10 Essay Hacks Every Student Should Know

Essay writing: the bane of every student’s existence. While you should be out enjoying life as a student, reality hits when you realise you actually have to complete your essays, assignments and dissertation to earn your degree. Whether you’re dealing with a 500-word reflection or a 3,000-word research beast, staring at a blank Word doc thinking about where to start is enough to make anyone panic.

But what if we told you it doesn’t have to feel like climbing up a mountain in flip-flops? With a few smart strategies up your sleeve, writing essays can go from “impossible” to “completely doable.”

We’ve pulled together our top essay hacks for students to guide you through the panic of essays. The kind of time-saving, stress-busting, grade-boosting tricks every student should know. And one piece of advice to start with: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. So don’t try and do it all three hours before it’s due! Now, let’s get into the good stuff.

Hack 1: Start with a Skeleton

Before you write a single sentence, build a rough outline. This “skeleton” gives your essay structure from the start, which you can later flesh out. This helps you:

• Beat the blank page
• Stay focused
• Avoid going off track

Here’s an example of how you can break it down, but, of course, tailor it to the type of essay that you’re writing:

• Intro: What’s the topic? What will you argue? What do you hypothesise? 
• Body Paragraphs: Outline the topic of each paragraph with a single word or subline to summarise. 
• Conclusion: Compile and restate your main message.

This structure is gold when figuring out how to write a university essay, and it can save hours of editing later down the line. 

Hack 2: Use the Pomodoro Technique 

If you’ve ever lost 45 minutes to TikTok while “thinking about your essay,” this one’s for you. The Pomodoro Technique is all about focused bursts:

1. Work for 25 minutes
2. Take a 5-minute break
3. Repeat x4, then take a longer 15–20-minute break

This method boosts essay writing productivity without frying your brain. Use free apps like Focus Keeper or Forest to keep track.

Hack 3: Curate Your Sources Early

Before you start writing, create a mini library of quotes, references, and articles (your future self will thank you). This will inspire your thoughts early on, so you have a good idea of how to flesh out your skeleton before you begin formally writing your essay. Try using Google Scholar, your university library database, or bookmarking tools, such as Pocket and Notion, to collate this research.

Hack 4: Write the Body First, Then the Intro

Next up on our list of essay writing tips is how to approach the essay itself. The introduction is often the hardest bit to write, so don’t start there! Get stuck into your body paragraphs first. Once your arguments are fleshed out, it’s way easier to go back and write a strong, relevant intro. It’s a game-changing hack for any student wondering how to write a university essay without spiralling into perfectionism, and ultimately overcomplicating one of the most crucial components of an essay.

Hack 5: Make Use of Your Environment 

Where you study makes a massive difference. Not just to your grades, but to your mental wellbeing, too. That’s why we strongly advise you not to write your essay in bed. It’s critical to separate your studies from where you sleep, or else you’ll be in constant work mode, even when you’re trying to catch some Z’s. 

Your space should work for you. Whether you’re smashing out citations or editing the final draft, a good setup boosts concentration and motivation. At aparto, you’ve got everything you need to get into the zone, including:

• Spacious desks in your room
• Quiet study areas for deep focus
• Communal spaces for when you need a study buddy or group session

For example, check out our student accommodation in Brighton and Bristol to see how our rooms and common areas are built for real student life.

Hack 6: Free Writing and Editing Tools

Grammarly and Google Docs are the dream team when it comes to essay writing, and they both offer free versions, too!

Grammarly is great for spotting grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, while Google Docs tracks changes, simplifies group work, and autosaves everything. Gone are the days of worrying whether or not you clicked the save button before shutting down your computer.

Hack 7: Talk It Out 

Explaining your essay topic out loud, whether it’s to a friend, flatmate, or even your cat, is a brilliant way to test your understanding. If you can explain it simply, you know it well, and talking it through helps spot gaps or contradictions.

Living somewhere like aparto means you’re always surrounded by people who get it. So grab a coffee and bounce ideas around in the social lounge. Study chats don’t have to be boring!

Hack 8: Create a Style Template 

Every course has its preferred referencing style: Harvard, APA, MLA... the list goes on. One of the smartest student essay tips out there is to create a reusable document that includes: 

• Your preferred font and size
• Correct spacing and margins
• A reference list in your required style

Use this as a template for future essays and never start formatting from scratch again, saving you a tonne of time and stress.

Hack 9: Schedule Your Finish One Day Early

Trust us (and every university student ever); last-minute edits at 2 am are not the vibe. Plan to finish your essay at least one day before the deadline. That way, you can:

• Proofread with fresh eyes
• Catch silly mistakes
• Avoid tech disasters on submission day

Even a quick overnight break from your essay can make a massive difference in spotting areas to improve. This is one of those essay-writing hacks that sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly powerful.

Hack 10: Reward Yourself

You made it. You wrote the essay. Now it’s time to celebrate!

Rewards are a great way to motivate yourself to complete future essays. So, whether you enjoy a night in with Netflix and a takeaway, hit the clubs guilt-free knowing you have no other responsibilities, or vibe with aparto’s social events, do what you need to do to switch off. You deserve it. 

So now you know the best study tips to complete your essay, it’s time to get your head down and focus.

Whether you're writing in your room or powering through in a quiet study space, your environment makes a big difference. At aparto, we’ve created spaces that help students focus, write, and succeed. From cosy study nooks to social zones where you can bounce ideas around, we’ve got your back for every stage of uni life, not just the fun bits.

Explore your future student accommodation at aparto today and see how we can help you smash your goals.