The Festina Lente Essay Award is an opportunity for you to stretch your academic abilities and showcase your passion by producing a 1,500-word university-style essay.
Competitions such as these are a brilliant way to explore a subject outside the confines of your classroom. Moreover, the experience of writing an essay for an external competition and award outside of school offers you the chance to demonstrate to universities that you have the skills and motivation to think independently and participate in high-level writing.
Download the 'Candidate guide and marking criteria' PDF and see the exemplar essay examples below. Contact essayaward@relaxedsnail.com if you'd like any further information.
All essays submitted by the deadline will receive detailed feedback from our examiners. In order to officially obtain the Award and certification, your essay must score at least 50% (Grade C) against our rigorous mark scheme. Moreover, each year, we also select three finalists - the top three. You can download these essays below!
See below for an interview we had in June 2023, with Arbiana, from Kings Oxford. Here she talks about her experience of the Festina Lente Essay Award and offers some guidance to future students hoping to submit an essay.
Interview with Arbiana from Kings Oxford (2nd place 2023) (pdf)
DownloadThis is the total fee to submit your essay to the Festina Lente Essay Award. All essays are returned to students with detailed marking. Those who score a Grade C or above will also be awarded an official certificate. Once payment has been made you will shortly receive an email confirmation with a Unique Candidate Number (UCN). Please provide the email address you would like to use at the checkout. Read the 'Candidate Guide and Marking Criteria 2024' before starting your essay.
NB: Your school may already have an annual subscription to submit entries to the Festina Lente Essay Award. They may also have an internal invoice process to help you submit. Therefore, please check with your school before making payment.
Once payment has been made for the £60.00 student fee (if using PayPal via the Relaxed Snail website) there is a 14-day guaranteed refund. Email essayaward@relaxedsnail.com. Whilst still facilitated by Relaxed Snail, schools delivering the Festina Lente Essay Award to students may have their own fees and policies. Please read the 'Candidate Guide and Marking Criteria' in full before starting your essay.
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