This article is aimed at studying the impact of academic essays on the development and assessment of critical thinking of students - future teachers of a foreign language. An academic essay is considered as an effective means of developing critical writing skills among students. It is noted that students experience significant difficulties in academic writing, showing weak critical writing skills. In the study, this problem is solved using a set of methods and strategies for pedagogical impact on the processes of developing critical writing skills: Cottrell tasks, tasks for reading ‘evaluating the logic of text’ according to the method of R. Paul and L. Elder, discussing reviews of books and articles, ‘brainwriting’ technique. Herewith the close relationship of reading skills with writing skills have been taken into consideration. To evaluate critical thinking of students, an adapted Illinois Essay Test of Critical Thinking developed by M. Finken and R. Ennis was applied. The results of the study showed the positive impact of academic essays on the development of critical writing skills of students, making it possible to offer conclusions and recommendations regarding the development of critical thinking of a professional and pedagogical orientation in future teachers of a foreign language.