How To Write A Personal Statement: 10 Tips + Student Questions Answered

Struggling to write your personal statement? You’re not alone! Most students struggle with this part of the application process. But you don’t have to be one of them.

We know how important it is for you to stand out from other applicants, and we want to make sure that happens. Follow these guidelines for writing a solid personal statement that will help you get into your desired university! If you want to jump to a different guide, check out the full collection below:

• How to end a personal statement
• How to write a law personal statement
• How to write a medical personal statement
• How to start a personal statement
• What not to put in a personal statement
• How to include work experience in your personal statement

What Is A Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a short essay of 4,000 characters and 47 lines that you submit to the UCAS application portal along with your grades and references. For those applying through UCAS for entry in 2026 and beyond, the personal statement will now be split into three parts answering the following questions:

• Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?
• Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
• Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

You still have 4,000 characters total, but you can choose how to distribute these across the three questions.

They will then distribute your application across different universities or colleges that you have previously chosen.

You have to use your personal statement to demonstrate your interests, talents, and abilities. If you want to be an outstanding candidate, use these top tips to leave a lasting impression on the admissions tutor.

1) Answer These Starter Questions To Begin Your First Draft

The most challenging part of writing is starting. Your hand freezes even before you get to type a single word because you’re not sure how to start. 

But you don’t have to worry about that just yet – just sit down and answer these questions to kickstart your writing.

1. Write down your “WHY.” Why do you want to study that specific course you’re applying for? Maybe you have a life goal and this is the first step, or there was a memorable event in your life that inspired you.
2. How did you learn about your chosen course of interest? Do you have family members or significant figures you admire who have related professions in the field?
3. Read the course descriptions. What skills and experiences does the course demand?
4. Which of these skills and experiences do you have? Where did you develop them? If you have any certifications, awards, or memberships to highlight your skills and experiences, all the better! Referencing these will help prove that you are a suitable applicant.
5. What future career path are you looking to pursue? What are your goals? Stating your dreams and ambitions plainly, and the motivations behind them, demonstrates your sense of purpose.
6. Did you experience difficulties or challenges during your education?
7. What are the characteristics you have that sets you apart from the other applicants? Why should the admissions committee consider you?

2) Start Freewriting!

After answering the questions stated above, you now have a solid idea of some topics you could include and points you could make within your personal statement. Which were most exciting to answer? Do any fit together well?

Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, and the 4,000-word count limit just yet. Let your ideas flow and start writing! Start by fleshing out the points you think are most important, or trying to link together separate ideas.

Remember, the whole point is to convince the reader that you are worth accepting into the university of your choice.

So imagine you’re talking to the school’s admission as you’re typing. Doing so keeps your mind focussed on why you’re writing your personal statement in the first place.

3) Craft Your Personal Story into Your Personal Statement

To make your personal statement stand out, weave your personal story into your free-flowing sentences. If there’s a standout moment in your life that inspired, challenged, or changed you, use that to add an attention-grabbing feature.

Begin by recounting a significant event in your life that kindled your interest in the course you’re applying for. Then continue the journey from there, pointing out essential details of your growth and development.

Not only will this approach keep the reader hooked, but it also establishes a personal connection with them. They’ll feel as if they know you as a person, making your essay more memorable and increasing the chances of your admittance into the university.

4) Put Your Best Foot Forward – Keep It Relevant!

Once you have your long, messy draft ready, it’s time to clean and polish. The first order of business is to make sure you’re using your personal statement to put your best foot forward. Writing a personal statement is equivalent to selling yourself, meaning you shouldn’t write about irrelevant experiences or skills.

When applying for biology, don’t write about your achievements in debate championships – unless you won a prestigious debating competition where the topic was something like cloning, homeopathic medicine or vertical farming. You want your achievements to be relevant to the course – so concentrate on your scientific prowess.

Neither should you write about your weaknesses. You don’t have to write about your hatred of Calculus or your difficulty in learning French, unless the process of overcoming a weakness actually helped you develop a relevant strength!

Go over your draft and remove paragraphs and sentences that are not in line with your course. Delete anything that devalues you.

You only have 4,000 characters to sell yourself. Make it count!

5) List Achievements & Specific Details In Your Personal Statement

Proper nouns make your personal statement powerful – and believable. Saying you’re a member of the “debate association” is nothing compared to the “National Speech And Debate Association.”

Do you see the difference? 

Insert specific details like dates and proper names as much as possible. Stating you won a “leadership award” is not as impactful as “the 2019 Youth Leadership Cup.” It might even sound like you’re making things up.

Remember, you can include achievements from school, super- and extracurricular activities, and work/volunteering experience.

Our guide on how to write about work experience in personal statements will have you typing in no time.

6) Structure Effectively

If you’re applying for 2026 entry, it’s time to split up your statement into the 3 areas. At this point, you’ll have a big, messy document full of paragraphs, bullet points, descriptions and record of your experiences and skills. Go through with three coloured markers and work out which sentences/sections fit into these three categories:

• Motivating factors (to answer “Why do you want to study this course or subject?”)
• Preparatory studies or qualifications (to answer “How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?”
• Anything else relevant to the course (to answer “What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?”).

Then, you’ll have a mini-draft for each of the three questions. Reformulate these answers into a smoothly-flowing answer, with an introduction that grabs attention by including the most impressive point, a main body that clearly explains all the context, and a conclusion that wraps everything together and explains why it’s relevant. Then, follow all the subsequent steps for each of your answers.

7) Proofread & Spellcheck

After choosing which points should stay and which should go, you now have a shorter, more relevant draft in hand. The next step is to correct your spelling and grammar by proofreading it.

The easiest way to accomplish this is to run your document over in Grammarly. Grammarly is a free writing app that helps you communicate your ideas in a clear and effective way and avoid spelling and grammar mistakes. The premium version takes you a step further, but the free version works fine.

Check out our handy guide on what NOT to put in a personal statement.

Remember, proofreading is not just about making sure the statement is ‘correct’. You should also check your sentences to make them more concise and to the point.

A wordy sentence like, “I remember when I was in middle school and first learned about the circulatory system, I became really fascinated by how the heart pumps blood through the body, and that interest has stayed with me ever since,” can be refined to, “My fascination with the circulatory system began in middle school when I discovered how the heart efficiently pumps blood, inspiring my later project on cardiovascular health.”

Each year, universities have to read thousands of personal statements. Make yours effortless to read!

8) Choose Precise Words To Express Yourself

Instead of writing, “I have been very interested in the complex parts of the human body,” you could say, “I have been deeply fascinated by the intricate mechanisms of the circulatory system.”

It’s more precise, and the elevated vocabulary is more powerful.

Replacing common words with more expressive synonyms not only makes your writing more engaging but also helps avoid repetitive phrasing. A quick way to find alternatives is to type your word into Google followed by “synonyms” to discover a range of options that can better convey your enthusiasm and depth of understanding.

9) Make Your First Sentences Stand Out 

At this point, you should be comfortable with what personal statements are and how to write them from beginning to end.

Now, it’s time to go back to the beginning and make sure it’s as compelling as it can be.

Focus your creative energy on the first sentence of each section, as if that’s the only sentence the admissions committee will ever read. Make it stand out!

If you don’t, chances are it will be the only sentence they’ll ever read!

We’ve also produced an in-depth guide on how to start a personal statement.

10) Read It Out Loud

You will never know how good your personal statement sounds until you read it out loud.

When you read it, does your tongue roll out the paragraphs smoothly? Or are there incoherent thoughts that don’t go well together?

When a document is difficult to read, you can bet it’s also difficult to understand. So read your personal statement several times and make the necessary revisions until it’s smooth as butter!

11) Let Someone Else Read It

Your personal statement is… you guessed it, very personal. What may be clear to you may not be clear to someone else. That’s why it’s vital to let someone else read it.

Show it to your classmates, teachers, and parents. You need their fresh eyes to examine your document. The more readers you have giving your feedback, the better your personal statement will be.

Receive their suggestions with grace and seriousness. You’ll need the trial run before submitting the final version!

12) Distance Yourself

After having gained feedback from several pairs of fresh eyes, it’s time to refresh yours. Put down your personal statement and go about your daily life. Forget about it for a while.

Let a few days pass before you return to it. Then read it out loud again. You’ll be surprised to notice errors and examples of awkward phrases you didn’t catch before. Edit out parts you dislike, improve others, and retain good portions.

Your personal statement will come out better than ever!

13) Be Authentic

Stay true to who you are and show why you’re enthusiastic.

When learning how to write a personal statement, you don’t have to copy someone else’s. You are unique. Use your own voice and ideas. That’s why this article doesn’t have a rigid, point-A-to-point-B structure for you to follow. 

Another thing to keep in mind is honesty. Don’t put in skills you don’t have in your rush to impress. If you lie today, the university will find out later on.

Your goal is not only to make a good first impression, but to make a lasting impression.

14) Give Yourself Time

You shouldn’t cram your way through writing your personal statement. Treat it as a work of art – intentional and soulful. 

Your personal statement reflects who you are and why you deserve to be admitted into the university. It may take you a month or two to write your personal statement, and that’s perfectly fine! Remember, you will need to distance yourself from it for a few days to get a fresh perspective.

So start early and take your time!

15) End Your Personal Statement With A Summary

Writing the conclusion for your personal statement isn’t too difficult. You need to hit these three points:

1. Summarise what you’ve mentioned in the main body of content
2. Reiterate your ‘why’ and motivation for your degree choice
3. Thank the reader for their time and

Why Do You Need A Personal Statement?

A UCAS personal statement allows you to showcase your qualifications, skills, and experiences, and explain why you fit well for your chosen university degree.

After submitting your personal statement to the UCAS portal, universities will be able to read it and understand why you stand out compared to other applicants. Everything from your writing skills to your qualifications and motivations for your degree is all under the magnifying glass.

How To Structure A Personal Statement?

We recommend using this structure for your personal statement, as it’s flexible enough for you to include everything you need to:

• Introduction: Use this to hook the reader by providing information about yourself. For instance, use a relevant personal story or interesting hobby that relates to your degree choice.
• Body: Here is where you explain your interests in the degree, be specific and give examples, and why this course may help improve your career prospects. Try to include relevant skills or experiences, from coursework to internships.
• Conclusion: Summarise everything in your body and state why you are a strong candidate, try to show your appreciation and gratitude.

The key pattern you’ll see throughout is trying to relate all experiences back to the degree itself. Remember this when proofreading as it helps strip a lot of ‘fluff’

How About the New UCAS Structure?

Starting from the 2026 entry cycle, UCAS is updating the personal statement format to provide a more structured approach. Instead of a single free-form essay, applicants will respond to three specific questions:

1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Each response should be concise yet comprehensive, with a minimum of 350 characters per section, and the total combined character limit remains 4,000 characters, including spaces.

Source: UCAS

Tips for Crafting Your Responses:

• Question 1: Clearly articulate your motivation for choosing the course. Reflect on personal experiences, interests, or aspirations that have influenced your decision.
• Question 2: Highlight specific qualifications, subjects, or academic achievements that have prepared you for the course. Discuss relevant skills or knowledge gained through your studies.
• Question 3: Discuss extracurricular activities, work experience, volunteering, or personal projects that have equipped you with skills or insights pertinent to the course. Explain how these experiences have enhanced your understanding or passion for the subject.

This new format aims to provide clearer guidance, making it easier for all applicants to present their unique strengths and aspirations effectively.

Each answer in the new format may be more concise, but you can still structure your response effectively. Start with an engaging point to capture attention, develop your ideas with relevant examples, and conclude by reinforcing your key message clearly. This approach ensures clarity and keeps your response focused on demonstrating your suitability for the course.

How Long Should A Personal Statement Be?

A personal statement can be a maximum of 4,000 characters or 47 lines of text. For the new UCAS personal statement, these 4,000 characters are spread across 3 different questions.

Do You Need A Personal Statement If You Take A Gap Year?

Yes, you need a personal statement if you take a gap year. You should include information about your gap year in your personal statement, as it demonstrates how you have used your time productively and highlights any relevant skills or experiences that you have gained.

It also shows that you have been proactive and taken the initiative to gain experiences and skills that will be beneficial for your university studies.

Do You Have To Write Another Personal Statement For Clearing?

No, you do not need to write another personal statement if you’ve entered UCAS clearing. The original upload will be used so just make sure to stay responsive to any calls or emails.

How Long Does It Take To Write A Personal Statement?

We recommend a minimum of 4-6 weeks to write your personal statement. This is because you still have to juggle schoolwork and extracurricular activities at the same time.

Can You Write It In One Day?

No, you cannot write a personal statement in one day, especially if this includes proofreading and editing. As we mentioned, you should spend a minimum of 4-6 weeks and ideally longer to craft a memorable statement.

Can You Use Slang Words In A Personal Statement?

No, you should not use slang words in your personal statement. If there is a quote you are using and the quote contains slang, then yes you can – but only in those circumstances.

What Tense Should You Use In A Personal Statement?

You can use any tense, however, we recommend using the present tense as it helps the reader feel like they were there with you when you write about your experiences and your enthusiasm for the degree.

Conclusion

Your personal statement is an opportunity for you to express your passion and individuality. 

We hope that this article has helped you feel confident in writing a personal statement that you feel will grip admissions officers all the way through.