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Deadlines, results and guidance for The New York Times Learning Network writing contests.
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The 2025-26 New York Times Writing Contest Calendar: Every Contest and Deadline
A month-by-month guide to the New York Times Learning Network’s free student writing contests across the school year — from the Summer Reading Contest in June to the Student Editorial Contest in spring. This independent calendar explains the typical windows, how to read Eastern-Time deadlines from China, and how international students can plan a realistic…
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What Judges Look For in a Winning NYT Contest Entry: Rubrics Explained (2026)
How does the New York Times Learning Network actually judge its student writing contests? This independent guide explains the judging process — from a huge entry pool to a shortlist to winners — and the rubric dimensions that recur across contests, so international students can write to the standard editors actually use.
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What Are the New York Times Learning Network Writing Contests? A 2025-26 Guide (and How to Choose Yours)
The New York Times Learning Network runs a year-round series of free writing contests for students aged 13 to 19 anywhere in the world, from the flagship Student Editorial Contest to Personal Narrative, STEM Writing, Review and Summer Reading. This independent guide explains what each contest is, who can enter, and how to choose the…