Already written
School assignments and personal essays are welcome.
Free global prize · Enter independently or represent your school
That essay is already written. Let it win $150.
Submit an essay you already wrote—or create one referral link that lets your class, club or school enter together. Send up to five: every eligible essay is independently considered for prizes. US$500 is available through at least ten cash awards—normally eight student writers and two school communities. No new prompt. No entry fee.
A school code is optional. Referrals never affect cash-prize judging. Check eligibility →
- US$500 · at least ten cash awards
- Every essay is prize-eligible
- No popularity voting
- Deadline: November 1
Up to five chances
Every essay is judged independently. Three or more also unlocks the Portfolio Awards.
One link can rally a school
Share it with a class or club; every verified writer moves your school up the global board.
More than three essays can be recognized
Cash prizes are only the top of the ladder.
Submit up to five eligible essays. Each is considered separately for the cash prizes and the recognition tiers below, although one student may receive only one cash award.
Cash Prize Winners
Grand Prize, Runner-up, Third Prize and five Portfolio Multiplier Awards.
Finalists
The strongest essays on the final shortlist.
Highly Commended
Exceptional work deserving formal recognition.
Honourable Mention
Notable insight, argument, style or voice.
How it works
You already did the hard part.
Choose up to five essays
Each eligible essay gets its own chance at prizes, awards and publication.
Paste it or share a document
Use the short form below. Google Docs must be viewable by anyone with the link.
Let every essay speak
Each is reviewed on merit—not likes, school size or referrals.
The Global School Cup
Create one link. Put your school on the global board.
Create a trackable school link in seconds. Students still enter and consent individually; every verified entry is credited to the shared school code.
School participation is optional. Every eligible student can enter independently.
Teacher, coach or student captain? Create the link once and share it. Your school does no administration.
- 5 writersConnector badge + one equal entry for two US$50 awards
- 20 writersSigned captain certificate
- 50 writersFounding School recognition
School referral link generator
Get your school code and link in 20 seconds
Use a school or club name. Do not enter a student’s full name.
School code
Verified totals only
School leaderboard
Loading verified results…
| Rank | School / club | Writers | Essays |
|---|
Schools appear after five verified writers. Rankings affect School Cup recognition only—not cash-prize judging.
Eligibility
What can I submit?
Original nonfiction that you wrote while in high school and are permitted to share. Your essay may have been written before this competition opened.
Read the complete rulesEligible
- Argumentative or analytical essays
- Personal and reflective essays
- Research-based essays
- Commentary and opinion pieces
- Previously graded work you may share
- English-language work up to 3,000 words
Not eligible
- Work written by someone else
- AI-generated essays
- Fiction, poetry or scripts
- Coursework still under active assessment
- Work you do not have permission to submit
The prizes
US$500, designed to reward both quality and participation.
US$500 available: normally US$400 across eight student writers, plus two US$50 School Community Awards. One student cash award per person; referrals never affect essay judging.
Advisory team
Advisors who take student ideas seriously.
Soundly Said is advised by internationally accomplished debaters and adjudicators who understand argument, clarity and original thinking.
Zac Weinberg
Advisory Team
2026 World Schools Debating Championships Champion · Team Canada Education Undergraduate at Harvard UniversityJade Wang
Advisory Team
2026 World Schools Debating Championships Champion · Team CanadaJason Xiao
Advisory Team
Champion of the World Universities Debating Championship · Chief Adjudicator at the World Schools Debating Championships Education University of OxfordWajeeh Maaz
Advisory Team
World Universities Debating Championship Quarterfinalist · Hobart and William Smith Colleges Round Robin Champion Education King’s CollegeHow entries are assessed
Strong ideas, developed carefully.
Every eligible essay is evaluated independently without popularity voting. A student may receive only one cash award.
Original insight35%
Development & reasoning30%
Clarity & style20%
Overall impact15%
Official entry form
Your essay deserves more than a grade and a forgotten folder.
Up to five essays—every eligible essay can win.
Paste each text or provide an open-access Google Doc.
School codes are optional. Under 18? Have a guardian email ready.
Questions
The short answers.
For full eligibility, rights, timing and prize terms, read the competition rules.
Complete rulesDo I need to write something new?
No. That is the point. Submit an eligible essay you have already completed.
Can I submit a school assignment?
Yes, if it is your original work, you may share it and it is no longer under active assessment or confidentiality restrictions.
Does my essay need to answer a prompt?
No. Eligible nonfiction across a wide range of subjects and styles is welcome.
Can I submit more than one essay?
Yes. Send up to five in one entry form. Every eligible essay is independently considered for the main prizes and awards. Three eligible essays also unlock the Portfolio Awards. One student may receive only one cash award.
Does Soundly Said take ownership?
No. You retain copyright. Entry grants only the permission needed to administer and judge the competition. Publication requires separate permission.
Will every entry be published?
No. But prize judging and publication selection are separate: an essay that wins no prize or award may still receive a publication invitation. Publication always requires separate permission.
How does the School Cup work?
It is optional. Verified students and eligible essays are credited to the school code in their link or form. The leading verified school at the deadline earns 2026 Global School Cup recognition and a signed digital certificate. Rankings never affect individual prize judging.
How are the two US$50 school awards equitable?
Every school or club community reaching five verified student writers receives exactly one entry for the two School Community Awards. Two different communities are selected. A group with 5 writers and a group with 500 have the same odds. Additional students help milestone recognition and the leaderboard, but never add chances or judging points.
Your words deserve another destination.
Give your finished essay one more chance to matter—and a chance to win.
Submit my essay now Free entry · No new prompt · Deadline November 1