Giving the gift of feedback: Tips for English tutors

As pedagogist Paulo Freire thoughtfully reflected, “Whoever teaches learns in the act of teaching, and whoever learns teaches in the act of learning.”

Feedback as a two-way learning process

When it comes to giving essay feedback to students, I find it to be true that tutors learn from students, and students learn from tutors, because the thing is, tutors absolutely sit inside the feedback loop just as much as students do, and it’s surprising how rarely that gets said out loud.

Helpful and actionable feedback isn’t a one‑way street; it’s a craft. If tutors never hear how their comments land, they can’t refine the clarity, tone, or usefulness of what they’re giving. Students need feedback to grow, but tutors need feedback on their feedback to grow, too!

So, when a student says, “This comment confused me”, or “I didn’t know what to improve from this”, that isn’t disrespect; instead, think of it as data so that you will be able to improve. It shows you where your guidance is too vague, too harsh, too soft, or too general.

The power of thoughtful feedback

When I first started tutoring, I was desperate to get it right, desperate to help, but worrying my words might land the wrong way. But here’s the good news: feedback doesn’t have to feel frightening. It can become one of the most powerful and rewarding parts of teaching!

Have you ever handed back work and seen that worried glance? That moment matters. A few thoughtful words can turn dread into determination.

I’ve had hundreds of students over my career arrive convinced they “just can’t write an essay”, only to leave smiling after realising improvement is possible. That’s what I love most about my job: being able to inspire my students and guide them with words I choose carefully, words I know can build their confidence and help them succeed in their exams.

The truth is, students who receive clear, specific feedback are far more likely to improve than those given vague comments like “good job” or “needs work.” Why? Because clarity creates progress.

How to give effective English essay feedback

So, how can you make essay feedback effective?

• Anchor yourself in success criteria: Before you even pick up a pen, anchor yourself in the success criteria. What exactly were students meant to demonstrate? Make sure you’re familiar with the exam board mark scheme and the assessment objectives.
• Make feedback clear and structured: Students don’t respond to essays written in the margins as it gets too cramped. Instead, use short sentences, clear verbs, and bullet points for any next steps. If students can’t see the improvement pathway, they won’t follow it.
• Annotate deeply: Show students exactly where they succeeded and where they can grow. A margin full of guidance is far more powerful than a lonely grade at the top of the page.
• Use highlighters: I love to use highlighters to track where students are missing an assessment objective or to draw attention to vocabulary choices that require more academic synonyms. Many students enjoy my colour-coding, which shows where each assessment objective has been met or is missing.
• Model improvement: Give full sentence models. Don’t just say “develop this point” without showing them how. For instance, write examples that they can adapt for the next essay. Model it, mould it, master it.
• Spot patterns: Instead of correcting every spelling mistake or every weak sentence, identify the pattern: “You tend to overuse simple sentences.” Or “Your analysis often stops at description.” Pattern spotting helps students make long-term progress rather than short-term corrections.
• Use the power of three: If it’s your first time working with a student, or if their confidence is low, use the power of three: praise what worked, pinpoint one target, and provide one strategy. Keep it simple and structured.
• Make it human: Use encouraging language. A sentence like “You’re close – this paragraph has strong ideas, now let’s sharpen the evidence/analysis of the effect” feels motivating, not crushing.
• Demystify success: After you’ve marked it, you should provide your student with exemplar paragraphs, annotated examples, or full-mark essays. Your job is to demystify the mark scheme for them.

Some tutors think harsh feedback creates stronger students. In reality, the opposite is often true. Confidence fuels effort; effort fuels progress. In my opinion, it’s just as essential to be a mentor as it is to be a professional teacher.

Helping students act on feedback

Now, you may be thinking that marking is a waste of time because your students don’t act on it. Well, here are some easy ways that you can remedy that!

• Ask students to choose one piece of feedback to act on before the next task.
• Have them submit 2–3 sentences explaining what they changed and why.
• Ask students to highlight or annotate the exact improvements in their next draft (this can be done on the document or the PDF).
• Use a weekly 2-minute form where they report one action taken. You could make a little feedback sheet online.
• Make it clear how acting on feedback boosts marks in the next assignment. Link their changes to the assessment objectives so that they understand.

The goal is to ensure that feedback becomes an active part of the learning process.

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As tutors, we hold enormous power where our comments can discourage or inspire, and having a mutual openness creates a culture where improvement is normal rather than personal.

In the same way students learn to write better essays, tutors learn to give better feedback – and both sides end up producing stronger work. It’s a win-win!

Happy marking!

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