APA Abstract Example: Format, Template, and How to Write One

What Is an APA Abstract?

An APA abstract is a brief, self-contained summary of your paper. It appears on its own page, right after your title page, and gives readers a complete snapshot before they dive into the full paper.

A solid abstract covers four things: the purpose of your study, your methods, your key findings, and your conclusions. That's it. You're not explaining everything, you're giving the reader enough to decide if the full paper is worth reading.

One thing to know upfront: there are two types, student abstracts and professional abstracts. They're mostly the same, but there are a few differences worth understanding. We'll cover that below.

APA Abstract Example (Annotated)

Here's what a completed APA abstract looks like on the page. This is a student paper abstract on a social science topic.

What each part is doing:

• "Social media use among college students has increased significantly..." This is the opening sentence. It establishes the topic and research context in one sentence.
• "This study examined whether..." This is the purpose statement. It tells the reader exactly what the paper is investigating.
• "A total of 214 students completed an online survey..." This is the methods section. It briefly describes who was studied and how.
• "Results indicated a moderate negative correlation..." This is the findings section. It gives the key result with enough specificity to be useful.
• "These findings suggest..." This is the conclusion and implication. It tells the reader what the result means.

"Keywords: social media, academic performance..." This is the Keywords line. It lists 3–5 lowercase terms that help researchers find the paper in academic databases.

APA Abstract Format Rules (APA 7th Edition)

Here's every formatting rule you need to follow, pulled straight from APA 7:

Page placement:

The abstract goes on its own page, directly after the title page and before the body of your paper.

Heading:

The word "Abstract" appears in bold, centred at the top of the page. Don't add a colon after it, don't italicise it, don't put it in quotation marks, just bold and centred.

Length:

150–250 words for a standard student research paper. Don't pad it out and don't cut it below 150.

Paragraph format:

The abstract is a single paragraph with no indentation on the first line. This is the one time in your APA paper where the first line of a paragraph is flush left, not indented.

Spacing:Double-spaced throughout, same as the rest of your paper.

Font:Same font as the rest of your paper (Times New Roman 12pt is the APA default, but check your assignment brief).

Keywords line:

On a new line below the abstract, write "Keywords:" in italics, followed by 3–5 lowercase terms separated by commas. No full stop at the end.

For full paper formatting, see our APA research paper format guide. You can also explore APA research paper example guide for better understanding. 

Student Paper vs Professional Paper Abstract

Most undergrads are writing student papers. Here's what you need to know about how they differ from professional papers:

If you're writing a class paper and your professor hasn't specified otherwise, you're writing a student paper. The good news: the student paper format is simpler. No running head, no author note, just the abstract itself and the keywords.

If you're writing for a journal submission or a graduate-level thesis, you're likely following professional paper guidelines. Check your style guide or supervisor for specifics.

How to Write an APA Abstract (Step-by-Step)

The most important thing to know: write the abstract last. You can't summarise a paper you haven't written yet. Once the paper is done, follow these steps.

Step 1: Write the paper first. 

Don't try to write the abstract before the body. Your abstract summarises what you've already said, not what you plan to say.

Step 2: Open with your research question or purpose (1–2 sentences). 

What is your paper investigating? Start there. "This study examined..." or "This paper explores..." are solid, clean openings.

Step 3: Describe your method or approach in brief (1–2 sentences). 

How did you conduct the study? Who were your participants? What did you measure? Keep this tight, two sentences is usually enough.

Step 4: State your key findings (1–2 sentences). 

What did you find? Don't list every result, pick the most significant one. If there were multiple findings, summarise the overall pattern.

Step 5: Close with your conclusion or implication (1 sentence). 

What does the result mean? What's the takeaway for the field, or for future research?

Step 6: Add the Keywords line. 

Below the abstract, write "Keywords:" in italics and list 3–5 terms a researcher would type into an academic database to find your paper. These aren't SEO keywords, they're bibliographic search terms. Think: what would someone search in JSTOR or PubMed to land on your paper?

APA Abstract Keywords; What They Are and How to Choose Them

The Keywords section is something a lot of guides either skip or barely mention, but there's a right way to do it and a wrong way.

What APA abstract keywords are: They're not the same as SEO keywords. Keywords in an APA abstract are bibliographic search terms — words that would help another researcher find your paper in an academic database like JSTOR, PubMed, or Google Scholar.

Where they go: On a new line directly below the last sentence of your abstract, on a new line directly below the abstract."

How to format them: Write "Keywords:" in italics, then list your terms in lowercase, separated by commas. No full stop at the end. Like this:

Keywords: social media, academic performance, college students, screen time, mental health

How to choose them: Think about what a researcher studying your topic would type into a database to find your paper. Use specific terms, not broad ones. "Mental health" is fine. "Human psychology" is too broad. "Smartphone addiction" is specific. "Technology" is not.

Aim for 3–5 terms. Don't go above 5 — it starts to look like keyword stuffing and defeats the purpose.

When Do You Need an Abstract in APA Format?

This is the question most guides don't answer clearly, so here's a straight answer.

You almost certainly need one if:

• You're submitting a thesis or dissertation
  
• Your professor has explicitly asked for it in the assignment brief
  
• You're writing a formal research paper that will be submitted to a journal
  
• The assignment brief says "follow APA 7 format fully"
  

You probably don't need one if:

• You're writing a short undergraduate class paper (under 10 pages) and the assignment brief doesn't mention it
  
• Your professor hasn't specified APA formatting requirements in detail
  
• The paper is a reflection, response, or opinion piece rather than a research study
  

The practical rule of thumb:

If your professor didn't mention it, and the paper is under 10 pages, you likely don't need one. But when in doubt include it. A well-written abstract signals that you know what you're doing. It won't hurt your grade, and it might help.

If you're still unsure, check your course syllabus or ask your professor directly. That's always the safest move.

Check out our APA format guide for the full rules, and citation styles guide for understanding of different types of citations. 

Conclusion

Writing an APA abstract becomes much easier once you understand the basic rules. Keep it concise, focus on your study’s purpose, method, findings, and significance, and remember to write it after completing your paper so it accurately summarizes your work.

Mastering the APA abstract also helps you better understand other important elements of formatting, such as the APA title page, APA in-text citations, and APA reference page, all of which contribute to a well-structured academic paper.

If you’d rather save time and ensure everything is perfectly formatted, our expert writers are here to help. From the introduction to the reference page, we deliver 100% human-written, AI-free papers verified for quality on every order.