Entries will be disqualified if they fail to meet any of the following requirements:

• The Competition is open to nationals or residents of all Commonwealth countries and territories. Note: Special dispensation applies to entrants from Hong Kong, Fiji and Zimbabwe who are entitled to enter the Competition.
• Entrants must select a Senior or Junior topic depending on their age on 1st May 2014. Please see flyer for age guidelines. Students of any age (within the requirements) can select the Bonus topic, but this must be in place of a Senior or Junior topic.
• Only one essay per entrant is allowed. Once an essay is submitted, students/teachers will not have the opportunity to revise it. Please carefully check and improve you writing before submitting the final copy, and also ensure that all supplementary information is filled in correctly (name, contact details, topic number, etc.)
• Entries must be written in English.
• Entries must be the original work of the writer. Whereas it might be relevant to receive help while discussing and shaping possible material for the piece of writing, the final copy submitted for the competition MUST be the entrant's own work, and cannot be unduly corrected or improved by another person.
• Entrants must submit an entry form alongside their essay and complete all the mandatory fields.
• The maximum word counts are 1500 words for Senior entries and 750 words for Junior entries. These word limits apply to all topics and all formats (essay, poem, letter, etc). Exceeding the word count will result in automatic disqualification.
• Essays can only be uploaded in either word doc. or pdf format.
• All entries must be submitted before midnight (GMT) on 1st May 2014.

• Unfortunately, every year a number of students are disqualified because they are suspected of plagiarism. Entries must be the original work of the writer. This does not rule out input or assistance from others. However an entry will be disregarded if there is any suggestion of plagiarism or undue help from the internet or another person.
• Entrants are encouraged to be creative in their response to a topic. Entries can be submitted in a number of different formats: for example, a poem, letter, article, story, essay or even a short play.
• Entries must respond to the topic. Each year a number of good entrants must be disregarded because they do not fully answer/reflect on what the topic has asked them to do.
• Award-winning entrants are expected to show originality and flair, linked to sound academic standards and competent use of English as a written language. This includes a good standard of spelling and punctuation, neat presentation and clear hand-writing or word-processing.
• Illustrations are welcomed, particularly in Junior entries, but they must enhance the written text and add to the overall quality of the entry.
• Entrants should be aware that the care with which they present their work will be taken into account whether writing by hand or using a computer.
• Wondering if your country or territory is part of the Commonwealth? See here for the complete list.

ALL CERTIFICATES FOR THE 2014 COMPETITION WILL BE GENERATED ONLINE ONLY! WE DO NOT POST HARD COPIES OF CERTIFICATES. You will be given a reference number when you submit your essay. It is very important that you keep this number is a safe place as you will need it to download any certificates you are awarded. Teachers, please remember to retain the reference numbers for each of you students.

Having trouble submitting your essay? Contact competitions@thercs.org.

All essays must be in English and can be submitted with an entry form online or via post. For details on postal hubs and how to submit your essay, please visit www.thercs.org.

Submit your entry by post
If you are submitting your entry by post, please complete your entry form in block capitals and attach it to the front of your essay. Entries can be sent directly to the Royal Commonwealth Society or to a regional postal hub as listed below. Please see our International Network page if you're unsure which region your country/territory falls under.

Post directly to the Royal Commonwealth Society
FAO YOUNG COMMONWEALTH COMPETITIONS
THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY
7-11 St Matthew Street
London
SW1P 2JT

Post to a regional postal hub
Americas / Caribbean :
Fao Young Commonwealth Competitions
The British Council
19 St. Clair Avenue, St.Clair
Port of Spain
Trinidad and Tobago

Africa :
Fao Young Commonwealth Competitions
The British High Commission
PO Box 296
ACCRA
Ghana

Asia :
Fao Young Commonwealth Competitions
The British High Commission
185 Jalan Ampang
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

Pacific :
Fao Young Commonwealth Competitions
The British High Commission
PO Box 1812
Wellington 6140
New Zealand

Junior Category (Born after 1st May 2000)

• Tell us about your family or friends. Who are the team players and who are the stars?
• ‘You’re one of us now.’
• What makes a good team? What makes a good team player?
• Tell us about an instance (or two) where people from different generations have worked together.
• Have there been times in your life when you wished you had someone to team up with?

• Team Commonwealth! How would you describe what your country has to offer other members of the team?
• How can sport build peace in troubled communities?
• What part does competition play in people’s daily lives?
• Explore the relationship between ethics, sport and human rights.
• ‘We’re a good partnership, you and I!’

• ‘United we stand!’