Frequently asked questions
The questions students ask most about registering, writing and submitting. For anything not covered here, the official rules are the final word.
Registration & submission
If I don’t register before 31 May, can I still submit?
No. All participants must complete registration before 31 May. If you miss the registration deadline, you cannot take part this year — even via a late submission window.
Do footnotes, references or a bibliography count toward the word limit?
No. Only the main body of the essay counts toward the 2,000-word limit. Footnotes, endnotes, bibliographies and reference lists are excluded.
Are in-text citations included in the word count?
Yes. If you use a style with references inside the text (such as APA), those in-text citations count toward the word limit.
Do I have to use footnotes or endnotes?
Footnotes are not required. You may use in-text citations or endnotes instead. Any factual claim should be properly referenced, with the source and author clearly identified.
Essay writing
What if a question seems ambiguous or open to interpretation?
Read it carefully and present your own interpretation and argument — that is part of the challenge. Just keep the essay focused and make sure it answers the question directly.
Eligibility
How strict are the age requirements?
They are strictly enforced. For the Junior category you must not turn 15 before 30 June of the competition year; for all other categories you must not turn 19 before 30 June.
Participation rules
Can I submit more than one essay?
Yes. You may submit multiple essays, as long as each one answers a valid competition question.
If I’m eligible for Junior, can I also enter other categories?
Yes. Being eligible for Junior does not stop you from submitting essays to other categories as well.
Can I write my essay with someone else?
No. Every submission must be entirely the participant’s own work. Collaborative entries are not allowed.
Can I use AI tools such as ChatGPT?
Essays are checked for AI-generated content, and any essay found to be AI-generated is disqualified. You must also declare during submission whether any AI tools were used.