This does not establish authorship with certainty. AI analysis and the percentage of similarity to sources answer different questions. Neither result replaces the supervisor’s assessment of the thesis.
Text watermarks are a separate way of investigating where a text came from. Check what an AI watermark in ChatGPT and Claude means for a thesis and why you should use your own arguments and verified sources.
You have a report, see highlighted fragments, and do not know whether you need to correct a few footnotes or the entire chapter? Start by determining what the note refers to. Working on incorrect citation is different from working on a too-close paraphrase, and explaining doubts regarding AI use is yet another matter.
Below you will find a way to organise this situation: what to check in the report, what materials to prepare, and what to ask the supervisor. This guide primarily concerns the Unified Anti-Plagiarism System used in Polish universities.
Does JSA detect ChatGPT and other AI texts?
Yes, JSA provides an analysis that may indicate AI use. The Ministry of Science announced the introduction of this feature in February 2024. Therefore, the general answer that JSA does not detect AI is outdated. At the same time, detection does not provide one hundred percent certainty. The Ministry's announcement about the AI analysis feature in JSA clearly points to the need for the supervisor's assessment.
The system's indication does not by itself explain how the entire document was created. It should also not be equated with proof of using a specific tool, such as ChatGPT. The most important factors are the rules in force at your university, the actual way of working on the text, and the explanation of the highlighted fragments.
When does AI analysis appear in the report?
In JSA, this is an additional feature that is enabled when setting up a check. If it has been enabled, suspicious fragments are available in the “Analiza SI” (AI analysis) tab; this part can also be attached to the detailed PDF report. OPI notes that human-written text may be misclassified as AI-generated, while generated text may be missed. See the official instructions for AI analysis in JSA.
What does the AI percentage in another tool mean?
The definition of the result must be checked in the documentation of the specific system. In Turnitin, the AI indicator describes the share of eligible text considered likely generated by AI. A result of 40% does not mean 40% certainty of AI use by the author. It is also separate from the similarity indicator. Feature availability depends, among other things, on the document language and the tool version used. The manufacturer warns against making an unfavourable decision regarding a student based solely on detection. Check the description and limitations of the Turnitin AI report.
A screenshot from an online AI detector is not a JSA report. Ask for the tool name, the indicator description, and the fragments the note refers to. The number alone without this information explains little.
AI analysis, PRP, and plagiarism – three different issues
AI analysis
Concerns the possible origin of the text from a generator. It requires careful interpretation and reference to the rules for AI use in the specific thesis.
Similarity to sources
PRP is the Polish abbreviation for Procentowy Rozmiar Podobieństwa (a percentage measure of similarity). In JSA, it describes the similarity of the text to materials found in reference databases.
Assessment of borrowings
You must check the source, the citation marking, and the way another person's idea is used. The number does not show the full context of the fragment.
The Ministry explains that PRP also depends on system settings, and the report is not an automatic decision to admit the thesis to defence. An explanation of the role of JSA reports is a good reference point when someone presents the percentage as a standalone verdict.
What percentage of plagiarism is acceptable in a thesis?
It is worth reformulating this question: which indicator is shown in the report and how does the university interpret it? The similarity percentage is not the percentage of proven plagiarism. There is no single number that guarantees the acceptance of every bachelor's thesis, master's thesis, or engineering thesis.
Check the faculty procedure and ask the supervisor to point out fragments requiring explanation. The warning threshold does not exempt you from checking sources. Do not directly compare results from different tools or different settings either.
Two theses have 15% similarity each. In the first, marked quotations draw attention; in the second, several paragraphs were taken without indicating the source. The same percentage does not mean the same situation. You must examine specific places instead of looking for a safe number.
How to read an anti-plagiarism report step by step?
Check the document version
Determine whether the report concerns the file you are currently working on. Save the document name and the check date. Otherwise, it is easy to correct a fragment that looks different in a newer version.
Separate types of notes
Prepare three lists: similarity to sources, notes regarding AI, and other supervisor comments. Each list may require different actions.
Open the highlighted fragment and the source
Compare entire paragraphs, not just highlighted words. Check whether you are dealing with a quotation, a discussion of others' findings, a tool name, or a description of your own research.
Write down a specific correction
Instead of a note saying “lower the result”, write: “check the quotation on page 42”, “add the source of the definition” or “separate the positions of two authors”. Such a task can be performed and verified.
Establish the order with the supervisor
First, clarify notes on authorship and the origin of the information. Then, revise the text and references. Leave formatting for the stage where the content is already organised.
What to fix when the report indicates similarities?
A quotation is copied verbatim but not marked
Compare it with the original. Mark the quotation according to the required style, complete the reference and location. Also check whether such a long excerpt is necessary for your argumentation.
A paraphrase retains the structure of someone else's paragraph
Do not limit the correction to swapping individual words. Return to the meaning of the publication and determine which of its findings you are using. Write your own discussion, indicate the source, and show the connection to the thesis topic. If you do not understand the fragment, clarify its meaning first.
The reference does not lead to the correct publication
Check the author, year, title, and edition. Do not add a random book just because it covers a similar topic. This guide will help you with checking bibliographies, footnotes, and quotations.
You cannot find the source from notes or AI responses
Verify whether the publication exists and actually contains the given information. If you cannot confirm this, do not leave a claim with a fabricated footnote. Use the methods described in the guide on how to find literature for a thesis and base the fragment on material you can verify.
Removing footnotes, using random synonyms, or running a chapter through a 'humaniser' does not explain the origin of the information. Preserve the meaning, sources, and a clear record of your own reasoning.
If the issue concerns uncertain claims and publications in a fragment prepared with AI, not just marked similarities, choose the service “Verification and editing of AI-assisted text”. The scope includes checking the indicated sources and argumentation, as well as editing the agreed sections.
JSA: result not accepted by the supervisor. What next?
Do not guess the reason based on the status alone. Ask for information on which parts of the thesis require explanation, what changes are expected, and the procedure for resubmitting the document. Prepare a list of corrections with page numbers or subsection names.
If the comment concerns AI, gather actual materials from working on the document: previous versions, reading notes, data sources, and change history, if you have it. Describe truthfully what the tools were used for. Do not create after-the-fact documentation that pretends to be the earlier course of work.
Short template for a message to the supervisor
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to organise the corrections following the JSA report. Please indicate the sections that require changes or explanation, and inform me whether the comments concern similarity to sources, AI analysis, or both issues. I will prepare a corrected version with a list of changes. Please also confirm the deadline and the method for resubmitting the thesis.
Tailor the message to the comments received. If the supervisor has already pointed out a problem, address it specifically instead of asking for a full re-evaluation.
Frequently asked questions about JSA and AI
Does a low PRP score mean the thesis does not contain AI-generated text?
This cannot be determined based on the PRP score alone. Similarity to sources and analysis of potential AI usage are different issues. Check the relevant section of the report and the supervisor's comments.
Does checking the thesis in JSA cause self-plagiarism in a subsequent attempt?
According to the official JSA FAQ, the examined file does not enter the reference database solely due to the check. A subsequent attempt does not compare it with the previous one solely because that check was performed. This is a different situation than publishing the text on the internet or placing a defended thesis in ORPPD.
Will the result of a free plagiarism check be the same as in JSA?
Do not assume such consistency. To interpret the result, you need information about the specific tool, the comparison sources, and the examined file. An external test does not guarantee the university's later assessment.
Can I use ChatGPT for my thesis?
Check the current university rules and agreements with your supervisor. Ask about the permissible scope, how to disclose the use of the tool, and data protection. Do not assume that permission for language correction means consent to generate a chapter.
How do we determine the scope of editing after the JSA report?
Send the similarity report, the current version of the thesis, and comments on the indicated fragments. We compare the markings with the text and available publications. We determine the parts to be re-edited, citation and footnote corrections, the deadline, and the form of file delivery. The quote refers to this agreed scope.
You have the report and do not know what to fix?
Send the document, the report, and the supervisor's comments. I will help organise the tasks and determine which sections require editing, checking quotations, or completing source information.
Choose the service “Thesis revisions after a JSA similarity report” when the assignment concerns sections indicated in the report. If you mainly need to check source references in a finished text, see the service “Reference list and citation corrections for your thesis”.
- Attach the current, editable file.
- Indicate the deadline and the sections questioned by the supervisor.
- Provide the supervisor's or university's guidelines and the necessary sources.
