The Essential Guide to UCAS Personal Statements

The definitive guide to creating an exceptional personal statement that helps students to stand out from the crowd and secure their top university place.

The definitive guide to creating a standout UCAS personal statement. Drawing on years of experience of helping students hone their applications, this practical and evidence-based guide demonstrates how to create an exceptional personal statement that grabs the attention of admissions tutors.

Writing a UCAS personal statement can feel overwhelming.

How do you explain who you are, what you care about, and where you're going with just 4,000 characters?

The Essential Guide to UCAS Personal Statement is here to help make every word count. Whether you're a student navigating the process or a teacher or parent offering support, this book breaks down what really matters when it comes to writing a statement that stands out.

Inside, you'll find:

• Tips for choosing the right course (even if you're unsure)
• How to tell your story in a way that feels honest and engaging
• Ideas for showing your subject passion beyond the classroom
• How to build your super-curricular profile and write reflectively about it
• The importance of work experience and how it is achievable
• Application strategies to increase your chances of a successful outcome
• Smart, ethical ways to use AI in the writing process
• Example statements based on the latest guidance, with clear explanations
• A foreword written by Julian Davies, Principal at Cardiff Sixth Form College Cambridge

With insights from admissions tutors and the real questions students ask, this book is packed with practical tools, reflective prompts, and confidence-boosting advice.

Whether you're writing one yourself or supporting someone who is, this book will give you the clarity, confidence, and tools, to get it done - and get it right.