Similarity Check

By selecting ‘Similarity’ in Draft Coach, the similarity score will be displayed, and any text which matches content within the Turnitin database will be highlighted. You can then select “Run New Similarity Check” after editing your document to receive an updated report. You can run three Similarity Checks on each document. Draft Coach does not store the paper. As such, it can later be submitted in Turnitin without matching to this check.

At the bottom of this panel, click on the “View Full Report” for more detailed information.

The full report will open, with all instances of similarity highlighted and colour coded to the corresponding sources. These how the location of the original documents, and percentage of similarity to your upload.

Clicking on the source panels on the left will provide further information, as long as the source is public. You can exclude any of the sources from the similarity score. This might be useful if a draft of this assessment was uploaded during the module, for example, and you don’t wish to include it. (Please note: It will only be excluded from this viewing)

Clicking on ‘All Sources’ at the top of the panel provides a more complete list, even those with smaller percentage matches.

Click on the ‘cog’ icon to open settings.

Check the filters and options you wish to include or exclude from your similarity check. You may wish to refine the report to create a more accurate score. You can exclude quotes, bibliography and small matches. This is intended to give you a clearer view of your report and focus on areas where you have not quoted or referenced correctly. 

When you choose to exclude quotes, Turnitin will recognise quotes by the use of double quotation marks – “like this” – or paragraph indentations in the document. When you choose to exclude bibliographies, Turnitin will detect the references and exclude the bibliography from the paper. You can also exclude small matches for a better indication of unquoted / reference material.

Interpreting the Similarity Score

The similarity score is the percentage of text in a submission that matches sources in Turnitin’s database. This database includes web pages, student papers, periodicals, journals, and publications. It’s a tool to help identify potential issues.

There is no “right” similarity score. The focus should be on how the content is used. A well-referenced assignment with a higher score might be more academically rigorous than a low-scoring one with minimal references.

Low Scores (0-24%): While a low score might suggest originality, it can also indicate insufficient use of sources or lack of proper citation. It’s important to review the content to ensure you are engaging with relevant literature and referencing appropriately.

Moderate Scores (25-49%): These scores often reflect a balanced use of sources. However, it’s crucial to check you are synthesising information effectively and not just paraphrasing or quoting extensively.

High Scores (50%+): High similarity scores can be a red flag for potential plagiarism, collusion or over-reliance on sources. However, they can also result from properly cited but excessive quoting. Review the context and the nature of the matches in order to make an informed judgment.