How to Get a HD (What Markers Really Look For)

If you’re trying to improve your marks or get your first HD, you need to know the truth: marking is not a perfect science. Two markers can read the same paper and see different things. Most markers are fair; some are… less so. There are no guarantees. But there are ways to stack the odds in your favour. We’ve listed them below.

Contribute in class (this matters more than you think)

Your marker is making a cold judgement about whether the person behind the submission is thoughtful, engaged, and capable. If you contribute in class — even occasionally — you signal that you care, that you’re thinking, and that you’re trying. So when they see your name on the assignment, they trust you a little more. Sneaky? Yes. True? Also yes.

Follow the hidden instructions (this is where HDs are won)

Most students read the assessment instructions. HD students read the genre guide and the marking criteria.

These are the real instructions.

  • The genre guide tells you exactly what your marker expects (essay, case study, reflection, report — each genre has its own conventions).

  • The marking criteria tells you exactly what earns marks. If it’s not on the rubric, it’s not getting rewarded.

This is the biggest difference between “good effort” and “HD‑level work.”

Read the actual sources — not summaries

If you want to show critical thinking, you need to read the full text of any article you cite. Summaries flatten arguments. They remove nuance. They hide contradictions. The guts of critical analysis come from noticing:

  • a contradiction

  • a missing assumption

  • a weak piece of evidence

  • a surprising implication

You will only see these if you’ve read the whole thing.

Think like a magnet (this is the HD mindset)

HD writing is not about having one good idea. It’s about connecting ideas.

Your job is to pull together:

  • lecture notes

  • tutorial discussions

  • readings

  • examples

  • theories

  • your own reasoning

Connections are the core of academic thinking. Markers reward students who can show how ideas relate, clash, support, or contradict each other. That’s what makes your writing feel original and insightful.

Want to make sure you’re on the right track?

If you want personalised feedback, help building HD‑level arguments, or support because you’re struggling with uni writing, you can book a tutor and work through your ideas with someone who knows exactly how markers think.