OxBright, an organization dedicated to empowering students, hosts an annual essay competition for bright 15-18 year olds. The competition aims to challenge students to think beyond the school curriculum and explore various subjects. Essays are assessed based on relevance, coherence, creativity, originality of ideas, use of evidence or examples, and relevance to the OxBright Worldview. The competition uses a proprietary system that combines technology and personal assessment to evaluate the submissions. Shortlisted entrants are offered a free place at an OxBright Conference and invited to the Awards Ceremony. The competition offers prestigious prizes, including a place on the Oxford Scholastica Academy's residential Oxford summer school and a place on an OxBright online course or internship. It is a great opportunity for students to develop their independent study and writing skills and receive feedback from top academics in their field.
In addition to the OxBright Essay Competition, the Oxbridge Launchpad also runs an essay competition for 15-17 year olds from state schools. The competition provides an opportunity for students to receive feedback from Oxbridge students to help them strengthen their university applications. The winning essays are published on the Oxbridge Launchpad website, and strong candidates have the opportunity to write other short.
Essay writing contests, including the ones hosted by OxBright, are a great way for students to develop academic skills such as researching, writing, and critical thinking. To succeed in these competitions, it is important to thoroughly read and understand the guidelines, make the essay compelling and well-researched, and start with a strong, clear thesis.
Overall, these essay competitions provide students with valuable opportunities to explore their interests, enhance their writing skills, and receive recognition for their academic achievements.