Writing, analytical and reporting skills

Writing, analytical and reporting skills focus on how you gather, analyse, and communicate information effectively across different contexts and audiences.

Writing skills involve crafting clear, compelling content for various purposes and audiences. Analytical skills enable you to examine information systematically, identify patterns, and draw meaningful insights from complex data or concepts. Reporting skills help you present information in a structured and appropriate format.

You can see a full list of the skills included in this category at the bottom of this page.

These skills are essential for academic success, and are used across many careers and passion projects. They enhance your ability to conduct rigorous research, communicate complex ideas clearly, and make evidence-based arguments. In our information-rich world, the ability to analyse data critically and communicate findings persuasively is increasingly valuable for problem-solving, policy-making, and innovation.

Think about which of these skills you are developing through your studies using the list at the bottom of this page - you will be using them for every piece of work you produce, whether that's writing essays or analysing datasets. Use the Skills Discovery Tool to evaluate your skills.

Easy ways to get started

You will be actively developing these skills through your academic work. Build on this foundation by:

• Thinking critically about information you encounter. Whether it's a news article or social media infographic, take a minute to ask: What's it claiming? What evidence supports it? What data or perspectives are missing?
• Research a topic that interests you beyond your course content, developing your ability to find and analyse information independently and evaluate sources.
• Tell a friend or family member about what you've been studying - the ability to adapt complex information to be accessible to your audience is an important skill.

Skills development opportunities

There are many ways to develop and evidence these skills beyond your subject work. Here are some suggestions:

• Write articles for a student newspaper or magazine to practice writing for an audience. You could work your way up to becoming an editor, developing your leadership and editorial skills. Find out how to get involved on the Theatre, Film & Arts page.
• Contribute to the Wikimedia community, researching and writing articles on topics that interest you. University departments and societies sometimes hold Wikipedia 'Edit-a-Thon's to improve information about underrepresented subjects, such as women in Classics. Look out for similar events or get started on your own.
• Take advantage of any writing skills workshops run by your College or departmental libraries - check your email or look out for posters to see when these are on. Search your College's website to see if they have a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow who will offer 1-to-1 consultations.
• Take on a society or JCR/MCR committee role that involves writing newsletters and social media posts. This is a great way to practice adapting your writing for different contexts and presenting information clearly.
• Seek out summer research opportunities run by your College or department to gain hands-on experience with research methodologies, data analysis, and academic report presentation or writing. Examples include the Sainsbury Laboratory summer projects, Cancer Research UK's Summer Research Programme, the Faculty of Mathematics programmes, and those run by King's College and Trinity Hall.
• If you're looking for career opportunities, watch the Careers Service's videos on writing successful applications. Already secured an internship? Learn how to write professionally on LinkedIn Learning. Find out how to access LinkedIn Learning through your University account.

Check out the activities pages for more ideas on how to get involved and develop your skills in this area.