I Got 40 In My Dissertation! – Five Tips to Boost Your Dissertation Score

I got 40 in my dissertation. What can I do now? This is one of the common questions students usually ask when they don’t perform exceptionally in their thesis. In this situation, they may have multiple options, from resubmitting a dissertation to appealing against the decision of the academic committee. These approaches are only an option; however, they are not recommended, as the only recommended approach is to get high scores.

According to Education, getting 40 in dissertations is considered a pass in most educational institutions in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, this is not an excellent score, and students must outshine here to earn their degrees head-on. Usually, the criteria for dissertation marking will remain the same in the majority of institutions. It may also vary in several universities based on their policies.

Before you get 40 in a thesis, we are going to uncover some tried-and-tested tips to boost your dissertation score. Let’s glance at them quickly and achieve academic excellence without facing difficulties.

How to Score High on a Dissertation? 5 Actionable Strategies for Students of Any Level!

As per Grammarly, students are usually asked to write a dissertation at the end of their degrees to show their knowledge of a specific topic and contribute to the research sector. Grammarly, in the following article, also states that writing a thesis is one of the most difficult tasks students ever face in their academic journey.

Why is a dissertation so difficult to write? It involves multiple complex steps from choosing the right topic to gathering reliable data, all of which require a strategic and meticulous approach. Without proper guidance, the risk of errors increases significantly. That’s why seeking help from professional dissertation writing services becomes important.

It minimises mistakes, ensures a high-quality submission, and helps you confidently defend your thesis. When you are working on your dissertation with expert services, here are our recommended strategies that you should follow. They will help achieve higher scores without experiencing academic stress.

1. Choose a Topic Carefully

Several days ago, I visited my friend who was pursuing their master’s in psychology at the University of London. Upon arrival, I noted that they were sad. “I go 40 in my dissertation”. They told me when I asked them why they were dejected. We then sat for an hour to find the reasons behind this poor performance. Initially,  I asked the most fundamental question about the topic selection.

They said that they selected a topic hurriedly without consulting anyone. Choosing a topic carefully is the backbone of any successful dissertation. If you select a title without discussing it with anyone, the chances are high that you will get a 40 in your thesis. Poor topic selection does not allow you to work on your dissertation effectively because you face many problems during the writing process. Therefore, follow a clear strategy when selecting a title for your thesis.

Here is our recommended approach:

2. Strengthen Your Research Skills

I failed my dissertation. You will say that if your research skills are not strong. According to the University of Southampton, strong research skills allow students to collect useful information and data and use it effectively, empowering them to develop a strategy for gathering facts and reaching conclusions. The days are long gone when using outdated sources and references was not a big problem in academia.

However, instructors and the committee pay special attention to these references. You must use the latest sources to gather updated information and data. Don’t you know which platforms you can utilise to collect the latest information related to your title?

Here is a comprehensive list of all the sources:

Visiting these platforms will empower you to find the latest studies. They are also beneficial in generating short references and detailed bibliographies. Please remember that you will always cite credible sources because credibility is the backbone of academic writing. Along with that, there is another aspect you need to remember.

Let’s say two studies were conducted on the same topic. Three authors conducted one in 2015, and the other presented a study on the same topic in 2025. Which paper will you cite in your dissertation? You may be thinking, what is wrong with citing the study that was published in 2015? Academic professionals always prefer the latest information as it is considered more relevant and credible than old data.

3. Plan and Structure Effectively

Ignore comprehensive planning and logical structure, and we are sure that you will say: “I got 40 in my dissertation”. The success of your dissertation heavily depends on effective planning and flawless structure. You will not be able to structure your thesis effectively if you don’t plan every step carefully. Usually, students ignore the importance of a logical structure and get lower marks, leaving them frustrated and disappointed.

According to the University of Dundee, the quality and success of your dissertation depend on how well-structured it is. Please remember that a great and effective thesis is not about a great idea. It is all about how you structure all the elements of this idea. Don’t you know about the essential parts of a dissertation structure?

Here is a detailed breakdown of it:

Usually, this structure will remain the same for most colleges and universities. You can discuss it with the coordinator of your program or the supervisor. If your educational institution follows a different approach, it will guide you thoroughly.

Since you have known about the structure, it is also a must for you to remember that each section has a specific purpose. For example, the literature review is not just a summary of sources. This section must highlight the research gap and justify your study. Similarly, the methodology of your research should explain and defend your research design.

4. Focus on Academic Writing Style

The writing styles are entirely different for various purposes. Let’s say you are writing a fictional story. The writing tone will be interesting and engaging. Similarly, when writing coursework or a thesis, you will follow the guidelines of academic writing style. Here, you will not have the option to keep your writing tone casual.

However, adopting a specific style is not easy for students. Among these writing styles, academic writing is the most difficult one. Students can follow our time-tested approach to elevate their writing. This strategy is:

What’s the way out if you don’t know how to adapt your approach for academia? You can use tools such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor. Furthermore, you can seek help from writing guides to polish your style. These strategies are a must for you to follow. Otherwise, you will regret it and say, “I got 40 in my dissertation”.

5. Practice Critical Thinking

The process of critical thinking can be a game-changer for your dissertation. Students usually believe that a thesis is about logically presenting facts. Instead, it is about making an argument. By practising critical thinking, you will be able to analyse evidence, question assumptions, and compare perspectives. This approach will enable you to draw original conclusions.

Here is how critical thinking can make a difference:

Did you check the difference? This level of critical thinking can turn your dissertation into a success. As a result, you will no longer need to worry about this phrase, “I got 40 in my dissertation”

Is 40% on a Dissertation a Pass?

it is a pass in most universities in the United Kingdom. Usually, this criterion is set for undergraduate students. While you passed this exam with 40%, it indicates your work only met the basic requirements. This percentage shows several issues, such as weak argumentation, poor structure, and limited research.

To avoid “I got 40 in my dissertation”, you will need to enhance your critical thinking because 40% can drag down your overall degree classification. If you are unhappy with the score, you can speak with your instructor about the resubmission policies to improve your future academic work.

What Is a Good Score for a Dissertation?

A good dissertation score typically starts at 60%, which is a 2:1. A score above 70% will be excellent and classed as a first. These scores show a strong command of research skills, analysis, and coherent structure. Moreover, they also highlight the high quality of academic language and originality.

However, achieving these grades will be difficult for most students because it requires careful planning, consistent effort, and deep engagement. A good thesis is not only about a flawless structure, it is about a solid grasp of academic principles. You must always aim high!

Wrapping Up

We know you don’t want to repeat this phrase, “I got 40 in my dissertation”, like many other students. However, preventing this situation is a neck-breaking journey because a thesis is one of the complex academic tasks or papers. Without professional support, students find it difficult to tackle it all alone. In this situation, UK-based dissertation writing agencies rescue these students and empower them to avoid writing and structural mistakes in their theses.

You can contact these firms and seek their assistance without breaking the bank. They have writers who have years of experience in curating error-free dissertations. Their help will allow you to earn a degree by obtaining higher marks!

Author Bio

Sophie Turner is a well-established dissertation writer who is passionate about academic writing since her college days. She is known for her academic writing tone that helps students achieve academic excellence. Sophie always remains a call away and assists students without long waiting.