Academic competitions for schools and colleges

Any UK students in Year 11 or 12 (or equivalent) attending a state-maintained school, with entries particularly encouraged from students who:

• Would be the first in their immediate family to go to university
• Are or have previously been eligible for Free School Meals or the 16-19 Bursary
• Are young carers, or have been in care
• Are from areas of socio-economic disadvantage (as measured by ACORN or IMD - visit our contextual data page for more information)

Any UK students who will be in Year 7, 8 or 9 (England and Wales), P7, S1 or S2 (Scotland) or Year 8, 9 or 10 (Northern Ireland) on 1 October 2025.

Any students aged 16 to 18 who are studying in the UK. 

Any UK students in Year 12 (or equivalent). 

Any students in Year 12 (or equivalent), with one prize reserved for non-selective state schools in Oriel's link regions. 

Any UK students in Year 12 (or equivalent), with entries particularly encouraged from students who:

• Are currently attending a state-maintained school
• Would be the first in their immediate family to go to university
• Are or have previously been eligible for Free School Meals
• Are young carers, or have been in care

Questions released January 2026

Entry deadline March 2026

Any current sixth form students attending a state school or college.

Any current sixth form students.

At least one prize will be awarded to a pupil who is studying neither Latin nor Ancient Greek to A-level standard.

Any current sixth form students.

Julia Wood webpage

Any students attending a non-selective state secondary school in the UK.

Winners will be selected in two categories: Years 7-9 and 10-13.

Oxplore website

Any current UK state school students in Years 11 to 13 (or equivalent).

St Edmund Hall website

Any current UK state school students in Year 12 or equivalent, who are studying Geography.

Christ Church website

Any UK secondary school students (aged 11 to 18) studying French and/or Spanish. 

Winners will be selected in three categories: Years 7-9, 10-11, and 12-13.

Modern Languages website