By AssignmentHelpKit Editorial Team, reviewed by subject experts · · 4 min read
The conclusion is the last thing your marker reads before deciding your grade. A weak one makes a good assignment feel unfinished. A strong one pulls everything together in about 10% of your word count.
The four-step conclusion
- Restate your argument in fresh words. Don't copy your thesis.
- Connect your main points, showing how they add up rather than listing them again.
- Answer the question directly in one clear sentence.
- Show why it matters: an implication, a recommendation or a limitation.
Example
Question: Evaluate whether remote work improves productivity.
Remote work clearly improves productivity for focused, individual tasks, but the evidence is weaker for collaborative work. The studies reviewed show that time saved on commuting and fewer interruptions increase output, while innovation and mentoring depend on in-person contact. Overall, remote work improves productivity only when it is combined with regular office days. Organisations should therefore design hybrid policies around the type of work, not a fixed number of days.
What not to do
- Don't add new evidence. If it's important, it belongs in the body.
- Don't start with "In conclusion, this essay has discussed...". It wastes words and sounds mechanical.
- Don't apologise or hedge. "This is just my opinion" weakens your argument.
- Don't introduce a new topic in the last line.
Conclusions in reports
Reports often have separate Conclusions and Recommendations sections. The conclusion sums up your findings; the recommendations say what should happen next, by whom and when. Not sure which format you're writing? See essay vs report.
How long should it be?
About 10% of the word count: roughly 150 words for a 1,500-word essay and 300 for a 3,000-word one. Check your total with the free word counter.
For the other end of your assignment, read how to write an introduction. For the full structure, see how to structure an assignment.