No registration. Just write and submit.
There is no registration step and no entry fee. The five 2026 questions are published openly — pick one, write up to 1500 words in English, and submit before 1 September 2026. When you are ready to submit, message us on WhatsApp and we will send you the submission link. One entry per student.
From question to submission
The competition is deliberately simple to enter. There is no registration form, no candidate ID to wait for, and no fee at any stage. The five questions are public on this site and on the Society’s official page, so you can start reading and drafting today.
Most candidates spend six to ten weeks between choosing a question and submitting. Those who try to compress the work into the final fortnight tend to submit weaker essays — the rubric rewards original argument and well-supported evidence, both of which take time to read for and to redraft against a critical reader.
writing cadence
Choose a question
All five 2026 questions are public — see the rules and resources pages. You commit to one question only when you submit, so you may draft against two before deciding.
Write your essay
Up to 1500 words in English (excluding references). Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 spacing, Harvard referencing. AI-generated content and plagiarism are strictly forbidden and every essay is screened.
Submit via WhatsApp
When your essay is ready, message us on WhatsApp and we will send you the official submission link plus the file-naming convention. Submit before 1 September 2026 — late entries are not accepted.
One essay, four requirements
A single essay is the whole entry. There is no application form, no recommendation letter, no transcript, and no parental-consent form. The four requirements below are everything the competition asks of your submission.
The Society keeps the barrier-to-entry low on purpose — the signal value of the award comes from the quality of the essays, not from any registration friction. Anyone asking you to pay an “entry fee” for this competition is not authorised by the Society.
≤ 1500 words, English
Word count excludes references and bibliography. There is no minimum — a tight 900-word essay can win. Written in English; quotations in other languages must be translated and cited.
Harvard referencing
Harvard style is recommended. Format: Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 line spacing, page numbers. A complete reference list at the end is expected for any sourced claim.
Your own work, no AI
Plagiarism and AI-generated content are strictly forbidden. Every submission is AI-screened and plagiarism-checked on receipt; violations lead to disqualification.
One entry per student
Each student submits one essay answering one of the five questions. Eligibility: 2026 / 2027 graduates are recommended, and the competition is open to all secondary-school students worldwide.
For schools entering cohorts
Teachers entering a group of students — an economics class, an A-level cohort, or an enrichment club — can coordinate through a single teacher on the school side. Entry is free for every student and free for the school; there is still no registration step.
One coordinator
A single teacher acts as the point of contact, shares the published questions with students, and collects finished essays before the deadline. Each student still writes independently.
Submit together
The coordinator can message us on WhatsApp to receive the submission link and arrange a batch submission for the cohort, or each student can submit individually — both are fine.
Cohort summary
After results release, a coordinator who submitted a batch can request an anonymised summary of the school’s results. Individual scores remain confidential to each student.
Teachers — message us on WhatsApp, say you are entering a school cohort, and the support team will walk you through batch submission and any school-side timing.
If something changes before the deadline
Changing your question
You commit to a specific question only when you submit. Up to that point you can change freely — many candidates draft against two prompts and decide which to submit in the final week.
Deciding not to submit
Since there is no registration and no fee, there is nothing to withdraw — simply do not submit. There is no penalty and no record kept of anyone who chose not to enter.
Getting the submission link
Message us on WhatsApp when your essay is ready and we will send the official submission link and confirm the file-naming convention. You do not need anything from us to start writing — the questions are already public.
Support timing
The support team responds within one working day, in Mandarin or English. The 72 hours before the deadline are predictably busy — get your submission link earlier in the week if you can.
Five questions about entering
For paper format and the rubric see rules; for award tiers see awards; for the master catalogue see the FAQ page.
Do I need to register?
Do I really not have to pay anything?
Where do I get the questions?
How exactly do I submit?
PETER SMITH+QUESTION 1). Submit before 1 September 2026, 23:59 GMT+1. Late entries are not accepted.Who is eligible to enter?
Message us for the submission link
No registration, no fee. Choose a question, write up to 1500 words in English, and when you are ready, scan the WhatsApp QR or tap below — we will send you the official submission link and answer any questions, within one working day.
