- Middle (G6–G8) and High (G9–G11) sections; 35 weeks with up to 3 entries.
How to start
Start with a placement assessment. We use it to set the level and class, then confirm the year plan with the family. For schedules, tuition, and bundle offers, request the 2026-27 program guide through the form below.
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Contact a course advisorFrequently Asked Questions
What preparation do Irvine students need first?
The ability to produce a complete essay independently. Students normally finish academic writing at the intermediate level and can build an argument supported by evidence before starting competition work. The class then handles topic choice, length control, and multiple rounds of revision; placement is by assessment.
Which competitions does the class target?
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the New York Times Learning Network student contests, and the John Locke Institute Global Essay Competition. The middle school section (G6-G8) works toward entries for recognized contests, and the high school section (G9-G11) turns writing ability into humanities competition results.
How do Irvine students enter the Scholastic Awards?
Entrants are in grades 7 to 12 and at least 13 years old, and submit to the judging region where they live; regional judging comes first, then national. Writing categories include critical essay, journalism, personal essay and memoir, short story, flash fiction, and poetry, each with its own length limit. Regional deadlines differ, and Southern California regions can be more than a month apart, so Irvine families should confirm their region and its current deadline on the official site.
What does the John Locke essay competition require?
An independently written essay of no more than 2,000 words, submitted online. There are ten subject areas, including economics, history, law, philosophy, politics, psychology, public policy, and science, each with three prompts, and the student answers one. Entrants are split into Junior and Senior divisions by age on the deadline.
How many contests can an Irvine student enter in a year?
The class runs 35 weeks with up to three entries. The three are spread across the year according to each contest's deadline, and writing schedules follow each contest's prompts and length limits so drafts are not all due at once. School exam and project weeks differ from school to school, so the schedule is confirmed with families each term.
How does competition writing relate to college essays?
They reinforce each other but serve different ends. A competition result is a verifiable honor for the honors section, while the habits built in competition work, topic selection and repeated revision, carry directly into application essays. Focused essay work is covered by the College Essay Boot Camp.
