Essay Prize
Dukes Plus Essay Competition – 2025 Registration
Showcase your academic talent and critical thinking in fields like education, law, healthcare, and more. Prizes to be announced closer to the competition date.
Why Apply?
- Win a prize or magazine publication
- Showcase your academic talent & critical thinking
- Write about fields such as education, law, healthcare, and more
- Open to students aged 15-17
Dukes Education has held an annual essay prize since 2015. Open to students 15-17 years old, the prestigious competition provides a platform for students to showcase their academic prowess, creativity, and critical thinking.
Please note: Essays will be run through plagiarism and AI-detection software. AI-written essays will not be considered.
The questions and deadlines for the 2025 competition have not yet been announced. Please register below for the latest updates or check back to this page, which will be kept up to date.
For a taster of the type of essay questions, here are the ones from last year’s 2024 competition.
Essay Titles 2024
Describe and justify what the ideal schools, existing in the year 2100, would be like
Useful for those students who are planning an application to a US university; this title encourages entrants to consider what makes an institution special and how that might change in the future. The competition is a great warm-up for the supplemental essays students will write when applying.
“Essays no longer demonstrate a student’s academic potential.” Discuss.
Useful for those students who are considering a competitive UK university pathway, such as Oxford or Cambridge.
To what extent is there a legal justification for extreme climate change protest?
Useful for students who are planning to apply for Law as their undergraduate degree.
Identify the world’s best healthcare system and justify your choice.
Useful for students who are applying to the medical field.
Details of the competition
Marking Criteria
- Writing Quality: Clarity, coherence, and correctness of language.
- Structure: Logical flow and organisation of content.
- Quality of Argument: Strength and relevance of arguments presented.
- Creativity: Originality and innovative thinking.
- Referencing: Appropriate and accurate referencing (excluded from the word count).
This competition is a fantastic opportunity for students to engage in thought-provoking topics, enhance their writing skills, and gain recognition for their efforts. We look forward to receiving your insightful essays!