Read the assignment brief, not just the upload button
Confirm the required file type, page size, naming rule and whether appendices belong in the same file. Convert only when PDF is accepted. An instructor may need the editable Word source instead.
Submission settings differ even within one institution. The University of Melbourne’s LMS guide lists several supported formats and explains that course settings affect submissions; it does not establish a universal PDF-only rule.
Prepare a final source copy
Save the working DOCX separately. Update the table of contents and references, then review page numbers, figure captions, footnotes and any landscape sections. If anonymous marking is required, follow the course’s instructions for identifiers rather than automatically adding your name.
Resolve feedback and tracked revisions with your collaborator before exporting. Confirm whether a cover sheet, declaration and appendices are required. A missing appendix is not fixed by a smaller or cleaner PDF.
Export the full report
Choose PDF in Word’s Save As dialog, or Export as PDF in LibreOffice Writer. Check that the export range includes all required pages. Platform-specific instructions are linked below.
For a report that must be accessible, use the document’s heading structure and the supported tagged-PDF export options. Microsoft documents these options; selecting an export setting alone does not prove that the finished document is accessible.
Review the PDF with a submission checklist
Compare the PDF against the source: title or cover page, section order, final paragraph, references and appendices. Inspect the widest table and smallest chart labels at normal reading zoom. Search for a sentence in the body and copy a formula or unusual symbol to check the output.
Test a table-of-contents link if you expect one. If a table splits incorrectly or a formula changes, fix the DOCX and export again. Screenshots of entire pages can hide a problem while making text harder to search and use.
Submit and verify the attachment
Check the actual PDF size before the deadline. If it exceeds the field limit, use the size-limit workflow; do not silently remove references or required pages. If the platform requires separately mapped answer pages, follow that step too.
Open the uploaded file or portal preview when available and confirm the correct version and all pages. Finish any separate Submit action and retain the confirmation. A file selected in a browser is not necessarily a submitted assignment.
Common questions
Why has the page count changed? Inspect font substitution, paper size and section breaks in the exporting application. Re-export from the source after correcting the cause; do not assume a lower count means a successful conversion.
Should I compress every assignment? No. If the checked file already fits the limit, retain it. For accessibility or archival requirements, verify the final file against those requirements separately; PDFMinto does not certify compliance.