Announcing the
2025 Essay Prize Winners
Special congratulations to those who achieved a High Commendation or Very High Commendation in this year's competition. Photographs from our prize-winning ceremony in London will be emailed to those who attended. Shortlisted contestants will be contacted by email, providing access to their eCertificates
by the end of the month.
GRAND PRIZE
Emma Luo, Scarsdale High School, United States of America
PHILOSOPHY Prize
Winner: Alvin Zhang, Raffles Institution, Singapore
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Second Prize: Ryan Zhao, Shenzhen College of International Education, China
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Third Prize: Eamon Lam, Charterhouse School, United Kingdom
POLITICS Prize
Winner: Nelli Morozova, Exupery International School, Latvia
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Second Prize: Eesha Haye, Lahore American School, Pakistan
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Third Prize: Hailey Tan, Methodist Girls School, Singapore
ECONOMICS Prize
Winner: Emma Luo, Scarsdale High School, United States of America
​Second Prize: Vivian Zhang, William G. Enloe High School United States of America
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Third Prize: Zancong Koh, Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore
HISTORY Prize
Winner: Aniha Vashisht, Delhi Public School, India
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Second Prize: Shireen Valasagandla, Ridgeview Middle School United States of America
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Third Prize: Jiaqi Hong, Nanjing Foreign Language School, China
LAW Prize
Winner: Matthew Wong, Sherborne School, United Kingdom
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Second Prize: Matthew Zheng, Kristin School, New Zealand
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Third Prize: Laila Chapra, Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan
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PSYCHOLOGY Prize
Winner: Xinmo Chen, Beijing Academy, China
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Second Prize: Aryan Morzaria, British International School of Chicago, United States of America
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Third Prize: Sabrina Xu, Boroughmuir High School, United Kingdom
THEOLOGY Prize
Winner: Timothy Hobbs, Eltham College, United Kingdom
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Second Prize: Maahin Fiaz, International School Lahore, Pakistan
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Third Prize: Vedant Saran, Lexington High School, United States of America
Junior Prize
Winner: Charlie Johnson, The Hutchins School, Australia
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Second Prize: Dhruv Patel, American Heritage Schools, United States of America
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Third Prize: Ho Man Yiu, YK Pao School, China
RECENT Essay Prize Winners
2024
Grand Prize
Kan Zhang, BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour, China
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Philosophy
Winner: Kan Zhang, BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour, China
Second Prize: Olivia Kang, Davidson Academy Online, USA
Third Prize: Mihyeon Lee, North Raleigh Christian Academy, USA
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Politics
Winner: Xinen Han, The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, China
Second Prize: Marcell Pap, V. kerületi Eötvös József Gimnázium, Hungary
Third Prize: Yijun Zhou, HD Shanghai School, China
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Economics
Winner: Yuhao Liu
Second Prize: Audrey Kuk, St Hilda’s School, Australia
Third Prize: Jiankai Zhao, Raffles Institution, Singapore
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History
Winner: Maximus Sherwood, BHASVIC, UK
Second Prize: Zack Lam, Richard Montgomery High School, USA
Third Prize: Max Collison, Winchester College, UK​​​
​Psychology
Winner: Jingyi Cheng, The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, China
Second Prize: Johnny Yi, BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour, China
Third Prize: Sreyaa Sunjay, King Edwards VI Camp Hill School for Girls, UK
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Theology
Winner: Alex Wang, Cranbrook Kingswood, USA
Second Prize: Ruoxiao Wang, Minhang Crosspoint Middle School, China
Third Prize: Caroline Tong, AP Homeschoolers Online Classes, USA
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Law
​Winner: Olivia Wei, Saint Cuthbert's College, New Zealand
Second Prize: Maner Wen, Tianjin Yinghua Experimental School, China
Equal Third Prize: George Morrison, Eton College, UK
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Junior
Winner: Philip Taxiarchis, Westminster School, UK
Second Prize: Doria Chen, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore
Third Prize: Ihsan Iftikar, The Greenwich Country Day School, USA
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2023
Grand Prize
Hosei Kishida, Shanghai American School, China​
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Philosophy
Winner: Hosei Kishida, Shanghai American School, China
Second Prize: Amanda Sun, Princeton High School, USA
Third Prize: Qianyu Lin, Raffles Institution, Singapore
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Politics
Winner: William Zhou, Hunter College High School, USA
Second Prize: Ziyi Wei, Westridge School for Girls, USA
Third Prize: Xiaoya Du, The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, China
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Economics
Winner: Kit Young Tham, Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore
Second Prize: Kevin Hao, Knox Grammar School, Australia
Third Prize: Zhong Yang M. Yeh, Shanghai High School International Division, China
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History
Winner: Yoo Jin Cho, Presbyterian Ladies' College, Australia
Second Prize: Hannah Fareed, Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan
Third Prize: Quynh Anh La Le, Saigon South International School, Vietnam​​​​
​Psychology
Winner: Claire Yura Kim, Berkshire School, USA
Second Prize: Arnav Pandey, The International School Bangalore, India
Third Prize: Hannah Kim, La Canada High School, USA
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Theology
Winner: Hanyu Li, High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, China
Second Prize: Shivraj Sharma, Neerja Modi School, India
Third Prize: Scarlet Strogov, South Orange Middle School, USA
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Law
​Winner: Youran Wu, Nanjing Foreign Language School British Columbia Academy, China
Second Prize: Kayson Hu, Reddam House Sydney, Australia
Equal Third Prize: Lucienne Keyoung, Manhasset High School, USA​
Equal Third Prize: Esme Vallois-Davies, Colchester Royal Grammar School, UK
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Junior
Winner: Xibei Kuang, Pinehurst school, New Zealand​
Second Prize: Alissa Song, Kambala, Australia​
Third Prize: Iris Zhu, Bement School, USA​
2022
Grand Prize
Benjamin Who, The Hotchkiss School, USA
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Philosophy
Winner: Selena Teng, Millburn High School, USA
Second Prize: Jinchuan Li, The Experimental High School attached to Beijing Normal University, China
Third Prize: Vivian Li, Magdalen College School, UK
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Politics
Winner: Pengzhe Lin, Cranbrook Schools, USA
Second Prize: Brandon Ma, Living Word Shanghai Bilingual School, China
Third Prize: Fengshuo Wang, Allendale Columbia School, USA
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Economics
Winner: Benjamin Who, The Hotchkiss School, USA
Second Prize: Ke Ren, Ulink Beijing, China
Third Prize: Yixi Zhang, Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, China
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History
Winner: Yifan Liu, Independent Schools Foundation, Hong Kong
Second Prize: Xiaoyi Shi, Shanghai Foreign Language School Affiliated to SISU, China
Third Prize: Chenrui Dai, Ruian High School International Department, China​​​​
​​Psychology
Winner: Shahmeer Bukhari, Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan
Second Prize: Sujeong Park, North London Collegiate School Jeju, Republic of South Korea
Third Prize: Samantha Shim, Phillips Academy, USA
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Theology
Winner: Jonathan Pan, The King's School, Australia
Second Prize: Xinyue Zhu, Bard College at Simon's Rock, USA
Third Prize: Chloe Huang, Westminster School, UK
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Law
​Winner: Gabriel Stoney, Rugby School, UK
Second Prize: Yifei Chen, Wuxi Big Bridge Academy, China
Third Prize: Donghong Wei- Shenzhen College of International Education, China​
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Junior
Winner: Cheuk Hei Chung, Chinese International School, Hong Kong
Second Prize: Teresa Yan, PS/MS 219 Paul Klapper, USA
Third Prize: Jianing Zhang, Veritas Christian Academy, USA
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2021
Grand Prize
Huaming Li, Xi’an Gaoxin No.1 High School, China
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Philosophy
Winner: Austin Swaffer, Knox Grammar School, Australia
Second Prize: Chongwen Gu, YK Pao School, China​
Third Prize: Dana Song, Horace Mann, USA
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Politics
Winner: Andre Pancholi, Latymer Upper School, UK
Second Prize: Yuhan Wang, Dunman High School, Singapore
Third Prize: Justin Chan, Harrow School, UK
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Economics
Winner: Marc Kadir, The Manchester Grammar School, UK
Second Prize: Arshiya Jain, Modern School Vasant Vihar, India
Third Prize: Alexander Chen, Archmere Academy, USA
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History
Winner: Major Shokar, Aylesbury Grammar School, UK
Second Prize: Zoya Fasihuddin, Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan
Third Prize: Stella Zhu, Northfield Mount Hermon, USA​​​
​​Psychology
Winner: Eugene Choi, International School Manila, Philippines
Second Prize: InChan Yang, Winchester College, UK
Third Prize: Sarah Carr, Sidcot School, UK
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Theology
Winner: Aiden Whitham, St. Paul's School, UK
Second Prize: Laura Koscielska, The Purcell School For Young Musicians, UK
Third Prize: Naciima Mohamed, Columbia Heights High School, USA
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Law
​Winner: Hao Tian, Beijing New Talent Academy, China
Second Prize: Huaming Li, Xi’an Gaoxin No.1 High School, China
Third Prize: Corey Koh, Raffles Institution, Singapore​
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Junior
Winner: Joonyoung Heo, Pacific Cascade Middle School, USA
Second Prize: Stephanie Mo, Indian Mountain School, USA
Third Prize: Rena Kim, Menlo School, USA​​​​
2020
Grand Prize
Ethan Christian Tan, Anglo-Chinese School, Singapore
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Philosophy
Winner: Ethan Christian Tan, ACS (Independent), Singapore
Second Prize: Min-Jun Kang, Korea International School, Korea
Third Prize: Ali Haider, Wallington County Grammar School, UK
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Politics
Winner: Helny Hobbs, Newstead Wood School, UK
Second Prize: Elizabeth Zhu, University of Toronto School, Canada
Third Prize: Calvin Xu, Appleby College, Canada
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Economics
Winner: Raphael Conte, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, UK
Second Prize: Saskia Poulter, The Tiffin Girls' School, UK
Third Prize: Jaimin Shah, King Edward VI Grammar School, UK
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History
Winner: Runan Lin, Georgetown Preparatory School, USA
Second Prize: Christopher Conway, King's College School, UK
Equal Third Prize: Sungjin Park, Wellington College, UK and
Megan Cui, Phillips Andover Academy, USA​
​​Psychology
Winner: Tianyi Jia, Princeton High School, USA
Second Prize: Henry Barker, Felsted School, UK
Third Prize: Jessica Na, Interlake High School, USA
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Theology
Winner: Noah Buckle, Watford Grammar School for Boys, UK
Second Prize: Zheng Wei Lim, Raffles Institution, Singapore
Third Prize: Varun Venkatesh, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore
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Law
​Winner: Sirui Cai, Raffles Institution, Singapore
Second Prize: Junfang Zhang, Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore
Third Prize: Christopher Bong, ARCH Education, Hong Kong​
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Junior
Winner: Jason Hausenloy, UWCSEA East Campus, Singapore
Second Prize: Anna Rantakari, Wellington College, UK
Third Prize: Alexander Fletcher, St Paul's School, UK
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2019
Grand Prize
Luke Duthie, Germantown Academy, Pennsylvania, US
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Philosophy
Winner: Younghoon Seo, Chadwick International School, South Korea
Second Prize: Jiajun Chung, Anglo-Chinese Junior College, Singapore
Third Prize: Maximilian Fawcett, St Paul's School, UK
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Politics
Winner: Nayah Victoria Thu, Oslo International School, Norway
Second Prize: Daniel Craig-McFeely, St Paul's School, UK
Third Prize: Haritha Kumar, Cupertino High School, US
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Economics
Winner: Luke Duthie, Germantown Academy, US
Second Prize: Janusha Uthayakumar, Woodford County High School for Girls, UK
Third Prize: Harry Toube, City of London School, UK
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History
Winner: Rosie Ashmore, Hagley Roman Catholic High School, UK
Second Prize: Mihira Philip, Sutton Grammar School, UK
Equal Third Prize: George Chadney, The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, UK
Clemmie Read, St Paul's Girls' School, UK​​​
​​Psychology
Winner: Zikai Zhou, Xiaoshi High School, China
Second Prize: Claire Yoonsuh Kim, Chadwick International School, South Korea
Third Prize: Sophie Kelly, Millfield School, UK
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Theology
Winner: Elijah Lee, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Singapore
Second Prize: Cindy Xin, Albany High School, US
Third Prize: Andrzej Karpiński, II High School In Poznan, Poland
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Law
​Winner: Judy Hyojoo Rhee, University Hill Secondary School, Canada
Second Prize: Jonathan Lee, Abingdon School, UK
Third Prize: Alexander Archer, Eton College, UK​
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Junior
Equal First Prize: Ethan Zhu, The King's School, Australia
Indigo Lee-Wilson, Ascham School, Australia
Third Prize: Jason Hausenloy, UWC South East Asia East Campus, Singapore​​​​