Formatting is the most boring part of your EE and also one of the easiest ways to pick up marks. Examiners read hundreds of essays. A properly formatted essay signals "this student is serious" before they've read a single word. It's free marks. Don't leave them on the table.
The Non-Negotiable Formatting Rules
Font: Times New Roman 12pt
No exceptions. Don't get creative. Times New Roman is the universal academic standard. Cambria, Calibri, Arial — leave them alone.
Spacing: Double-Spaced Throughout
Introduction, body, conclusion — everything double-spaced. The only exceptions are block quotes (single-spaced) and bibliography entries (single-spaced within each entry, double space between).
Margins: 2.54cm (1 inch) All Sides
This is the default in most word processors. Check it before you submit.
Page Numbers: Top Right
Starting from your first page of content (not the title page). In MLA style, your last name appears before the number: "Surname 1, Surname 2."
Alignment: Left-Aligned
Not justified. Justified text creates uneven word spacing that looks messy. Left-aligned is cleaner and is the academic standard.
Paragraph Indentation: 1.27cm
First line of every new paragraph indented using Tab — not the spacebar. Small detail. Examiners notice.
Title Page
Keep it clean and professional. Think academic journal, not school poster.
| Must Include | Must NOT Include |
|---|---|
| Title of your EE | Your name (anonymous marking) |
| Your research question | Your school name |
| The subject you're writing in | Borders, colours, or images |
| Word count | Decorative elements |
| Session (e.g., May 2026) | Your candidate number (goes elsewhere) |
Bold, Italics, Underline — The Rules
Bold
Use for key terms when you first introduce and define them. For example, the first time you mention "Porter's Five Forces" in your analysis, bold it. After that, leave it normal. If everything is bold, nothing is bold.
Italics
Use for: titles of books, journals, and major works (e.g., The People's Choice). Foreign words or phrases. Technical terms on first introduction.
Underline
Don't underline anything. Underlining is outdated in academic writing. If you need emphasis, use bold or italics.
Tip
The golden rule: less is more. A clean, minimally formatted essay looks more professional than one drowning in bold and italics. When in doubt, leave it plain.
Headings and Subheadings
Your headings create a visual hierarchy. Use it consistently:
- 1Section headings (H1): Bold, 14pt, space above and below. These are your main sections — Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, etc.
- 2Subheadings (H2): Bold, 12pt (same as body text). Break sections into logical parts.
- 3Sub-subheadings (H3): Bold and italic, 12pt. Use these sparingly — going three levels deep should be rare.
Figures, Tables, and Charts
- 1Label everything: Fig 1, Fig 2 for figures. Table 1, Table 2 for tables.
- 2Reference them in your text before they appear: "As shown in Figure 3..."
- 3Keep them relevant: every visual must support a specific analytical point.
- 4Source your visuals: "Figure 3: Author's calculations based on Inditex 2023 Annual Report."
The 15-Minute Pre-Submission Checklist
Key Takeaways
- Times New Roman, 12pt throughout
- Double-spaced throughout
- 1-inch margins all sides
- Page numbers top right (starting from first content page)
- Title page: title, RQ, subject, word count, session — NO personal info
- Table of contents with correct page numbers
- Headings consistent in style and hierarchy
- All figures and tables labelled and referenced in text
- Citations consistent (all MLA or all footnotes — never mixed)
- Bibliography alphabetical with hanging indents
- Word count under 4,000 (introduction + body + conclusion only)
Note
Your content could be excellent but poor formatting tells the examiner you rushed. One 15-minute formatting check before submission is the easiest marks you'll ever protect. Don't skip it.