Last updated: May 2026. This guide is based on Princeton University’s current official Graded Written Paper requirements and should be verified against Princeton’s admissions site before submission.

The Princeton Graded Written Paper is one of the most misunderstood parts of the Princeton application. Unlike the personal statement or supplemental essays, this requirement is not asking for a newly polished admissions essay. Princeton wants to see a real academic paper you wrote for school, with the original grade and teacher feedback when available.

That makes the Princeton Graded Written Paper especially important. It gives admissions readers a direct look at how you build an argument, use evidence, organize ideas, and express yourself in an academic setting.

Princeton states that the paper should come from an academic course in English, social studies, or history, from the last three years of secondary school, including senior year. Princeton also says it is most interested in expository, thesis-driven analytical writing rather than creative writing, personal narratives, science research, or papers focused mostly on data analysis.

What Is the Princeton Graded Written Paper?

The Princeton Graded Written Paper is a real paper you wrote for a high school academic course. It should include the grade your teacher assigned and, when available, the teacher’s comments, rubric, or margin feedback.

This is not a new essay written specifically for Princeton. It is not a Common App essay. It is not a personal narrative. It is not a creative writing sample. It should be an academic paper that shows how you think and write in a classroom environment.

Princeton describes the Graded Written Paper as a required application component, preferably from English or history.

The purpose is simple: Princeton wants to evaluate your academic writing in context. A strong paper shows that you can sustain a thesis, interpret evidence, write clearly, and handle rigorous analytical work.

Why the Princeton Graded Written Paper Matters

The Princeton Graded Written Paper matters because it shows a different side of your application than your essays.

Your supplemental essays show voice, fit, values, and reflection. Your graded paper shows academic execution.

Admissions readers can use it to evaluate:

• your ability to write a thesis-driven argument,
• your command of evidence,
• your organization and structure,
• your academic maturity,
• your classroom performance,
• and how your teacher responded to your work.

This is why a perfect grade is not the only goal. A paper with an A- and thoughtful teacher comments can be stronger than a shallow paper with an A+ if the first paper shows deeper reasoning.

Princeton’s official guidance says the university is more interested in expository, thesis-driven analytical writing than in creative writing, personal narratives, science research, or data-focused papers.

Official Princeton Graded Written Paper Requirements

To choose the right Princeton Graded Written Paper, start with the official requirements.

According to Princeton, the paper should be from an academic course in English, social studies, or history, and it should come from the last three years of secondary school, including senior year. Princeton accepts a paper, essay, research paper, or in-class essay exam.

The strongest options usually come from:

1. English Literature,
2. English Language,
3. U.S. History,
4. World History,
5. European History,
6. Government,
7. Political Science,
8. Social Studies,
9. Philosophy,
10. Sociology,
11. Economics,
12. or another humanities/social science course with thesis-driven writing.

The paper should be written in English. Princeton’s international student guidance says the graded written paper and teacher comments should not be translated from another language into English; they should have been written in English.

What Type of Paper Should You Submit?

The best Princeton Graded Written Paper is usually a thesis-driven analytical essay.

Strong options include:

• literary analysis essays,
• historical analysis papers,
• source-based history essays,
• argumentative English papers,
• research papers from humanities or social science courses,
• or in-class essay exams with a clear analytical argument.

Weak options include:

• creative writing,
• short stories,
• poems,
• personal narratives,
• Common App-style essays,
• science lab reports,
• data-heavy research papers,
• or papers with mostly summary and very little analysis.

A good rule: if the paper has a clear thesis, uses evidence, and explains why that evidence matters, it is probably a better fit.

If the paper mainly tells a story, describes an experience, reports data, or summarizes facts without analysis, it is probably weaker.

Does the Paper Need to Be Perfect?

No. The Princeton Graded Written Paper does not need to be perfect.

A common mistake is assuming you should only submit a paper with a perfect grade. That is not necessarily true. Princeton wants to see writing quality, academic reasoning, and teacher evaluation context.

A paper with teacher comments can be especially useful because it shows how your work was evaluated in school. If the comments praise your thesis, evidence, organization, or analysis, that strengthens the submission.

If the comments point out small areas for improvement, that is not automatically bad. A paper can still be strong if the criticism is minor and the overall writing shows analytical maturity.

The risky scenario is different: if your teacher comments say the paper lacks a thesis, relies mostly on summary, has weak evidence, or does not meet the assignment, then you should consider choosing another paper.

How Long Should the Princeton Graded Written Paper Be?

Princeton states that papers should be at least one page in length.

In practice, a strong Princeton Graded Written Paper is usually long enough to show a full argument. One page can meet the minimum, but a very short paper may not give admissions readers enough evidence of your analytical writing.

A solid target is often around 2–5 pages, depending on the assignment. The key is not length alone. The key is whether the paper shows a developed thesis, evidence, analysis, and structure.

A short but sharp paper is better than a long paper full of summary. But if your only available paper is very brief, compare it with another assignment that may show more depth.

What If the Grade or Comments Are on a Separate Page?

If your teacher’s grade, comments, or rubric are on a separate page, Princeton says you should attach that information to your submission. If no grade is written on the paper, Princeton encourages students to ask the teacher to attach or attest to the original grade.

That means your final PDF should ideally include:

• the assignment prompt,
• the paper itself,
• the original grade,
• teacher comments,
• and any rubric if available.

Do not upload scattered pieces separately if you can avoid it. Combine everything into one clear, readable PDF.

What If You Do Not Have Teacher Comments?

Teacher comments are helpful, but not every school provides them. Princeton says that if a grading rubric explains how the written work was evaluated, applicants should include it with the submission.

If you do not have comments, you can still submit the paper, but the application may have less context.

In that case, prioritize a paper that is clearly strong on its own:

• clear thesis,
• strong organization,
• specific evidence,
• real analysis,
• and precise academic writing.

A paper with no comments but excellent argumentation can still be useful. A paper with no comments and weak analysis is much riskier.

International Applicants and the Princeton Graded Written Paper

International applicants should be especially careful with the language requirement.

Princeton’s international student guidance says the graded written paper must be submitted in English and should not be translated from another language into English. Teacher comments and rubrics should also be in English.

This matters because Princeton courses are taught in English, except for foreign language courses, and the paper helps Princeton evaluate your academic writing in English. Princeton’s FAQ also explains that if an applicant cannot provide a graded written paper, the application will still be reviewed, but Princeton will have less information to review the file.

If your school does not normally assign papers in English, look for work from an advanced English course, literature course, history course taught in English, or another qualifying academic writing assignment.

Transfer Applicants

Transfer applicants also need to pay attention to the Princeton Graded Written Paper requirement.

Princeton says that for transfer applicants, a graded paper may come from a course taken within the last two to three years of schooling. Princeton prefers English or history, but for transfer applicants it will also consider papers from humanities and social sciences courses if they meet the other requirements.

That gives transfer students slightly more flexibility, but the same core rule applies: choose expository, thesis-driven analytical writing.

Home-Schooled and Nontraditional Applicants

Home-schooled applicants can also submit a graded written paper. Princeton says the paper can be graded and commented upon by whoever the teacher is in the course, including a parent.

For nontraditional students, Princeton encourages reaching out to teachers or school counselors to obtain a graded written paper from the last three years of secondary school. If the applicant is unable to provide one, Princeton will still review the application, but with less information.

The key is to provide the strongest available evidence of academic writing.

Princeton Graded Written Paper AI Grader

Audit your academic paper against Princeton’s Graded Written Paper requirement, including subject fit, thesis quality, evidence, structure, teacher feedback context, and requirement risks.

Specialized audit: This tool reviews a full academic paper and uses Specialized Credits, not Universal Essay Credits. It is separate from the Princeton Supplemental Essay Grader.

Course Subject / Name

Writing Type

Grading System

Teacher Grade Received

Was it written originally in English? Yes, originally written in English No / translated from another language

Assignment Prompt
Paste the teacher’s original assignment prompt or instructions. Princeton asks applicants to include the prompt when available.

Graded Written Paper Text
Paste the full academic paper. Best fits are thesis-driven expository papers from English, history, social studies, or humanities courses.

Words: 0 / 150+ minimum

Teacher Grade Comments
Paste teacher comments, rubric notes, margin feedback, or write “No comments available” if none were given.

Audit Princeton Graded Written Paper

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This advanced audit uses Specialized Credits because it reviews a full academic paper, assignment prompt, grading context, teacher comments, and Princeton requirement compliance.

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Instant activation after payment. 1 Specialized Credit = 1 deep Princeton Graded Written Paper audit.

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0 /100

Princeton Graded Paper Fit Score

Common Princeton Graded Written Paper Mistakes

1. Submitting Creative Writing

Creative writing can be impressive, but it is not the right fit for this requirement.

A short story, poem, screenplay, monologue, or creative nonfiction piece may show strong voice, but the Princeton Graded Written Paper is supposed to show expository, thesis-driven analytical writing.

2. Submitting a Personal Narrative

A personal narrative may look polished, but it usually overlaps too much with admissions essay writing. Princeton is not asking for another personal statement here.

Choose academic argumentation instead.

3. Choosing a Science or Data-Heavy Paper

A science research paper may be rigorous, but Princeton specifically says it is more interested in expository, thesis-driven analytical writing than science research or papers mostly focused on data analysis.

If you are a STEM applicant, you do not need to prove your STEM interest through this paper. Use the graded paper to prove academic writing ability.

4. Choosing the Highest Grade Instead of the Strongest Writing

An A+ paper with shallow analysis may be weaker than an A- paper with a strong thesis and teacher comments.

Choose the paper that best shows how you think.

5. Ignoring the Assignment Prompt

The assignment prompt gives admissions readers context. It helps them understand what the teacher asked you to do and whether your paper met that task.

A strong paper without the prompt may still work, but including the prompt makes the submission clearer.

6. Uploading an Illegible Scan

Your PDF should be clean, readable, and complete. If the grade or comments are handwritten, make sure they are legible.

Admissions readers should not have to struggle to see the grade, rubric, or teacher feedback.

Use the Princeton Graded Written Paper Grader

Before submitting, use the Princeton Graded Written Paper Grader to audit whether your selected paper is actually a strong fit.

The grader checks:

• eligibility fit,
• academic subject fit,
• thesis and argument strength,
• evidence and analysis,
• structure and coherence,
• teacher feedback context,
• expression and style,
• creative writing violations,
• personal narrative risk,
• science or data paper risk,
• missing teacher comments,
• missing assignment prompt,
• weak thesis risk,
• translation risk,
• and length risk.

This is especially useful because a paper can be well written and still be wrong for Princeton. For example, a beautiful short story may receive a high grade in Creative Writing but still be a poor Princeton Graded Written Paper because it does not meet the expository analytical requirement.

How to Choose Between Two Possible Papers

If you have multiple options, compare them using this hierarchy:

1. First, eliminate any paper that is creative writing, personal narrative, translated work, or science/data-heavy.
2. Second, prioritize papers from English, history, or social studies.
3. Third, choose the paper with the strongest thesis.
4. Fourth, choose the paper with the strongest evidence and analysis.
5. Fifth, consider the teacher comments.
6. Finally, consider the grade.

The grade matters, but it should not be your only deciding factor.

A strong Princeton Graded Written Paper usually has both academic fit and analytical substance.

Example: Strong Princeton Graded Written Paper Choice

A strong choice might be:

Course: AP English Literature
Type: Literary analysis essay
Grade: A- / 92
Prompt: Analyze how the author uses symbolism and structure to develop a theme.
Teacher comments: Strong thesis, good evidence, minor suggestion to strengthen conclusion.

This is a good candidate because it is academic, analytical, teacher-graded, written in English, and clearly aligned with Princeton’s stated preferences.

Example: Risky Princeton Graded Written Paper Choice

A risky choice might be:

Course: Creative Writing
Type: Short story
Grade: A / 95
Prompt: Write an original story about personal transformation.
Teacher comments: Beautiful imagery and strong narrative voice.

Even with an excellent grade, this is risky because it is creative writing rather than expository analytical writing.

Example: Usable but Weak Princeton Graded Written Paper Choice

A middle option might be:

Course: U.S. History
Type: Expository history essay
Grade: B / 84
Prompt: Explain one major cause of the Civil War.
Teacher comments: Good organization, but broad thesis and too much summary.

This paper fits the basic requirement, but it may not be the strongest possible submission because it does not show sophisticated analysis.

How to Format Your Princeton Graded Written Paper PDF

Before uploading, make sure your PDF includes:

• the assignment prompt,
• the full paper,
• the original grade,
• teacher comments or rubric if available,
• your name if required by the portal,
• and clean, readable scans.

If comments or grades appear on a separate sheet, attach them to the paper. Princeton’s guidance says separate comments or grades should be attached to the submission.

Your PDF should look organized and professional. Do not submit blurry photos, cropped pages, missing rubrics, or incomplete teacher feedback.

Princeton Graded Written Paper Final Checklist

Before submitting your Princeton Graded Written Paper, ask yourself:

1. Is it from English, history, social studies, or another strong academic writing course?
2. Was it written within the last three years of secondary school?
3. Was it originally written in English?
4. Is it expository, analytical, and thesis-driven?
5. Does it avoid creative writing and personal narrative?
6. Does it avoid being mostly science research or data analysis?
7. Does it include the original grade?
8. Does it include teacher comments or a rubric if available?
9. Does it include the assignment prompt?
10. Is the scan or PDF fully readable?
11. Does the paper show real evidence and analysis?
12. Would this paper strengthen my academic profile?

Final Strategy: Choose the Paper That Shows Academic Judgment

The Princeton Graded Written Paper is not just a bureaucratic requirement. It is a chance to show that you can handle serious academic writing.

Do not choose the paper that only sounds impressive. Choose the paper that proves you can think.

A strong submission shows a clear thesis, careful evidence, mature expression, and meaningful teacher evaluation context. A weak submission may have a high grade but still fail the requirement because it is creative, personal, too short, too technical, or too shallow.

Before uploading your final document, run it through the Princeton Graded Written Paper Grader and compare your options carefully.