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Deadlines, results and guidance for The New York Times Learning Network writing contests.
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The NYT Summer Reading Contest Closes August 14: A Final-Weeks Entry Plan for 2026
The NYT Learning Network Summer Reading Contest closes around August 14, 2026, with weekly Wednesday deadlines. Here is a final-weeks plan to enter before it shuts.
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The NYT Review Contest: How to Write a 450-Word Critical Review That Wins (2026)
The New York Times Learning Network Review Contest invites students to review a book, film, show, album, video game, restaurant or anything else in about 450 words. This independent guide explains the difference between a review and a summary, the structure judges reward, and how international students can pick the right thing to review.
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After You Submit a NYT Contest Entry: Results, Recognition and Your Next Move (2026)
You hit submit on a NYT Learning Network contest entry — now what? What happens during judging, how recognition typically works, how to record an honor honestly, and the exact next moves whether you place or not.
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Reading The Times Like a Writer: A Mentor-Text Method for NYT Contest Prep (2026)
Most students prepare for NYT Learning Network contests by writing more. The faster gains come from reading better: a four-pass mentor-text method, a contest-to-genre reading map, and the originality line you must never cross.
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Writing NYT Contest Entries in Your Second Language: A Craft Guide for ESL Students (2026)
A craft guide for students writing NYT Learning Network contest entries in English as a second language: the five most common ESL pitfalls, why bilingual writers hold real advantages, and a revision workflow built for non-native drafting.
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The NYT STEM Writing Contest: Explaining Science for a General Audience (2026)
The New York Times Learning Network STEM Writing Contest asks students to explain a science, maths, technology, engineering or health topic clearly for a general audience in about 500 words. This independent guide explains how to choose a topic, the explain-it-to-anyone structure that wins, and why it is a strong signal for science-minded international students.
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The NYT 100-Word Tiny Memoir Contest (2025-26): How to Tell One True Story for International Students
A student guide to the NYT Tiny Memoir / 100-Word Personal Narrative Contest: the true-story rule, ages 13-19 eligibility, the artist’s statement, and a compression method that works.
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The NYT Personal Narrative Contest: A Step-by-Step Guide with Worked Examples (2026)
The New York Times Learning Network Personal Narrative Contest asks students to tell one small, true story from their own life in about 600 words. This independent guide explains how to find a moment worth telling, the show-don’t-summarise structure that wins, and how international and China-based students can make their own context an advantage.
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New York Times Open Letters Contest: How to Enter & Write a Winner (2026)
What the NYT Learning Network’s Open Letters opinion-writing contest asks for — a short public letter of protest or appeal — plus who can enter, the deadline window, and how to write one that stands out.
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NYT Writing Contests vs. Other Essay Competitions (2025-26): Which Fits Your Goal?
How do the free New York Times Learning Network writing contests compare to long-form essay competitions and other student writing prizes? This independent guide maps the differences in length, cost, format and admissions signal, and helps international students decide which competition fits their goal.