This guide helps instructors compare the assignment types available from the assignment picker. Learn what each assignment type supports, when to use it, and what instructors and students experience.
In this guide:
Standard assignments
Standard and Standard (Classic) support the same core workflow: students or instructors submit completed files, and Turnitin can generate Similarity Reports for supported text-based submissions.
Although both options are Standard assignments, they provide different report and grading experiences. The version you can create depends on your institution’s account settings. Contact your administrator for more information.
Use the feature comparison to decide which version supports your workflow:
| Feature | Standard | Standard (Classic) |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Similarity Report | ❌ | ✅ |
| Enhanced Similarity Report | ✅ | ❌ |
| Classic grading and feedback tools | ❌ | ✅ |
| Enhanced grading and feedback tools | ✅ | ❌ |
| Flags | ✅ | ✅ |
| AI writing detection, license dependent | ✅ | ✅ |
| Anonymous grading | ✅ | ✅ |
| Translated matching, license dependent | ✅ | ✅ |
| Individual extensions | ✅ | ❌ |
| PeerMark | ❌ | ✅ |
Standard assignments are currently available only with a Turnitin Feedback Studio license when you use Turnitin’s website or an LTI learning management system.
Standard assignment
Use a Standard assignment when students need to submit a completed file or document for similarity checking, grading, or feedback.
The Standard assignment uses the Enhanced Similarity Report and enhanced grading and feedback tools. Depending on your institution’s license, grading and feedback tools and AI writing detection may also be available.
Standard assignment features
| Student submission | Instructor report and feedback |
|---|---|
|
Students can:
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Instructors can:
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Learn more
Learn more about creating and managing Standard assignment
Standard (Classic) assignment
Use a Standard (Classic) assignment when students need to submit a completed file or document and your workflow requires classic grading tools or PeerMark.
The Standard (Classic) assignment uses the Classic Similarity Report and classic grading and feedback tools.
Standard (Classic) assignment features
| Student submission | Instructor report and feedback |
|---|---|
|
Students can:
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Instructors can:
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Learn more
Learn more about creating and managing Standard (Classic) assignments
Clarity assignment
The Clarity assignment, part of the Turnitin Clarity add-on, offers a dedicated space for students to compose their work.
Use a Clarity assignment when students need to write and revise their work within Turnitin instead of uploading a completed file.
Ideal for essays, reflections, and research papers, this assignment gives instructors a window into the writing process through the Writing Report. After the due date passes, the Similarity Report, grading and feedback tools, and AI Writing Report are also available, depending on your institution’s license type.
Clarity assignments can be accessed on Turnitin.com or TurnitinUK.com, but an LTI 1.3 integration is recommended for an optimum experience.
Clarity assignment features
| Student writing space | Instructor Writing Report |
|---|---|
|
Students can:
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Instructors can:
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Learn more
Learn more about creating and managing Clarity assignments:
Multipart assignment
Use a Multipart assignment when students need to complete a larger project in stages.
A Multipart assignment connects two or more assignment parts into one larger assignment workflow. Each part represents a stage of the same project, such as an outline, annotated bibliography, first draft, or final draft.
Multipart assignments can help students manage complex work in smaller steps. They also give instructors more opportunities to review progress, provide feedback, and follow how a student’s work develops across each part.
Multipart assignments are not supported in the following learning management systems:
- Google Classroom
- Sakai
- Schoolbox
- Manaba
- In Campus
- AmpEducator
Multipart assignment features
| Student submission | Instructor creation |
|---|---|
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Students can:
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Instructors can:
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Learn more
Learn more about creating and managing Multipart assignments:
Handwritten assignments
Use a Handwritten assignment when students complete work on paper and the instructor needs to grade it online.
A Handwritten assignment, part of the Paper to Digital add-on, is for paper-based short-answer exams or assignments. It lets instructors scan and digitize paper-based work for online grading.
Students do not submit to this assignment type. The instructor uploads work on behalf of each student, grades the digitized submissions with AI-assisted tools, and publishes the grades when grading is complete.
Similarity and integrity checks are not available with Handwritten assignments.
The following question types are supported:
- Multiple choice: Use for questions where students fill in bubbles or select squares.
- Fill in the blank: Use for questions with English-language text, mathematical notation, or both.
- Other: Use for open responses, diagrams, chemical equations and structures, or maps.
Multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions can use AI-assisted answer grouping to support faster grading.
Handwritten assignment features
| Student feedback | Instructor creation |
|---|---|
|
Students can:
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Instructors can:
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Grade syncing and pass back are available only through learning management systems. Grades cannot be synced to the Turnitin Feedback Studio gradebook.
Learn more
Learn more about creating and managing Handwritten assignments: