Revise a motivation letter for specificity and coherence
Remove generic claims, clarify the connection to the course and preserve your own voice.
Read the draft against the prompt
Open the official instructions beside your letter and identify what the application asks the reader to learn. Mark where the draft answers each part. An elegant letter can still miss the task. Check the required length, language and format before editing. Distinguish a general motivation letter from a response to specific questions. If the prompt has changed for the current entry year, revise the content accordingly rather than merely changing the date or university name.
Replace claims with evidence and reasoning
Highlight sentences saying you are passionate, hardworking or a good fit. Ask which real experience supports each claim and what the reader can learn from it. Replace vague praise with a specific action, insight or question. You do not need to prove every positive quality in one document. Select the points most relevant to the course. Avoid padding the draft with achievement lists already recorded elsewhere. Specificity improves the explanation when it reveals your thinking, not when it merely adds more proper nouns.
Audit programme details
Check every statement about the programme against its official current information. Module names, degree structure and opportunities can change. Explain why a verified feature matters to your goals rather than reproducing the website. If the response is used for several programmes, review each tailored version carefully. A course-specific sentence should reflect a substantive difference. Keep neutral shared evidence where appropriate, but do not assume that swapping institution names creates a convincing account of fit.
Try a worked revision
An illustrative draft says, 'Your world-class interdisciplinary programme is perfect for me.' Revision begins by identifying which kind of integration interests the student and which verified course feature enables it. The student then connects a real project that raised a question across disciplines to that feature. The revised paragraph explains the fit rather than declaring it. It should remain accurate and proportional: participating in one project does not prove mastery. The example shows a revision process, not ready-made wording to submit.
Keep the narrative logically connected
Write a one-sentence summary of each paragraph. Check whether the sequence explains interest, preparation and fit without repetition. A paragraph about a challenge should show relevant learning rather than demand admiration. A career goal should follow from the interests and experiences you describe. Remove detours that do not answer the prompt. Read the letter aloud to find wording that sounds unlike your normal thoughtful expression. Formal writing can still be clear and personal without using inflated language.
Complete the final submission check
Ask for permitted feedback on clarity and task fit, then make the decisions yourself. Follow the institution's authorship and tool-use rules. Verify factual details, names, counts and required document labels. Inspect the final file or application preview, including paragraph breaks and any character limit. Keep the submitted version so you can discuss its experiences accurately if asked. A well-revised letter offers a coherent, honest explanation of your motivation. It cannot guarantee an admissions result, and polished prose should never replace truthful evidence.
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Official references
This is an original practical guide from IBvia. The examples are illustrative; your subject guide, assessment year and school instructions determine the requirements.
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