How many words are in an essay? You can answer this question now.


The length of the high school essay may contrast depending on the school and the complexity of the task itself. Usually, however, a paper is between 300 to 1000 words long.


The length of the undergraduate college essay often falls within the range of 1500 to 2100 words. It translates into roughly 5-7 pages. 5 pages is the most prevalent volume at this level.

The word limit for a middle school essay ranges between 300 to 1000 words. The most spread length is 500 words, which is about 5 paragraphs. However, it may differ from institution to institution.

Counting words manually can be tedious and time-consuming.

When it comes to the graduate school admission essay, the word limit is regularly between 500 and 1000 words. It’s possible to go slightly over or below the set limit; however, it’s best to stick to the requirements as close as possible.

The shortest limit for a college essay is about 250 words which is the shortest length of a Common App personal statement. It’s also rare to see a good college essay with over 650 words. So, an average piece usually has between 150 and 650 words; you can go over or below the limit by 50.

Writing with an active voice not only helps reduce your word count but can also help you communicate your argument in a more effective and clear way than using a passive voice.

The word count may make up a significant part of your paper’s grade, but your final mark will likely rest on how well you write and the clarity of your argument.


Average Essay Word Count and Page Count Directions

For that reason, you don’t want to use more words merely to reach your word count even though using more words is an easy way to reach the word count.

If Nothing Else, Have the Right Word / Character Count

That last sentence is a perfect example of what not to do. Here are some ways to extend your word count without resorting to adding unnecessary words.

To check word count on Google Docs:Â

Every college paper has a prescribed, approximate word count to follow. When asking, “How long is an essay?” remember the answer will depend on several factors:

To find out the word count for Pages on a Mac, follow these steps:

A short essay is usually 500 words long. Using 12pt Times New Roman font with standard margins and double spacing should result in about 2 pages of text.

You can also see word count in Microsoft Word using the Review Tab.Â

Oh wow! That’s a tough question. It depends on a whole lot of things. At the same time, you shouldn’t be intimidated. . A dissertation would usually be in the region of 12,000 words, and university assignments can stretch to essays of 5,000 words. No matter what your assigned may be, some of the things that will influence the time it takes to write the essay include:

Every word is counted regardless of how small it is.

An extended essay is different from a short or a standard one. It requires extensive research and thorough explanation. That’s why the upper limit for this kind of essay is 4000 words. In this case, a typical essay length is 3500 words or 18 paragraphs.

In task 1, are the words ‘dear sir/ madam, ‘counted?

Check to see if you’ve explored all angles of your , which will not only increase your word count but will likely strengthen your argument as well. For example, if you wrote a paper on why people should exercise but only discussed physical health reasons, you could also discuss its psychological and economic impacts.