New York Time Writing Competition

1. Confirm Eligibility

• Age: Must be 13–19 years old

• School Status: Enrolled in middle or high school (or a gap year student who has finished high school but not yet enrolled in college)

• Global Access: Open to students worldwide, including international students

• Exclusions: Not open to children or stepchildren of New York Times employees, or those living in the same household

2. Choose a Contest (e.g., Editorial Contest)

• Editorial Contest: Write a persuasive editorial (≤450 words) on an issue you care about

• Other NYT contests: Include Review, STEM Writing, Summer Reading, Podcast, Open Letter, etc. Each has its own prompt and submission window

3. Write Your Submission

• Word limit: Usually no more than 450 words (excluding title & sources)

• Evidence: Must cite at least one New York Times source and one external source

• Language: Must be submitted in English

4. Submit via Official NYT Learning Network Portal

• Entry links are activated on the start date of each contest (e.g., via the NYT Learning Network website)

• Students can submit their entries online; teachers or parents may assist or submit on behalf of younger participants if needed

5. Follow Contest Schedule

• Each contest has fixed submission windows (typically lasting 4–8 weeks)

• For example, past Editorial Contest windows ran from mid-March to mid-April

• Dates for 2026/2027 haven’t been announced yet—keep an eye on the official page

6. After Submission

• Expect notification of winners about 2 months after the contest closes

• Winning entries may be published on The Learning Network or even in the print edition of The New York Times