An APA style paper with an abstract uses a title page, a 150–250 word abstract, and consistent headings, citations, and references.
If you’re staring at a blank doc and thinking, “I just need one solid model to follow,” this page is built for that moment. You’ll get a clear layout, a fill-in approach you can reuse, and a worked abstract you can mirror without copying.
APA 7 has a few small rules that quietly break grades when they’re missed: page numbers, heading levels, hanging indents, and that abstract page that looks simple until you try to write it. Let’s make it painless.
What An APA Paper With An Abstract Includes
Most classes that ask for an abstract want a short report-style paper: a focused topic, a claim, evidence, and a wrap-up that ties back to the claim. In APA, the look of the paper matters because it helps readers scan structure fast.
At minimum, plan on these parts, in this order:
- Title page
- Abstract page
- Main text (with headings)
- References page
If your instructor also wants an annotated bibliography, tables, figures, or appendices, those come after the references page. If you’re not told to add them, don’t.
| Section | What It Must Contain | Common Slip |
|---|---|---|
| Title page | Paper title, your name, school, course, instructor, due date, page number | Missing page number or wrong line spacing |
| Abstract page | Centered “Abstract” heading, one paragraph summary, keywords (if requested) | Using multiple paragraphs or adding citations |
| Margins | 1-inch on all sides | Left margin correct, top margin off |
| Font | Readable APA-approved font (match class rules), same font throughout | Mixing fonts between headings and body |
| Line spacing | Double-space everything (title page, abstract, body, references) | Single-spaced references by habit |
| Page numbers | Top right on every page | Starting at page 2 |
| Headings | Correct APA heading levels, consistent style | Skipping levels or styling by “looks” |
| In-text citations | Author-date format that matches the reference list entry | Citing a site name that isn’t the author |
| References | Alphabetical list, hanging indent, full details to find sources | URLs missing or title capitalization wrong |
APA Style Paper With Abstract Example Setup Steps
Set up the document before you write. It saves time because you won’t fight formatting at the end.
Page Setup
- Set margins to 1 inch on all sides.
- Turn on page numbers and place them in the top-right header.
- Set line spacing to double for the full document.
- Pick one approved font and stick with it.
Title Page Layout
Most student papers use a simple title page with centered text. Put the paper title in bold, then add your name and school details on new lines. Keep spacing double. The page number stays in the header.
If your class uses a special title page template, follow that. Class directions outrank general style notes.
Abstract Page Layout
Your abstract page starts on the next page after the title page. Center the word “Abstract” at the top of the page. On the next line, write one paragraph.
APA’s own guidance spells out what the abstract does and how it’s used in databases. Use this when your instructor wants a strict APA abstract: APA abstract format guidance.
How To Write An Abstract That Fits APA
An abstract is a mini version of the whole paper. It tells a reader what you set out to do, what you found in sources or data, and what your paper ends up saying.
A solid academic abstract usually answers four questions in a tight order:
- Topic: What is this paper about?
- Purpose: What problem or question drives it?
- Method: What did you use (sources, data set, study type)?
- Result: What did you find or argue?
Abstract Word Count And Style
Many APA abstracts land in the 150–250 word range, but your class may set a tighter limit. Stay in one paragraph. Skip citations unless your instructor demands them. Skip quotes. Write in plain, direct sentences.
Keywords Line
Some instructors want keywords under the abstract. If you add them, put the label “Keywords:” in italics, then list a few search-style terms separated by commas. Pick terms a classmate would type to find a paper like yours.
Fill In Abstract Template You Can Reuse
Use this structure as a drafting tool. Replace bracketed parts with your content, then tighten the wording.
Template: This paper examines [topic] by [purpose or question]. Using [method or sources], it argues that [main claim]. Evidence from [type of evidence] shows [core finding 1] and [core finding 2]. These findings suggest [so what / implication for the topic].
Once you have a clean paragraph, read it out loud. If you trip over a sentence, shorten it. If you see a detail that only appears in the body, add one short phrase to match it.
Mini Paper Model With Abstract And Headings
Below is a compact model you can mirror in your own document. It’s not a full-length research paper. It’s a shape: title page, abstract page, then a body with headings that make sense for many topics.
Abstract Sample
Abstract. This paper reviews recent scholarship on study routines and exam performance in college courses. Using peer-reviewed journal articles published within the past decade, it compares spaced practice, retrieval practice, and note review habits. Across sources, spaced practice and retrieval practice align with higher retention and stronger test scores than rereading alone. The paper argues that students can raise performance by scheduling short review sessions across a week and by using low-stakes self-testing to spot gaps early. It closes with a brief plan that fits a typical course load and limits time waste during peak exam weeks.
Keywords: spaced practice, retrieval practice, study routines, exam performance
Main Text Model With Headings
Introduction. Start with the topic and why the question matters for the assignment. End your introduction with a clear thesis statement that matches the abstract’s claim.
Background And Definitions
Define any term your reader might not share. Keep it short. Use citations when a definition comes from a source.
Evidence From Research
Group your sources by idea, not by author. That keeps the writing from turning into one long list of “Author A says…” paragraphs.
Discussion
Explain what the evidence adds up to. Tie each paragraph back to your thesis. If results conflict across sources, name the pattern and explain what changes across studies.
Practical Application
Translate the discussion into clear actions a reader can take, as long as the assignment allows it. Keep claims modest and tied to evidence.
Conclusion
Restate the thesis in fresh words, then leave the reader with the meaning of your claim. Don’t add new sources here.
If you want to compare your layout to a clean model from the source, APA provides a full student paper example you can open beside your draft: APA Style sample student paper.
Heading Levels That Usually Fit Student Papers
Headings do two jobs: they guide the reader, and they keep your writing from drifting. A common pattern is Level 1 for major sections, then Level 2 for subsections.
Try this simple map:
- Level 1: Background, Results, Discussion, Conclusion
- Level 2: Subtopics inside each major section
- Level 3: Only when a Level 2 section needs clear internal breaks
Don’t add a heading for the introduction in APA unless your instructor asks for it. In many student papers, the title at the top of page 3 stands in for an “Introduction” heading.
References Page Rules That Save Points
References look picky because they are. Still, most errors fall into a short list you can catch fast.
Hanging Indent And Spacing
Set a hanging indent so the first line of each reference starts at the margin and the rest of the entry indents. Keep the full page double-spaced.
Match Every Citation To A Reference Entry
Every source cited in the body must appear in the reference list. Every reference entry must be cited in the body. Do a quick two-way scan before you submit.
Titles And Capitalization
APA uses sentence case for many titles in the reference list. That means you capitalize the first word, plus proper nouns. Don’t copy a site’s headline capitalization and assume it’s correct for your references.
Common Mistakes And Fast Fixes
Most grading rubrics reward clarity and consistency. These fixes take minutes and clean up the whole submission.
| Mistake | What It Looks Like | Fix That Works |
|---|---|---|
| Abstract reads like an intro | Only sets context, no claim or result | Add one sentence with your thesis and one sentence with what the evidence shows |
| Two abstract paragraphs | Line break after the first few sentences | Remove the break and tighten wording to fit one paragraph |
| Headings styled by guess | Random bold or underlines | Pick heading levels and keep them consistent across the paper |
| Citations don’t match references | Author name differs across pages | Standardize author and year, then mirror the same form in references |
| Reference list not alphabetized | Sources listed in the order used | Sort by the first author’s last name |
| Missing hanging indent | All lines start at the margin | Use the paragraph indent setting for hanging indent |
| Inconsistent spacing | Title page looks single-spaced | Select all text and set double spacing once |
| Weak thesis | Thesis states a topic, not a claim | Turn it into a sentence that takes a position you can defend with sources |
Quick Proof Pass Before You Submit
Do one last pass in this order. It catches most format and logic issues without dragging you into perfection mode.
- Scroll page-by-page: page numbers present, spacing consistent, margins steady.
- Read the abstract alone: topic, purpose, method, result all present.
- Check headings: same level looks the same everywhere.
- Scan citations: every citation has a matching reference entry.
- Scan references: alphabetical order, hanging indents, titles in sentence case.
If you still want a single mental model to anchor the whole assignment, return to your own apa style paper with abstract example and compare it to the layout in your class rubric. When the structure matches, the writing reads smoother too.
One last note: save a copy of your finished file, then export a PDF if your instructor accepts it. A PDF keeps spacing and page breaks from shifting when it’s opened on another device.
When you build the next assignment, start from this document and swap the topic, sources, and headings. That’s the easiest way to keep your format stable while your ideas change. And if you ever blank on the abstract, reuse the template, then sharpen it until it reads like a clean one-paragraph preview of the paper.
For a final check, reread your apa style paper with abstract example with fresh eyes after a short break. You’ll spot missing words and extra lines faster.