APA 7 Format Checklist for Student Papers

APA 7th edition has a separate, simpler setup for student papers. Run down this list before you submit — these are the exact things professors dock points for.

Page formatting

• Margins: 1 inch on all sides.
• Font: an approved one — 12-pt Times New Roman, 11-pt Calibri, 11-pt Arial, or 11-pt Georgia.
• Spacing: double-spaced throughout, with no extra space between paragraphs.
• Indent: first line of every body paragraph indented 0.5 inch.
• Alignment: left-aligned (ragged right) — not justified.
• Page numbers: top-right corner of every page.
• Running head: student papers do not use one (that's professional papers only) — here's why.

Title page (student version)

• Title in bold, centered, in the upper half of the page.
• Your name, course, instructor, and due date — each on its own centered line.
• See the full APA 7 title page format, with an example.

References

• Starts on a new page with a bold, centered heading: References.
• Double-spaced, with a 0.5-inch hanging indent.
• Alphabetical by the first author's last name.
• Each entry formatted correctly — see APA reference examples.

FAQ

Do APA student papers need an abstract?

Usually no — only if your instructor asks for one.

Which APA edition do I use?

APA 7th edition is the current standard.