The most accurate AI grader for UC Berkeley essays.
Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into University of California-Berkeley and the rest of the T20.
UC Berkeley essay prompts for 2025-26
Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.
These are the most recent UC Berkeley prompts Kolly has verified, checked . UC Berkeley may have updated them since, so check University of California admissions before you submit.
Personal insight questions
All UC campuses share these eight questions. Choose four and write up to 350 words each.
Choose 4 of the following.
Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
350 words max · Optional
Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
350 words max · Optional
What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
350 words max · Optional
Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
350 words max · Optional
Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
350 words max · Optional
Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
350 words max · Optional
What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
350 words max · Optional
Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
350 words max · Optional
All UC Berkeley personal insight questions, with word limits and the published source.
How Kolly grades a UC Berkeley essay
The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. UC Berkeley readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.
Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read
ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what UC Berkeley readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.
Grading your personal statement?
Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see University of California-Berkeley admissions.