of your word count across sections, with the reasons for it
• written comments on your outline or draft, linked to specific criteria
• a short feedback summary listing the most important priorities first
• a list of questions to consider as you revise
• a discussion of the feedback by message or call

Outside the scope

• Writing any part of the assignment, including the outline you will submit
• Choosing and summarising sources for you
• Completing calculations, coding or analysis that are being assessed
• Rewriting your draft so that it reads differently
• Predicting or guaranteeing a grade
• Contacting your lecturer or university on your behalf

Please check your module's rules on outside help and AI tools. Our academic integrity page explains how we work within them.

An illustrative example

Frequently asked questions

Can I ask for help before I have written anything?

Yes. The planning stage is often where guidance helps most, because a clear plan saves time later. You can try our word count planner and coursework planning guide first so you have something to discuss.

Is this kind of help allowed?

Many universities encourage students to seek help understanding tasks, and offer similar support through their own study skills services. Rules differ, especially around drafts and AI use, so check your module handbook. You remain the author of everything you submit.

What if my task is not an essay?

That is fine. Case studies, reflective pieces, short reports and portfolio tasks all have their own conventions. Tell us the task type in your enquiry and we will confirm whether we can help.