Quick answer: A reflective essay describes an experience and then examines what you thought and felt, what you learned and what you will do differently. The easiest way to write one is to follow a reflection model such as Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle (description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, action plan) or the simpler “What? So what? Now what?” questions. Write in the first person, be honest and specific, and focus more on analysis and learning than on retelling events.
Students write reflective essays in school, college and professional courses such as teaching, nursing and management. Good reflection improves your marks, but it also helps you learn from experience, which is a real skill in education and at work.
Many students get stuck on reflective essays because they are different from other assignments: there is no single right answer, and you are asked to write about yourself. If you need inspiration, lists of reflective essay topics can help you choose a subject, but the reflection itself has to be yours.
What makes a reflective essay different?
Most essays ask you to argue about a topic using evidence. A reflective essay asks you to examine your own experience: a project, a placement, a mistake, a book that changed your mind or a challenge you overcame. You still need structure and, often, links to theory or course concepts, but the main evidence is your own thinking. That is why reflective essays are usually written in the first person (“I noticed”, “I felt”, “I learned”).
Two models that make reflection easier
Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle
Developed by Graham Gibbs in 1988 in his guide Learning by Doing, this model has six stages. The University of Edinburgh’s Reflection Toolkit, which explains it in detail, stresses that the prompts are a guide, not a checklist.
- Description: what happened? Keep it brief and factual.
- Feelings: what were you thinking and feeling at the time?
- Evaluation: what went well and what went badly? Be honest and balanced.
- Analysis: why did things go the way they did? Link to course ideas or theory where you can.
- Conclusion: what did you learn, and what could you have done differently?
- Action plan: what will you do next time, and how will you make sure you do it?
What? So what? Now what?
This three-question model is based on questions first asked by Terry Borton (1970) and developed by John Driscoll (1994). It suits shorter pieces:
- What? Describe the situation and your role in it.
- So what? Interpret it: why does it matter, and what does it show about you or the topic?
- Now what? Plan concrete actions for the future.
A simple structure for your reflective essay
- Introduction: introduce the experience and state, in a sentence, what it taught you.
- Body: work through the stages of your chosen model. Spend most of your words on evaluation and analysis, not on description.
- Conclusion: sum up your learning and your plan for the future.
Here is a short illustrative example of the difference between description and reflection. Description: “Our group presentation ran ten minutes over time.” Reflection: “We overran because none of us had timed a full rehearsal. I assumed my part would take three minutes, but it took six. Next time I will rehearse with a timer and cut my slides to the key points.”
Tips for a strong reflective essay
- Be specific. Concrete details make reflection believable and interesting.
- Be honest. Admitting mistakes and uncertainty shows real learning; you are marked on the quality of reflection, not on how perfect you were.
- Balance feeling with thinking. Mention emotions, then explain what caused them and what they taught you.
- Connect to course ideas. In college assignments, linking your experience to a theory or reading usually earns higher marks.
- Respect privacy. If your reflection involves other people, such as patients, pupils or colleagues, do not name them.
- Plan your time. Teachers often deduct marks for late work. Start early, draft, then revise; our writing tips for a good article help with the revision stage.
Should you pay for reflective essay help?
Many websites advertise cheap, personalised reflective essays delivered before your deadline. A reflective essay is about your own experience, so a stranger cannot genuinely write it for you, and submitting someone else’s work as your own is academic misconduct. Use topic lists, guides and models such as those above, ask your teacher for feedback on a draft, and write it yourself. For more on these services, see our article on the pros and cons of using writing companies. For general essay structure, see our guide to composing a decent essay.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use “I” in a reflective essay?
Yes. Reflective essays are normally written in the first person because they are about your own experience and learning.
How long should a reflective essay be?
Follow the word count in your assignment brief. Whatever the length, give most of it to evaluation and analysis rather than description.
What is the best model for reflective writing?
Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle is the most widely taught and suits longer essays. “What? So what? Now what?” is quicker and works well for short reflections. Use whichever your course recommends.
What topics can I write a reflective essay about?
Any experience you learned from: a project, a work placement, a challenge, a mistake, a trip, a book or a change in your opinion.
This guide was checked in October 2026 against the University of Edinburgh’s Reflection Toolkit and the original sources it cites for Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle and the “What? So what? Now what?” model.
