OCAR Essay prize
The Oxford Essay Prize 2027 is run by OCAR, a private company that is not part of the University of Oxford. It is open to 14 to 18 year olds worldwide, so UK sixth formers can enter, and entry is free. Students pick one of six prompts and write up to 1,500 words, with a teacher or other academic referee named on the entry. Two of the prompts are economics: whether a computer simulation of every individual in the economy could answer our biggest economic questions, and how policymakers should handle the uncertainty built into their decisions. Both reward evaluation over description, so they suit confident Year 12 and 13 students ready for stretch beyond the spec. Be clear with students that the main prizes are scholarships towards OCAR’s own paid programmes, with some cash alongside. The final deadline is 3 January 2027, which makes it a workable Christmas project.