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Prompts

2026 ESSAY PROMPTS

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Prompts will be announced on the website on 30th January 2026.

2025 ESSAY PROMPTS

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REGIONAL SUBMISSION

The regional qualifying submission has a maximum length of 500 words. The top 5 creative, top 5 argumentative, and top 5 journalistic essays from each region will be invited to the Global Final.

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GLOBAL FINAL SUBMISSION

In the Global Final round, each participant will further elaborate on their essays from the regional submission for a maximum of 1,500 words.

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PROMPT SELECTION

Each participant will select a prompt from the creative, argumentative, or journalistic options.

CREATIVE

  1. Craft a narrative about a fictional character’s firsthand experience of a historical episode. Bring the era to life through vivid details and show how it connects to challenges or values in the modern day.

  2. Imagine waking up to a world where one law of nature no longer applies. How does life change?

  3. You receive a message from your future self, dated 10 years from now. In it, your future self outlines a major decision you’ll soon have to make, one that could change the course of your life. As you read, you begin to question whether the future is truly set in stone, or if it’s shaped by the choices you make today. Explore how the knowledge of a future event alters your present decisions and how you balance fate with free will.

ARGUMENTATIVE

  1. Should there be stricter global regulations on the development and use of artificial intelligence? Argue for or against this position, considering the balance between innovation and ethical concerns.

  2. Should freedom of speech have stricter limitations in the context of misinformation and hate speech online? Argue for a balanced approach to protecting individual rights while maintaining public safety.

  3. Is it the responsibility of wealthier nations to ensure equitable access to vaccines and healthcare for developing countries? Make a case for or against this obligation.

JOURNALISTIC

  1. Highlight an individual or group in your community who went above and beyond during a recent crisis, such as a natural disaster, pandemic, or social upheaval. Explore their motivations and the impact of their efforts.

  2. Focus on the contributions of workers in overlooked professions, such as sanitation workers, delivery drivers, or caregivers. Highlight the significance of their work and the systemic issues they face.

  3. Investigate how protest movements have adapted to the digital age. Consider how online activism complements or challenges traditional forms of demonstration.

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2024 ESSAY PROMPTS

PROMPT SELECTION

Each participant will select a prompt from the creative, argumentative, or journalistic options.

CREATIVE

  1. How does your personal history shape who you are?

  2. Write a story about a character gaining the ability to communicate with animals. Explore the challenges, joys, and unexpected consequences of this connection with the natural world.

  3. Craft a narrative from the viewpoint of a character perceiving the world differently. Explore how this unique perspective influences relationships, decisions, and their understanding of reality.

ARGUMENTATIVE

  1. Take a position on government intervention in combating climate change.

  2. Discuss the benefits of cross-cultural understanding, cooperation, and education’s role in fostering global citizenship.

  3. Evaluate the pros and cons of private space exploration versus international collaborations. Argue for the most effective approach to advancing human exploration and the understanding of outer space.

JOURNALISTIC

  1. Who is a figure in your community who took initiative to spark meaningful change?

  2. What social justice movement gained attention through widespread social media presence?

  3. Shine a light on the contributions of women in informal economies globally. Investigate the challenges they face, the importance of recognizing their work, and potential policy measures to improve their economic status.

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2023 ESSAY PROMPTS

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Icon of a pencil drawing on a surface inside a red circle

PROMPT SELECTION

Each participant will select a prompt from the creative, argumentative, or journalistic options.

CREATIVE

  1. The year is 2041. AI has led us astray. What has happened?

  2. What has been the most impactful piece of media you have consumed and why? (e.g. a film, book, tv episode, song, etc.)

  3. What quote do you live by?

ARGUMENTATIVE

  1. What should the ideal voting age be?

  2. Is gene editing ethical?

  3. It would be a good thing if by the year 2050, half the pregnancies in developed countries occurred through surrogacy. Agree or disagree?

JOURNALISTIC

  1. What is an ongoing technological development that is helping society advance?

  2. Modern journalists primarily chase clicks, scandals, bad news, and public take-downs. What impact does this have on our society?

  3. What event had the largest impact in your community in 2022?

2022 ESSAY PROMPTS

PROMPT SELECTION

Each participant will select a prompt from the creative OR argumentative.

CREATIVE

  1. What does it mean to be successful

  2. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

  3. Describe the perfect day

  4. Write about your greatest inspiration

  5. If you could be the very best in the world at something, what would it be?

ARGUMENTATIVE

  1. Are bystanders who do not intervene also at fault?

  2. Should the law be broken if you believe the law is unjust?

  3. Is it better to act with integrity or loyalty?

  4. Is it okay to intrude on privacy for the sake of scientific research?

  5. Has social media been a positive or negative influence on society?

2021 ESSAY PROMPTS

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PROMPT SELECTION

Each participant will select a prompt from the creative OR argumentative.

CREATIVE

  1. As you look into the future, what is something that gives you hope?

  2. Can you destroy a monster without becoming one?

  3. Pick your favourite song lyric or quote and write about it.

  4. Apples or Oranges?

  5. What would you like to improve about the human condition?

ARGUMENTATIVE

  1. Should individuals own their own DNA?

  2. Is it more important to help locally or globally?

  3. Should charities be selective about who they accept donations from?

  4. Should we give what we can?

  5. Are intentions or outcomes more important when judging whether actions are moral?