Individual Research Essay

This format MUST be an individual (one participant) entry

The essay must:

  • Be submitted online using the online entry form*
  • Include a 50 word descriptor which summarises the topic and its relationship to the theme.

* Manual entry forms are available for those unable to enter online.

Up to Year 4
LENGTH up to 400 words (using computer word count), not including the bibliography or 50 word descriptor. A bibliography must be included.

Years 5 to 6
LENGTH 400 to 800 words (using the computer word count), not including the bibliography or 50 word descriptor. A bibliography must be included.

Years 7 to 8
LENGTH 800 to 1,000 words (using the computer word count), not including the bibliography or 50 word descriptor.

Appropriate referencing must be included as well as a bibliography including three (3) annotations.

Years 9 to 12
LENGTH 1000 to 2000 words (using the computer word count), not including the bibliography or 50 word descriptor.

Appropriate referencing must be included as well as a bibliography including three (3) annotations.

Note: The total word count includes quotations but not citations (footnotes, end notes or in-text).

Essay Checklist
Year Level Word Limit Referencing Bibliography*
1-4 400 No Not annotated
5-6 800 No Not annotated
7 1,000 Yes Annotated
8 1,000 Yes Annotated
9 2,000 Yes Annotated
10 2,000 Yes Annotated
11-12 2,000 Yes Annotated

Annotated bibliographies should include annotations for the 3 most useful sources.