CLOSESÂ 5 NOVEMBER 2025
The Simpson Prize is a national competition for Year 9 and 10 students that focuses on the service of Australians in World War One and World War Two.
The 2026 Simpson Prize question is: ‘Evaluate the usefulness of diary entries, letters, and photographs for providing evidence about the contrasting experiences and perspectives of Australians who served in either the First World War or the Second World War. Discuss the accuracy of this statement with reference to either WW1 or WW2′.
The Simpson Prize requires students to discuss and respond to the question from a variety of perspectives, individual and national, using a variety of sources. Students are expected to make effective use of a minimum of 4 provided sources from either the ‘2026 Simpson Prize WW1 Sources’ or the ‘2026 Simpson Prize WW2 Sources’ available at //www.awm.gov.au/learn/schools/simpson2026. Up to half of the response should also make use of information drawn from the students own knowledge and research.
The 16 winners and runners-up, two from each state and territory, travel to Canberra to participate in a 3-day study program in early 2026. The results of the 2026 Simpson Prize will be available on this website at the conclusion of the Canberra Study Program in March. The 8 winners will travel to an overseas destination for an extensive commemorative study tour culminating in Anzac Day ceremonies at that location.
The Simpson Prize is a great opportunity for Year 9 and 10 students to participate in a nationwide essay competition, giving one winner and one runner-up from each State and Territory the opportunity to participate in Simpson Prize activities in 2026.
For further details go to //www.simpsonprize.org
Closing date Wednesday, 5 November 2025.