Essay Contest

Showcase your writing talent in our
“Knowledge is Power” Essay Contest!

Whether you’re competing in the Junior (Grades 4-6), Intermediate (Grades 7-8), or Senior (Grades 9-12) essay contest, this is your chance to dive deep into important topics and make your voice heard through a thoughtful persuasive essay.

Essay Topics:

Junior Contest (Grades 4-6)
Choose one of the following topics:

  • Which character from a book is the best role model for kids, and why?
  • If you could travel back in time and meet one person, who would it be, and why?
  • Imagine that powerful aliens have decided to destroy the Earth! What would you tell them about our planet or the beings that live there to change their minds?

Intermediate Contest (Grades 7-8)
Choose one of the following topics:

  • What is the most important quality in a leader? How does this quality help to achieve the best outcomes for a team or a society?
  • Many people worry about the negative effects of video games on young people. Can video games make a positive impact on young people’s lives? If so, how?
  • Should people forgive those who have wronged them? Is that the wise choice? Is it the ethical choice?

Senior Contest (Grades 9-12)
Choose one of the following topics:

  • What makes Canada so Canadian? Discus one feature of Canada or Canadians that sets us apart from the rest of the world.
  • What is the best way to deal with failure? How can it become a positive force in a person’s life?
  • Discuss the importance of the arts (e.g., visual, dance, music, film) in a world that increasingly emphasizes the value of STEM subjects. Explain the role that the arts play today and the role they could play in the future You may also pick one particular art form.
Requirements:

Length:

  • Junior Contest: 600-800 words in five paragraphs (including introduction and conclusion)
  • Intermediate Contest: 700-1,000 words in at least five paragraphs (including introduction and conclusion)
  • Senior Contest: 1,000-1,500 words in at least five paragraphs (including introduction and conclusion)

Your essay must also be:

  • written entirely by you, the author
  • not written for any other purpose (such as school or another contest)
  • not previously published
  • saved as a Word document or PDF
  • written in 12-point font in either Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri
Prizes:
  • Junior Contest: $50 cash prize for 1st place, $10 gift card for two runners up
  • Intermediate Contest: $75.00 cash prize for 1st place, $20 gift card for two runners up
  • Senior Contest: $125.00 cash prize for 1st place, $20 gift card for two runners up
  • All winners also receive a trophy and a Brain Power swag bag!
  • All winning essays will also be published in a collection!
Eligibility:
  • You must be a student in the relevant grade levels (see above) at the time of the contest deadline.
  • You must be a student in a Canadian school or a homeschooled student living in Canada and studying at the equivalent grade level.
Judging Criteria:

A panel of three Brain Power faculty members will judge the submitted essays and decide on the winner. Essays will be assessed on the basis of three criteria:

  • the cogency of the argument
  • whether the question has been answered in a direct and satisfying way
  • the clarity and effectiveness of the writing style.
Submissions:
  • Junior Contest (Grades 4-6):  no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 8, 2026. SUBMIT HERE!
  • Intermediate Contest (Grades 7-8):  no later than 11:59 pm on November 28, 2025. SUBMIT HERE!
  • Senior Contest (Grades 9-12): no later than 11:59 p.m. on March 6, 2025. SUBMIT HERE!
Questions?
Return to Contests Page

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