How to Improve Writing Skills for High School Students

Written language is fundamentally different from spoken language. Anyone who has had to listen, read, speak, and write in a non-native language already knows this painful truth. For high school students, the ability to write well in academic English is a necessary skill that is distinct from the ability to communicate clearly in real-time, verbal conversation. The two simply have different goals. Both are undeniably important, but this article will focus on writing. More specifically, it will explain how to write better. 

Writing well is an essential skill that students must learn in order to continue learning. The ability to write a good paper largely determines students’ grades across subjects and is often cited as a measurable indicator of college readiness. It also plays a large role in post-graduation social and professional success. Still, for one reason or another, many students struggle to produce consistently good writing. In recent years, high school students have had the option to use AI agents to help them improve their writing. Below, we’ll discuss the use of AI tools and recommend proven, practical tips that you can use to improve your writing skills.

The Importance of Writing Skills in Academic Success

Strong writing skills are crucial across all subjects in high school. Whether it’s writing essays in English, composing lab reports in science, or drafting arguments in social studies, students need to communicate their ideas clearly and persuasively. The ability to write well directly impacts their ability to succeed academically. This skill not only helps students organize their thoughts and arguments but also encourages critical thinking. Academic assignments often require students to demonstrate their ability to analyze, synthesize, and clearly express their ideas—skills that are sharpened by writing regularly.

Academic Writing and College Essays

As students progress through high school, the writing skills they develop lay the foundation for success in college-level courses. Whether crafting research papers or composing personal statements for college applications, strong writing becomes essential for standing out. High school students who have mastered writing techniques are better prepared for the writing-heavy nature of college coursework, where they will be expected to produce clear, concise, and well-argued content regularly. Additionally, students who develop their writing early have an edge when it comes to writing compelling college essays that highlight their unique perspectives and experiences.

Professional Communication and Resume Building

Another long-term benefit of strong writing skills is their role in professional life. Beyond high school and college, effective writing is crucial in almost every career. Whether sending emails, writing reports, or preparing presentations, the ability to communicate clearly and professionally is highly valued in the workplace. Furthermore, students who hone their writing skills early build a strong portfolio of work that can be showcased to potential employers. A well-crafted resume, cover letter, or personal statement can make a significant difference in job prospects, making writing proficiency an important part of a successful career trajectory.

Common Writing Struggles for High Schoolers

Teachers often report high schoolers struggling in four key areas:

• Weak grammar and sentence construction

• Lack of clarity and overall organization of arguments

• Lack of control over writing tone

• Difficulty switching between different formats and styles in different subjects

When teachers encounter these issues recurring in their students’ writing assignments, they often address the problem with the student and, if necessary, connect them to writing resources to strengthen their weak points. In some cases, though, teachers don’t know how to support struggling writers. This can be a challenging and frustrating scenario for students who are motivated to improve their skills but don’t know where to begin.

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Ways to Strengthen Writing Skills

Read Widely and Often

Reading good writing is the one of the best ways to improve your own skills as a writer! We recommend forming a habit of reading high-quality writing for at least 30 minutes a day. A great writer once privately confessed that he struggled with writing in high school. Determined to strengthen his skills, he got an annual subscription to the New York Times and read it every single day, front to back, for a year. Over time, his writing consistently improved. You can use a similar strategy with any high-quality writing, like a newspaper or magazine (many are accessible for free through public and school libraries), an online publication, or a fiction or nonfiction book series. In fact, for maximum impact, consider varying the sources you read. That way, you’ll gain exposure to diverse writing styles.

Practice with Purpose

Writing is the other best way to improve as a writer! Learning to write is like learning to play the piano or learning to drive a car: you have to practice, and practice well. What does it mean to practice writing well? Writer Nicole Chung suggests that, beyond setting aside dedicated time for free writing, “You could give yourself occasional assignments or deadlines, or ask a friend to do it for you. You could practice reading your work aloud — it will help you consider your word choices, the rhythm of your sentences, how your own writer’s voice sounds.” Reading your writing out loud changes how your brain processes the words, and often leads writers to re-work passages that just don’t “flow.” In that vein, critically reviewing and reflecting on your writing is perhaps more important (and even more difficult) than the writing itself. Develop the challenging habit of looking for and addressing weaknesses in your work; the progress will follow.

Learn the Grammar and Syntax Basics

Mastering the English written language is fundamental to mastering the art of writing. If you notice errors when reading your own writing, or if you are unsure whether your writing follows best practices for clear and effective communication, then you might consider getting to know your writing partners — grammar and syntax — a little better. Here are a few tools to boost your command of written English:

• AI-powered apps like Grammarly are great for catching typos and improving clarity in real time.

• Online resources like Purdue's Online Writing Lab provide users with instructional articles and videos with valuable tools, especially for academic writing. 

• Syntax books like Noel Burton-Roberts’ Analysing Sentences provide student-friendly introductions to parsing and composing syntax in the English language. 

Mentorship for Writing Growth

One of the most effective ways to improve writing skills is through mentorship. Personalized feedback from teachers, mentors, or writing coaches helps students pinpoint their strengths and areas for improvement. Rather than relying solely on self-assessment or AI tools, mentorship provides valuable insight and direction. This step-by-step guidance enables students to focus on specific writing challenges and receive constructive criticism that is tailored to their unique needs.

Mentorship also helps students understand the broader context of their writing. Teachers or mentors can guide students through understanding the purpose behind different writing formats—whether it’s an analytical essay, a persuasive argument, or a reflective piece—and how to approach each with clarity and focus.

By engaging in mentorship, students are encouraged to take ownership of their writing progress, transforming it from a task into an empowering skill that builds confidence and creativity.

AI for Writing

AI chat agents can offer genuinely useful feedback for students struggling with writing. However, recent studies have only shown significant lasting benefits for students writing in a non-native language, or who have language or learning disabilities. On the other hand, many students are tempted to use AI tools to generate entire papers, a practice that is generally prohibited by high schools. Researchers have actually proposed that certain tools, which generate papers phrase by phrase and require student input for each sentence, could support middle school-aged students in their writing development. According to Harvard University, though, fully generated texts are less accurate and less well written than you might think. Furthermore, experts advise that learning to write well and independently (i.e. without generative AI) helps students develop soft skills like critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving.

Tools and Resources for Writing Improvement

In addition to the grammar and syntax books and resources mentioned above, additional tools can help you clarify and strengthen your voice as a writer. For example, Strunk and White’s Elements of Style is a trusted resource for refining your writing style — not just grammatical correctness, but the choice of words and sentence structures to effectively communicate your meaning. Additionally, Polygence Pods offers a live, online course on writing skills for college preparedness. We also have free online resources like our article on writing academic papers in high school.

Conclusion: Writing Growth Takes Time and Practice

Improving as a writer takes time. However, with consistent effort and purposeful practice, your writing will get better. Set manageable daily goals for your writing like journaling for twenty minutes a day or always reading a weekly publication whose writing you admire. In addition to establishing and maintaining strong writing habits, remember to ask for feedback from peers, teachers, and mentors. If you are looking for someone to give you excellent constructive feedback on your writing, Polygence has a network of experienced, PhD-level research mentors who can’t wait to help you. Our research mentorship program connects highly motivated high school students with experts for individual guidance on a research or writing project that they are passionate about. Research projects result in a tangible outcome (such as a paper) that you can use to demonstrate your writing progress.

 On the other hand, Polygence Pods brings together small cohorts of like-minded students for introductory courses taught by a single mentor. We have two Pods on writing fundamentals (one for 13- and 14-year-old students and another for ages 15-16), as well as a course on impactful storytelling through podcasts.

Are you ready to take the next step towards becoming a better writer? Reach out to Polygence to learn how we can support you as you achieve your goals.