Word Count Guide for Students
Everything you need to know about word counts for essays, college applications, IB papers, and presentations. Plus a free word counter.
How to Check Word Count in Documents & Presentations
Google Docs
Open your document. Press Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or Command+Shift+C (Mac), or go to Tools → Word Count. A box will show pages, words, characters, and characters excluding spaces.
Microsoft Word
The word count is displayed in the bottom‑left corner of the window. Click it to see additional stats like characters, paragraphs, and lines. You can also find it under Review → Word Count.
Google Slides & PowerPoint
These tools don't have a built‑in word counter. To get the word count, copy all the text from your slides (Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C) and paste it into our Word Counter. It will instantly show the total word count, character count, and even readability scores.
Word Count Rules for Common Student Assignments
| Assignment Type | Typical Word Limit |
|---|---|
| High school essay | 300–1,000 words |
| College application essay (Common App) | 250–650 words |
| UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQ) | 350 words each |
| IB Extended Essay | 1,500–4,000 words |
| TOK Essay | 1,200–1,600 words |
| Medical school personal statement | 5,300 characters (approx. 800–900 words) |
| Law school personal statement | 2–3 pages double‑spaced (approx. 500–750 words) |
| Graduate school statement of purpose | 500–1,000 words |
Always check your specific institution's guidelines, as requirements can vary. Use our Word Counter to stay within limits.
How Many Words Per Page?
| Spacing | Words per Page (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Single‑spaced | ~500 words |
| Double‑spaced | ~250 words |
These numbers assume standard 12pt font (Times New Roman or Arial) and 1‑inch margins. A 5‑page double‑spaced essay is roughly 1,250 words; a 10‑page double‑spaced paper is roughly 2,500 words.
Do Citations, Titles, and Headings Count in Word Count?
It depends on the assignment. Many instructors ask that in‑text citations and headings be included in the total word count, but reference lists and bibliographies are excluded. Some IB and college guidelines explicitly state what's included. When in doubt, ask your teacher or professor.
Quick Word Count Tool
Paste your text below to instantly count words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs. Or visit our full Word Counter with reading time and keyword density features.