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Edit and export a scroll-stopping 30-60 second short

The capstone project for Video Editing with CapCut — a free Creative course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.

Start the course free Download the project workbook

The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.

What you will submit

A link to your exported 30-60 second vertical video (uploaded to TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or Google Drive set to 'anyone with the link'), plus your 150-250 word note on your editing choices pasted into the submission.

What to do, step by step

  1. Pick a clear subject you can get footage for — a small business product (food, fashion, gadgets), a faceless concept (tips, quotes, a satisfying process), or a short talking clip. Shoot or gather your raw clips and import them into a new 9:16 CapCut project.
  2. Cut and trim ruthlessly so the video is 30-60 seconds with no dead air, and put your strongest moment in the first 3 seconds as a clear hook (a bold visual or an on-screen headline that makes someone stop scrolling).
  3. Add at least two transitions that are motivated (matched to movement or a scene change), and add a copyright-safe or royalty-free music track, syncing at least a few of your cuts to the beat.
  4. Add captions — use Auto Captions and proofread them, or add styled text — formatted bold and readable, placed in the safe middle zone so nothing is hidden behind platform buttons.
  5. Apply at least one extra technique from the course (a speed ramp, basic colour/Adjust, an overlay, or green-screen cutout), then export at 1080p/30fps with the CapCut watermark removed.
  6. Write a short note (150-250 words) explaining your choices: what your hook was and why, why you picked that music and how you handled copyright, which transitions and techniques you used, and how you styled and placed your captions.

Files to work with

Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 6 KB

How it is graded

CriterionWeight
Strong hook in the first 3 seconds and tight, well-paced cutting with no dead air25%
Clear, readable, well-placed captions (proofread, styled, in the safe zone)20%
Copyright-safe music with at least some cuts synced to the beat, and at least two motivated transitions20%
At least one extra technique used (speed ramp, colour, overlay or green screen) and a clean 1080p export with no CapCut watermark20%
Clear written note explaining hook, music/copyright, transitions and caption choices15%

You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.

Before you submit: make your link public

If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to finish Video Editing with CapCut before submitting the project?

Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Video Editing with CapCut is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.

How is the project graded?

An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.

Can I resubmit if I fail?

Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.

What do I actually submit?

A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.

Is the certificate real?

Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.

More Creative projects

Ready to earn this certificate?

Video Editing with CapCut is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.

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