Understanding your similarity score is as important as knowing it. This guide explains what plagiarism percentages mean, what thresholds apply to your document type, and how to reduce your score before submission.
These are general guidelines observed across European and North American universities. Always confirm your institution's specific policy with your supervisor.
| Document Type | Acceptable (%) | Borderline (%) | Problematic (%) | Review Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Essay | Under 10% | 10–20% | Over 20% | Over 15% |
| Seminar Paper | Under 10% | 10–15% | Over 15% | Over 12% |
| Bachelor's Thesis | Under 5–10% | 10–15% | Over 15% | Over 10% |
| Master's Thesis | Under 5% | 5–10% | Over 10% | Over 7% |
| PhD Dissertation | Under 3–5% | 5–8% | Over 8% | Over 5% |
| Journal Article | Under 5% | 5–10% | Over 10% | Over 7% |
Important: these are general benchmarks, not universal rules. Some departments accept slightly higher rates in certain disciplines (e.g. law, where quotation of statutes is standard). Your supervisor's guidance is always the authoritative source.
The similarity score is a measurement tool — not a verdict. Here's how to read it correctly.
It Measures Matching Text
The percentage shows how much of your text matches existing content in the database. This includes everything: direct quotes, cited paraphrases, and standard phrases — not just uncited material.
Not All Matches Are Problems
A properly formatted and cited quotation is not plagiarism, even if it increases your similarity score. Standard methodology phrases and field-specific terminology will also appear as matches — this is normal and expected.
What to Focus On
The relevant question is: what proportion of your similarity score represents uncited matches? Review each flagged passage. If it has a citation, it's typically fine. If it doesn't, it needs one — or needs to be rewritten.
The same similarity percentage means very different things depending on your document type and the composition of the matches.
8% comes from properly cited primary source quotations. 2% comes from standard historiographical phrases. 2% is an uncited paraphrase of a secondary source. Effective uncited similarity: 2% — well within range with minor corrections needed.
4% comes from methodology descriptions standard in the field. 8% is closely paraphrased from other papers with no citations. Effective uncited similarity: 8% — above most master's thresholds and requiring significant revision.
The percentage is a starting point. The report's source breakdown tells you where it comes from and whether it's a problem.
Get Your Score NowIf your test results come back higher than your institution's threshold, here's a structured approach to bringing it down.
Review Each Flagged Passage
Open your report and go through each match systematically. For each flagged passage, ask: Is there a citation? Is it formatted correctly? Is it needed at all? Classify each match as (a) properly cited and fine, (b) needs a citation added, or (c) needs rewriting.
Add Missing Citations
For every passage classified as "needs a citation," add the appropriate reference in your citation style. A properly cited passage is no longer an academic integrity issue, even if it remains in the similarity count.
Rewrite, Paraphrase, or Remove
Passages that are too close to the source — even if they could be cited — benefit from genuine paraphrase. Restate the idea in your own words, then cite the source. Remove redundant material that adds little to your argument and artificially inflates your word count.
Reduce Unnecessary Quotations
Academic writing prefers paraphrase over direct quotation. If you're quoting extensively where paraphrase would suffice, replace quotations with your own summary followed by a citation. This reduces similarity without reducing academic integrity.
Avoid Self-Plagiarism
Reusing your own previous papers, essays, or assignments without disclosure is flagged the same as any other match. If you need to build on earlier work, cite it explicitly or obtain permission from your institution.
Re-Test After Revisions
After making corrections, run a second check to confirm your score has dropped within the acceptable range. At $0.29/page, running multiple tests is affordable even on a student budget.
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Review Your Percentage Report
Your PDF report shows the overall similarity percentage, which chapters contribute most to the score, every individual match with its source link, and a full source breakdown ranked by impact.
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Most universities consider under 10% acceptable for essays, under 5–10% for bachelor's theses, under 5% for master's theses, and under 3–5% for doctoral dissertations. However, thresholds vary significantly by institution and discipline. Always check your specific institution's policy with your supervisor.
This depends on the software settings. Some institutional systems allow examiners to exclude properly formatted quotations from the similarity score. When you run your own check, the report shows all matches — you can then assess which ones are properly cited and consider them when evaluating your effective similarity rate.
For most academic documents, 20% is above the widely accepted threshold and would likely trigger a review by an examiner. However, if a significant portion of that 20% consists of properly formatted and cited quotations, the effective non-cited similarity may be well within accepted limits. Review the specific matches in your report to understand the composition of the score.
To reduce your similarity percentage: add missing citations to flagged passages, rewrite closely paraphrased sections in your own words, replace unnecessary direct quotations with properly cited paraphrases, ensure any reuse of your own previous work is disclosed, and remove standard phrases that aren't needed. After revisions, run a second check to verify your score has improved.
For a bachelor's thesis, most institutions accept up to 5–10% similarity. For a master's thesis, the acceptable range is typically under 5%. For a PhD dissertation, most examiners expect under 3–5%. These figures may vary — always confirm with your supervisor or institutional guidelines. If in doubt, aim lower rather than higher.
Thesis Plagiarism Check
Detailed guidance on acceptable similarity rates for bachelor's and master's theses, plus cost estimates.
Dissertation Check
What percentage is acceptable for PhD and doctoral dissertations, and how to keep your score low.
Anti-Plagiarism Strategy
A proactive checklist for preventing plagiarism issues before you run your final check.
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