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WorksheetsWriting a Personal Statement
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 6mins
What is the purpose of a personal statement?
To show universities why you are an ideal candidate for their course
To explain why you'd like to study a particular course or subject
To outline the specific skills and experience you have which make you suitable for the course
All of the above
When preparing your personal statement, some great resources to use include...
Examples of personal statements from successful applicants in your subject area
YouTube videos from students around the world
The UCAS website, teachers, friends and family who know you well
Copies of your friends' applications
When planning your statement it can be helpful to...
Create a linear plan with subheadings, sentence starters etc. to organise its structure
Spend lots of time thinking about a witty and unique opening sentence
Write a text including everything you think is important that you can edit later
Create a mind map with sections such as your interest in the course, relevant experience that shows your skills etc.
A personal statement should include...
Why you’re applying: your ambitions, what interests you about the subject, the course provider, and higher education
Any clubs, volunteering or award programmes you have participated in
Relevant work experience, skills, or achievements you’ve gained from education, work, or other activities
All of the above
To get started on your personal statement, it's a good idea to...
Write a paragraph about what makes you unique
Make a list of all of your GCSE qualifications
Look at course descriptions and identify the qualities, skills, and experience they require
Get a copy of a friend's/sibling's personal statement that you can use
When writing a personal statement, the most appropriate style is...
Highly academic, with lots of advanced, subject-specific vocabulary
Very informal and chatty, so that the admissions get a sense of who you are
Creative and imaginative, so that you can tell your personal story
Enthusiastic, concise and natural
If your personal circumstances have affected your educational performance at college or qualification choices, should you mention this?
Yes
No
Some common mistakes when writing a personal statement include...
Exaggerating or inventing experiences, awards or personal skills
All of the above
Relying on spellcheck tools to identify spelling and grammar errors
Not getting feedback from teachers, tutors of other experts
What is the maximum length of a personal statement?
Up to 1,000 words
4,000 characters and 47 lines
2,500 characters and 30 lines
Anything under 2,000 words
When do you need to get started on your personal statement?
I think I can do it in a week
A month before the deadline
A couple of weeks before the deadline
As soon as possible, to ensure time to redraft and review
