How we coach — and what we will never do
The John Locke Essay Competition requires every essay to be the entrant’s own, unaided work. Our coaching is built to respect that completely.
What we do
- Help you choose a question and find your own argument
- Teach research, structure and academic writing
- Give feedback on your drafts — questions, not rewrites
- Prepare you to defend your ideas at the online interview
What we never do
- Write, co-author, or substantially edit your essay for you
- Supply text for you to submit as your own
- Use AI tools to generate any part of your essay
- Submit on your behalf or misrepresent your authorship
Aligned with the competition’s rules
The competition disqualifies collaborative work and AI-generated content, and shortlisted candidates sit an interview about their own essay. Our method is designed around exactly this: the work — and the thinking behind it — has to be genuinely yours, so that you can stand behind every sentence.
Why this matters
An essay only helps your growth and your university applications if it is honestly your own. Coaching that crosses the line puts a student’s result, and their integrity, at risk. We would rather help you write a genuinely good essay than hand you a compromised one.
If you ever have a question about where the line sits, ask us — we will always answer on the side of integrity.