Turnitin Pre-Submission Checks (Student Guide)
Before submitting, use Turnitin to find text matches and review each one, not to chase a particular score. A match may come from a correctly cited source, while uncited copying can be a problem even when the score is low. Check your course rules first, revise any citation or quotation issues, and submit through your institution’s approved link.
Turnitin checks are most useful when you treat them as one part of careful editing. The report can point to passages that need attention, but it cannot decide whether your writing meets your course’s rules. Those rules, including any limits on draft uploads, take priority over general advice.
I recommend checking the submission process before you upload anything. A draft may be stored in a repository, depending on your institution’s settings, and could then match your later final paper. If you are unsure, ask your instructor before submitting a draft.
Turnitin checks: purpose, access, and course rules
A pre-submission check lets you inspect text matches in a draft before the final deadline. Access and settings depend on your course and institution. Your instructor’s directions determine whether draft checks are allowed, how resubmissions work, and whether a draft is stored.
Start with the assignment page and course policy. Look for the authorized Turnitin link and instructions about file type, draft submissions, resubmissions, and deadlines. Do not assume that a link used in another class works the same way here.
Before uploading, check these points:
- Draft checks: Does your instructor allow them, and is there a specific draft link?
- Resubmissions: Can you upload a revised draft, and how many times?
- Storage: Will the draft be saved in a repository that can compare it with later work?
- Timing: How much time should you allow for the report to appear? Processing and course settings can vary, so do not wait until the deadline.
- Privacy: Use the institution-approved account. Do not upload confidential, personal, or third-party material to an unapproved checker.
If any point is unclear, ask your instructor before your first upload. This is especially important when the assignment contains sensitive information or when you plan to submit more than one version.
A practical check before upload
Prepare the correct file and confirm it opens as expected. Compare it with the assignment instructions: check the file format, your name or other required details, and whether the assignment asks for references or appendices. Then submit through the official course link and keep the confirmation or receipt.
Illustrative scenario: A student uploads a draft to a course link that stores submissions. The later final paper matches that stored draft. This may be a repository self-match, not evidence that the student copied someone else. The student should ask the instructor how the draft setting works rather than trying to hide or change the match.
Similarity reports, citation practice, and assignment requirements
A Similarity Report shows text that matches material available to Turnitin. Its Similarity Score summarizes the amount of matched text, but it does not decide whether that text is plagiarism or whether your work meets the assignment rules. Review the passages and sources in context.
Do not treat any score as a universal pass or fail mark. A low score does not prove that every source is cited correctly. A higher score does not automatically mean misconduct: quotations, standard phrases, or correctly cited material may also match.
Review every match. For each one, ask:
- What text is highlighted? Read the whole passage, not just the score.
- What source is listed? Open or identify the source if you can.
- Is this exact wording? If you used the source’s words, check whether quotation marks and a citation are needed under your required style.
- Is this a paraphrase? Compare the meaning and wording. A few changed words may still follow the source too closely.
- Is the idea borrowed? A paraphrase still needs a citation when it uses another author’s idea.
- Is there a reference entry? Check that the source appears in your reference list when required and that the details are accurate.
Use your assignment’s citation style and instructor guidance. Requirements can differ by course and task, so a generic rule may not settle every case. If a passage is unclear, ask your instructor or a writing center before the deadline.
| Report situation | What to check | A responsible next step |
|---|---|---|
| A quotation matches a source | Quotation marks, citation, and reference entry | Keep the quote only if it supports your point and follows the assignment rules |
| A paraphrase matches closely | Sentence structure and phrasing, as well as the citation | Return to the source’s idea, explain it in your own words, and cite it |
| A common phrase or title matches | Whether it is a standard phrase or distinctive wording | Use course guidance; do not rewrite merely to change the score |
| Your draft matches your earlier upload | Repository and resubmission settings | Ask your instructor how the course handles stored drafts |
| A match has no clear citation | Source, borrowed wording, and borrowed ideas | Add or correct attribution before final submission |
A report may not show every issue that matters to your instructor. For example, it cannot replace your own check that a source is credited or that your writing follows the prompt. Use it as a review aid, not as a grade prediction.
Responsible revision, academic integrity, and student support
Responsible revision fixes the writing or citation issue rather than hiding a match. Keep the meaning of your work intact, credit borrowed ideas, and follow the rules for quotations and paraphrases. If a report is confusing, ask for guidance instead of trying to manipulate the score.
When a match points to a quotation, check whether the exact wording is marked and cited in the way your course requires. When it points to a paraphrase, read the source, set it aside, and explain the idea from your understanding. Then compare your wording with the source and add the citation. Do not rely on swapping a few words for synonyms.
After revising, check the affected passage and its reference entry again. If your course permits another report, use it to confirm that the corrected passage now reflects your writing and attribution. A revised score is not proof of academic integrity; the important question is whether you have followed the rules.
Illustrative scenario: A student sees a match in a paragraph built from a journal article. The student changes several words but keeps the source’s sentence pattern. That is not a sound fix. A better approach is to understand the point, write a fresh explanation, cite the source, and check whether any exact wording still needs quotation marks.
AI-writing indicators are separate
An AI-writing indicator, if available in your course, is not the Similarity Score. It is also not, by itself, proof of misconduct. Follow your instructor’s policy on AI use and disclosure. If asked, keep relevant drafts, notes, source records, or other evidence of your writing process.
Do not use AI or paraphrasing tools to conceal who wrote the work or bypass course rules. If you are unsure whether a tool is allowed, ask before using it. Save your own notes and drafts in a place you can access, and follow any course instructions about sharing them.
Ask for help when you cannot tell whether a match is acceptable, whether a source needs a citation, or whether a draft upload is stored. Your instructor, academic advisor, librarian, or writing center may be able to explain the relevant course or citation rule. Bring the assignment instructions and the specific passage so they can give focused guidance.
Academic writing skills and useful habits
A pre-submission review builds habits that help across courses: careful source use, clear paraphrasing, accurate references, and attention to assignment rules. These skills matter whether or not a course uses Turnitin. The report is a tool for learning, not a target to optimize.
Use this short sequence each time:
- Prepare: Read the prompt, rubric, citation rules, and draft-upload directions.
- Check: Submit the right file through the approved link and allow time for the report.
- Review: Examine all matches and their sources, not only the headline score.
- Revise: Correct attribution, quotation, or close-paraphrase issues without changing text just to lower a score.
- Validate: Check revised passages and references; save your notes and drafts.
- Submit: Confirm the final file and keep the submission receipt.
One useful habit is to keep track of sources while you research. Note which ideas came from each source and record citation details as you go. This makes it easier to check your references and explain your writing choices if questions arise.
The main takeaway is simple: follow the course process, review each match in context, and make honest revisions. If a setting or match is uncertain, ask early. That gives you time to resolve the question without risking a rushed final submission.
Frequently asked questions
These answers cover common questions about draft reports, scores, matches, and revisions. Course settings and academic-integrity rules can differ, so use these points as general guidance and check your instructor’s directions when they conflict or leave room for doubt.
Is there an acceptable Turnitin similarity percentage?
There is no universal acceptable percentage. Your instructor evaluates the matches and your use of sources, not just the score.
Does a low score prove that my paper is not plagiarized?
No. A low score does not confirm that every borrowed word or idea is cited. Review your sources and references yourself.
Does a high similarity score mean I plagiarized?
Not by itself. The score reports matched text; the matches may include properly cited quotations or other text. Review each match in context.
Should I rewrite every highlighted passage?
No. First identify why it matches. A correctly quoted and cited passage may be appropriate. Revise only when the wording, citation, or assignment rules call for it.
Can I submit a draft more than once?
That depends on your course settings and instructor’s directions. Check the resubmission rules before your first upload.
Can my draft match my final paper?
Yes, if the draft was stored in a repository, it may match a later submission. Ask your instructor about storage and resubmission settings.
What should I do if I find a close paraphrase?
Explain the source’s idea in your own words, based on your understanding, and cite it. Do not just replace a few words with synonyms.
Is an AI-writing indicator the same as a similarity score?
No. They are separate indicators. An AI-writing indicator alone does not prove misconduct; follow your course policy.
Can I use an outside similarity checker?
Use the checker your institution approves. Avoid uploading private or third-party material to an unapproved service, and do not use tools to evade course rules.
Who can help me understand a confusing match?
Ask your instructor, advisor, librarian, or writing center. Share the assignment instructions and the passage in question so they can address the specific issue.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Alan Westbrook. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
