What is Draft Coach?
Turnitin Draft Coach is a tool that can be used within Microsoft Word (desktop app or web version) that allows you to view similarity matches in your draft and make improvements before you submit your work.
At the University of Reading, students are advised to use Draft Coach for similarity checking only.
Accessing Draft Coach
To use Draft Coach:
- Open your document in Microsoft Word.
- Select the Turnitin tab from the top menu.
- Click Draft Coach to open the Draft Coach panel.
- Select Similarity Check:
Running a Similarity Check
- Select Run Similarity Check, then Confirm.
- Your document will be compared against Turnitin’s databases, including:
- Online sources
- Journals and publications
- Student papers
- You’ll then see a similarity percentage and highlighted matching text in your document. The highlighted text is linked to specific match instances, with a breakdown showing where each match comes from, so you can review and revise your work as needed.
When you click on an individual match in the panel, you’ll be taken to the highlighted text in your document and shown the source it matches, so you can clearly see what was flagged and decide how to revise it.
If you click Full Report, you’ll see a detailed view of all matches, including the complete list of sources, side-by-side comparisons of your text with the matching content, to help you review and revise your work.
There are three similarity checks available per document, so you should only run checks when you have made significant changes to your draft.
Interpreting Draft Coach similarity results
Draft Coach uses the same similarity matching approach as Turnitin assignment submissions. This means:
- The similarity percentage shows matched text, not plagiarism.
- Matches may include correctly quoted and referenced material, reference lists, or commonly used phrases.
Draft Coach can help you identify and review matches before submission, so you can check your use of sources and make revisions if needed.
For full guidance on how similarity reports work, including:
- what different types of matches mean
- how staff interpret similarity when marking
- what high or low similarity percentages do (and do not) indicate
see How to view and interpret a Turnitin similarity report.
Important: Grammar and citation tools
Draft Coach also includes grammar and citation checking features.
Students at the University of Reading are strongly advised not to rely on these tools, because:
- The grammar checker is very limited and does not provide reliable or discipline-specific academic writing feedback.
- The citation checker is basic and may may not identify referencing errors accurately.
Where to get grammar and citation support
For accurate and appropriate guidance, use University-approved resources instead:
- Study Advice – for academic writing, grammar and structure
- Library guides – for referencing and citation support
- Your programme or module guidance – for discipline-specific requirements.
Key points to remember
- Draft Coach can be used before submission to check similarity.
- There are three similarity checks available per document.
- Use Draft Coach for similarity checking only.
- Do not rely on Draft Coach for grammar or citation checking.
- Use Study Advice and Library resources for writing and referencing support.
- Similarity reports highlight matches; they do not determine plagiarism.
- Your lecturers make the final judgement about originality and academic practice.
After you submit your work
Once your assignment is submitted through Turnitin or Blackboard, you will be able to view your official similarity report if this feature has been enabled by your school/department.
This report should be interpreted in the same way as Draft Coach results. For full guidance, see: How to view and interpret a Turnitin similarity report.
| Draft Coach Similarity Report | Turnitin assignment Similarity Report |
|---|---|
| Used before submission | Used during or after submission |
| Helps you review and improve your draft | Used by students and staff to review submitted work |
| Limited to three checks per document | No limit set by students |
| Not used for marking | Used as part of the marking and feedback process |
Guide last updated on January 12, 2026