Updated on 2025-04-01

 

 

Note The following content comes from the Turnitin official website: Classic Similarity Report

5.1 Accessing the Similarity Report

5.2 Understanding the Similarity Score

5.3 Navigating the Similarity Report

5.4 Managing Exclusions and Filters (for Instructor only)

5.5 Flags in the Similarity Report (for Instructor only)

5.6 Generating a new Similarity Report for An Existing Submission (for Instructor only)

5.7 Using translated matching (for Instructor only)

5.8 Paper View Requests (for Instructor only)

5.9 Multicolor highlighting in the Similarity Report

5.10 Accessing the text-only Similarity Report

5.11 AI Writing Detection (for Instructor only)

Turnitin Reference Materials

 

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5.1 Accessing the Similarity Report

1 On the Blackboard course content page, click the name of the Turnitin Assignment.

 

2 In the Turnitin Assignment Inbox, click either the "Paper Title" or "Similarity" to go to the Turnitin Feedback Studio.

Note If resubmissions are allowed within an assignment, the first three resubmissions will generate a new Similarity Report straight away. After three resubmissions, a 24-hour wait is enforced to generate Similarity Reports for all subsequent resubmissions. Therefore, Similarity Reports for a fourth resubmission and onwards will take 24 hours to generate.

Note If the assignment has been set to generate reports on the due date, Similarity Reports will only be available once the assignment due date and time have passed.

Note A Similarity Report may not be generated, depending on the file type of the submitted paper. If any file type is allowed, students can upload the files with unsupported file types, but Turnitin will NOT generate the Similarity Reports.

 

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5.2 Understanding the Similarity Score

The similarity score is a percentage of a paper's content that matches to Turnitin's databases. Turnitin will check a student's work against our databases, and if there are instances where a student's writing is similar to, or matches against, one of Turnitin sources, Turnitin will bring this to the instructor's attention for review.

Note If resubmissions are allowed within an assignment, the first three resubmissions will generate a new Similarity Report straight away. After three resubmissions, a 24-hour wait is enforced to generate Similarity Reports for all subsequent resubmissions. Therefore, Similarity Reports for a fourth resubmission and onwards will take 24 hours to generate.

Note If the assignment has been set to generate reports on the due date, Similarity Reports will only be available once the assignment due date and time have passed.

Note A Similarity Report may not be generated, depending on the file type of the submitted paper. If any file type is allowed, students can upload the files with unsupported file types, but Turnitin will NOT generate the Similarity Reports.

Please refer to the Turnitin Official Guide for details:
[Turnitin Official Website] Understanding the Similarity Score

 

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5.3 Navigating the Similarity Report

• 5.3.1 Using the Match Overview and Match Breakdown

  A match is a string of text that is very similar or the same as some text in the paper. The matches are highlighted in the document, and the colors will correlate with the sources listed in the insight panel.



• 5.3.2 Viewing all sources

  The source is where a particular match has been found. It is possible to have multiple matches for each source.



• 5.3.3 Moving between submissions

  Navigating through submissions to an assignment by looking in the top right-hand corner of the navigation frame.



• 5.3.4 Using layers

  Layers allow users to view more than one service at the same time. With layers, users can view the similarity report and add bubble comments at the same time. Toggle layers on and off using either the toolbar or the Active Layers side panel.



• 5.3.5 Using thumbnails

  The thumbnail bar gives users a quick glimpse of the entire document they are currently viewing.

Please refer to the Turnitin Official Guide for details:
[Turnitin Official Website] Navigating the Similarity Report

 

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5.4 Managing Exclusions and Filters (for Instructor only)

• 5.4.1 Assignment templates

  Template exclusions can be turned off for individual submissions from the Similarity Report.



• 5.4.2 Matches by word count or %

  Excluding small matches allows instructors to exclude matching against sources with a small amount in common with the submission.



• 5.4.3 Quotes and bibliography

  Exclude quoted text, bibliographic content, and reference materials from within a Similarity Report to remove those matches from the report.



• 5.4.4 Sources

  Matched sources in Match Overview and All Sources can be excluded.



• 5.4.5 Restoring excluded sources

  To restore the matched sources in Match Overview and All Sources.

Please refer to the Turnitin Official Guide for details:
[Turnitin Official Website] Managing Exclusions and Filters

 

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5.5 Flags in the Similarity Report (for Instructor only)

An overview of any Flags that have been found in a document are shown in the Flags section of the Insight Panel. Simply select the Flag to view more information about it.

• 5.5.1 Flags for review

  Flags are represented by a number and a red flag icon.



• 5.5.2 Replaced characters

  Some characters in different alphabets can look similar enough that to the naked eye, it is difficult, if not impossible, to tell them apart.



• 5.5.3 Hidden Text

  Essay mills and authors looking to hinder similarity matching abuse text manipulation techniques by trying to pass plagiarized content off as genuine. These techniques are commonly found on YouTube and social media platforms as ways of 'cheating Turnitin'.

Please refer to the Turnitin Official Guide for details:
[Turnitin Official Website] Flags in the Similarity Report

 

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5.6 Generating a new Similarity Report for An Existing Submission (for Instructor only)

If teachers believe something may have been removed to Turnitin database since a paper's last similarity report was generated or if teachers make changes/set exclusions, teachers can generate a new similarity report from the Filters and Settings panel.

Please refer to the Turnitin Official Guide for details:
[Turnitin Official Website] Generating a new Similarity Report for An Existing Submission

 

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5.7 Using translated matching (for Instructor only)

Translated matching is an optional service offered by Turnitin, which allows students to submit content in a non-English language, whilst retaining the ability to match against our vast database of English language content.

Please refer to the Turnitin Official Guide for details:
[Turnitin Official Website] Using Translated Matching

 

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5.8 Paper View Requests (for Instructor only)

If a student submits a paper to one Turnitin Assignment, and it indicates a high similarity percentage to another paper, either within the same institution or at other parities, teachers can request to view the matching paper.

Please refer to the Turnitin Official Guide for details:
[Turnitin Official Website] Paper View Requests

 

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5.9 Multicolor highlighting in the Similarity Report

The paper's similarity matches can be identified on-paper by colors.

Please refer to the Turnitin Official Guide for details:
[Turnitin Official Website] Using Multicolor Highlighting in the Report

 

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5.10 Accessing the text-only Similarity Report

Users can use the text-only report for a better experience with an assistive technology and Turnitin.

Please refer to the Turnitin Official Guide for details:
[Turnitin Official Website] Accessing the text-only Similarity Report

 

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5.11 AI Writing Detection (for Instructor only)

Note The AI function has been turned off on 28 March 2025.

The preview release of Turnitin's AI Indicator is now accessible to all existing Turnitin customers - including CPCE, until the end of 2023. The AI Indicator only visible to admins and instructors, not students. Only assignments that are written in English and submitted after 4 April 2023 are automatically checked for AI writing detection.

Please refer to the Turnitin Official Guide for details:
[Turnitin Official Website] AI Writing Detection

 

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Turnitin Reference Materials:

[Turnitin Official Website] Understanding the Similarity Score
[Turnitin Official Website] Navigating the Similarity Report
[Turnitin Official Website] Managing Exclusions and Filters
[Turnitin Official Website] Flags in the Similarity Report
[Turnitin Official Website] Generating a new Similarity Report for An Existing Submission
[Turnitin Official Website] Using Translated Matching
[Turnitin Official Website] Paper View Requests
[Turnitin Official Website] Using Multicolor Highlighting in the Report
[Turnitin Official Website] Accessing the text-only Similarity Report
[Turnitin Official Website] AI Writing Detection