Five things UK markers actually look for that international students often miss

The five markers are looking for:n

1. Critical argument, not description — every paragraph needs a claim, not just facts
2. Clear signposting — state your point at the start of each paragraph (topic sentence)
3. Peer-reviewed sources — journal articles and academic books, not websites
4. Consistent referencing — in the required style (Harvard, APA, OSCOLA etc.)
5. A reflective conclusion — acknowledge limitations, not just summarise what you said

nnThese five things separate a 2:2 from a First in most UK universities.nnUKBuddy Assignment Helper — mark criteria guide