Word Count for Essays and Academic Papers
Assignments specify word or page limits. Count accurately before submitting — including or excluding references depending on your institution's rules.
Typical requirements
- High school essays: 500–1,000 words
- Undergraduate papers: 1,500–3,000 words
- Personal statements: often 650 words (Common App)
- Abstracts: 150–300 words
Tips for accurate counts
- Confirm whether footnotes and bibliography count
- Headings may or may not count — check your rubric
- Use character count for platforms with char limits (Twitter, UCAS)