Scholarship essays are used as parts of a series of formal qualifying exercises for scholarships. These essays are usually based on required subjects, and to investigate the abilities of scholarship candidates. The basis of assessment is comparative quality, refined by required standards. These essays may be of varying length, with additional requirements for content and information. Generally the scholarship essays are conducted by higher level colleges and professional institutions. These are often highly competitive scholarships, representing the applicant's opportunities to enter these institutions. Standards for success can be extremely high, with added incentive in terms of the level of competition.