Free tool
College essay grader.
Paste your essay. Get a score out of 100, which Common App prompt it answers, and the three fixes that matter most.
How the score works.
Five parts, 20 points each. Your score is the five added up, so you can see exactly where the points went.
- Story and focusOne clear story or idea that the whole essay builds on, and that answers the prompt.
- Specific detailsReal moments, names, places and words that only this writer could put down.
- Sounds like youReads like a real 17-year-old talking, not a template, a thesaurus or a chatbot.
- ReflectionShows how the writer thinks and what changed, instead of only what happened.
- Writing and flowClear sentences, a strong opening, smooth paragraphs, no errors that distract.
Most first drafts land between 55 and 70. A score over 90 is rare. The grader points to sentences and asks the questions a good editor would. It never rewrites your essay, because the words have to stay yours.
The Common App prompts.
The same seven prompts are back for 2026–2027. Pick one and write between 250 and 650 words.
- Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
- The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
- Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
- Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Source: commonapp.org
Questions.
Is it really free?
Yes. You get three grades a day with no account and no card.
Do you save my essay?
No. Your essay goes to our AI provider to be graded and isn’t kept by us. We keep only the score and the word count, with no name attached.
Will it write or rewrite my essay?
No. It shows you which sentences to work on and asks the questions a good editor would. The words stay yours, which is what colleges and the Common App require.
Does a high score mean I’ll get in?
No. The score measures the writing. Colleges decide on your whole application: grades, courses, activities, recommendations and essays.
Does it work for supplemental essays?
Yes. Pick “Supplemental essay” and paste that college’s prompt, and the grader judges the essay against that question.
How is this different from a mentor?
A mentor reads every draft with you, knows your whole application and checks in every week until it’s done. That’s what Clarity Prep members get.