In fact, everything here is individual and depends on many factors. Some authors are used to working quickly and efficiently. They can write a 500-word essay in an hour or less. Others may think for a long time about which words to use and how to make the text easy to read. They can spend several hours writing even the shortest essay but making it as high quality and original as possible.
Of course, the topic of the essay also plays a significant role here. If it is too complex and philosophical, the author will need more time to sort out all the nuances and reach a consensus. In general, a 500-word essay can easily be written in a matter of hours.