Writing is more than just putting words on paper—it is possibly the most powerful tool! If you are a high school student, take this as an opportunity to dive into your thoughts, reflect on the world around you, and create something truly unique. Competitions provide the perfect platform to explore, express, receive recognition, and even kickstart your journey into the literary world.
So, if you’ve been waiting for a chance to let your words make an impact, now’s the time! In this blog, we’ll take you through 10 writing competitions for high school students in 2025 that are worth marking on your calendar. Let’s dive in!
Sponsored by the Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association (HUEA), this competition invites students to express their knowledge of Economics through essays addressing current global economic issues. This is one competition to consider if you are seriously contemplating Economics for higher studies. It pushes you to go beyond your curriculum and learn through research and reflection.
Open to all High school students worldwide (Grades 9-12), Submit your essays by 11:59 PM EST, January 5, 2025.
200 entries will be accepted, so submit early. It is still not too late!
Essay Prompt for 2025: Submit a 1500 word essay on:
Environment: Discuss the effectiveness of carbon taxes compared to renewable energy subsidies. What alternatives to carbon taxes could address environmental concerns?
Inequality: Analyze the potential economic and social effects of replacing income taxes with a consumption tax. How would this affect different socioeconomic groups and international relations?
Workforce & Education: Evaluate how education systems should adapt to prepare for a workforce dominated by automation and AI. What are the economic impacts of focusing on STEM vs. soft skills?
Crypto/Finance: Discuss the impact of cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies on monetary policy, financial stability, and global capital flows.
Essays will be judged by the HUEA board and, for the top 10, by an Economics Professor at Harvard. What the judges look for is clarity, originality, argumentation, and economic insight. Top 3 essays are published on the website and all finalists are awarded certificates.
For further details, visit the official website https://www.thehuea.org/general-8
If you feel deeply about global environmental challenges, then this is the space for you to reflect, express, and advocate. Participate and beyond awards, become genuine catalysts for positive change.
Open for participation in Junior Division (11-14 years old) and Senior Division (15-18 years old)
Prompt for 2025:
The theme, “Connections to Nature: Looking Inside, Going Outside,” invites students to reflect on their unique relationship with nature and how the natural world shapes their identity, emotions, and actions. Submissions can explore topics like the history of the land, climate change activism, or your deep personal experiences in nature. Moreover, express your connection with the environment in your own unique way. Choose any of the following creative media of your choice and submit by June 9, 2025.
Creative Writing (poetry, personal essays, creative nonfiction)
Visual Art
Film
Performance Art
Multimedia
For further details check out the official website https://bowseat.org/programs/ocean-awareness-contest/contest-overview/
Organized by the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), the Annual DNA Day Essay Contest celebrates the milestones of genetic discovery. As a high school student, you will be asked to explore contemporary genetics issues through well-reasoned essays. It’s all about research, originality and your unique perspective. This is one interesting competition students interested in Natural Sciences, Genetics, Molecular Biology or Biotechnology should attempt.
Open to high school students in grades 9–12 worldwide. You will be needing a teacher as a sponsor.
The 2025 essay question is super interesting! It focuses on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in genetic testing. The prompt deep dives into:
When would AI be helpful in understanding genetic test results?
What risks or harms might AI pose in healthcare?
What information would you want AI to analyze compared to standard genetic testing results?
What is special is that this competition urges you to critically analyze the intersection of genetics, advanced technologies, and ethics—all relevant to the real world.
Competition Time:
January 6, 2025: Submission site opens.
March 5, 2025: Submission site closes.
April 25, 2025 (DNA Day): Winners and honourable mentions announced.
Prizes include cash, genetics material grants and commendations on the website. Visit ASHG DNA Day website.
This is one of the most prestigious essay competitions held annually. The competition covers a range of themes, including Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law, so there is something for each one of you. We love this platform as it encourages interdisciplinary thinking and you will be amazed to see how science can be merged well with arts or philosophy! Think out of the box, conduct in-depth research and express your viewpoint through persuasive writing.
Open to students worldwide. Participants must be 18 years old or younger as of June 30, 2025. Junior Prize participants must be 14 years old or younger on the same date.
Registration and Deadlines:
Registration Opens: Approximately April 2025
Registration Closes: May 31, 2025
Submission Deadline: 11:59 pm BST, June 30, 2025
Essay Guidelines:
Each essay must not exceed 2000 words in a chosen category. Follow format as per guidelines
You can submit multiple essays across categories.
Essays are judged on knowledge, originality, quality of argumentation, structure, and persuasive style.
Addressing strong counterarguments strengthens the essay.
Winners of Each Category and the Junior Prize receive a $2000 scholarship for John Locke Institute programs and the publication of their essays on the Institute’s website.
Certificates are awarded to all shortlisted participants.
Winners are announced at an academic conference and awards dinner in September each year in London.
Too complicated? Join our cohort and we simplify this essay writing for you. 80% of our students have gone on to win commendations.
For further details, visit the John Locke Institute website https://www.johnlockeinstitute.com/essay-competition
This is an exciting challenge to imagine and shape the future through creative storytelling. Express yourself through written stories, drawings, paintings, or videos on themes such as climate change, poverty, and the transformation of society. Can you inspire change ? Imagine a world where citizens and governments unite to address these challenges and let your thoughts flow.
Winning submissions will receive €50 in book vouchers, a copy of Earth for All, and will be published in a special digital magazine.
Open for 3 categories: 15 and under; 16-18 years ; and 19-21years.
Submit as Written entries: Max 800 words; or Videos: Max 1.5 minutes.
Deadline for Submissions: Approximately June 30, 2025
Visit the official website of Earth4All https://earth4all.life/creative-challenge/
An international contest for students from grades K–12, offering a $500 prize and a one-year membership in the World History Association (WHA). The competition aims to recognize young scholars by encouraging them to connect personal experiences with world history.
Students are usually asked to submit essays that explore one of these topics:
A family story related to a historical event or personal cultural background.
An issue of personal relevance or specific regional history
Your essay needs to be 1000 words and well-referenced. Approximate deadline is May 1st, annually. The essays are evaluated based on: Clear thesis, Personal examples, Critical thinking, Organization and fluency, personal connection to world history. Overwhelming? Join our master writing classes to learn all these aspects and more.
For details of the contest visit the WHA website. https://www.thewha.org/wha-awards/world-historian-student-essay-competition/
Book lovers and budding philosophers will love this one! The Ayn Rand Institute hosts this annual student essay contests on Ayn Rand’s novels. These contests are open to students across various grade levels, with the opportunity to win up to $10,000 in prizes.
Novel for 2025 is yet to be announced. Watch the website for upcoming details https://aynrand.org/students/essay-contests/#tab-3-anthem
To participate, you need to read the selected novel, choose an essay topic, write the essay, and submit it online. Simple! So what is the challenge ? The board looks for a winner with an ability to justify and argue their views, possibly go beyond agreeing with Rand’s philosophy. If you are someone who has skill for argumentative writing, go for this!
Moving from argumentative writing to persuasive writing this contest invites students aged 13 to 19 worldwide to write public-facing open letters to people or groups about issues that matter to them. Write to Bill Gates or Taylor Swift, Give it a try! Contest dates: March 12 to April 16, 2025.
Contest Requirements:
Focus on a personal issue or experience.
Address a specific audience (e.g., parents, politicians, corporations).
Write a letter that also engages a general audience.
Limit of 500 words.
Resources and step-by-step guides are available to help students get started. Each entry must be original. The recognition you receive will help you boost your confidence and give an edge for your college applications.
Visit https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/08/learning/open-letters-our-opinion-writing-contest.html
Established in 1927, the Marshall Society is the Economics Society of the University of Cambridge. The competition invites pre-university students from all over the world to write a convincing and well-structured essay related to economic theories.
Competition date for 2025: To be announced
Keep a watch for dates at https://marshallsociety.com/about-us/
This is an esteemed literary competition open to high school students in grades 9–12, internationally. Gap year students can also use their time productively to send in their entries. Students can submit three poems, a short story, or a personal or academic nonfiction essay. Exciting cash prizes, scholarships are awarded to winners. Winning entries will be published on the Bennington College website and may be featured in local media.
An essential requirement is that entries must be accompanied by a sponsoring teacher.
For more information or to submit an entry, you can visit the website
https://www.bennington.edu/events/young-writers-awards/requirements-and-
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