Objectives
This global competition is more than just a test—it’s a chance to connect with students and educators from around the world, celebrate the English language, and challenge yourself to improve your skills. The Olympiad is designed to build a sense of community, foster international friendships, and inspire a healthy spirit of competition among young English learners worldwide. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to get familiar with competitive exams and see where you stand on a global scale!
Test Format
The competition has four rounds: Preliminary Round, National Finals, Regional Qualifiers, and the Final Round.
Preliminary Round: This round consists of two sections—Reading Comprehension (multiple-choice questions) and an English Usage test. If you’re registering individually, you’ll take this test online via the International Olympiad Academy. If you’re registered through a school, the test will be held offline at your school.
Date: 2nd May, 2025
National Round: The top 10% of students from each country move on to this stage, where they’ll face a Reading Test, a Writing Test (30 questions), and an Essay (except for Little Hippo participants). The essay will only be evaluated if there’s a tie between candidates.
Date: 15th May, 2025
Regional Qualifiers Round: Selected candidates will be given exam details through hippo-olympiad.org. This round includes a crossword puzzle and 30 open-ended Use of English questions. You can check sample tests on the official Hippo website.
Date and Place: July, 2025. Doha, Qatar
World Final Round: The final challenge takes place in Assisi, Italy! Here, participants take the Gatehouse Awards exam, which tests all four language skills—Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Additionally, there will be a 30-question English Usage test, which will only count towards final rankings and won’t impact the GA exam results.
Date and Place: October, 2025. Assisi, Italy
No Negative Marking: Don’t worry about losing points—there’s only one correct answer for each question, and no marks are deducted for incorrect responses. Rankings are based on average scores.
Awards & Prizes
Preliminary & National Rounds:
Every participant will receive an e-certificate.
Regional Qualifier Round:
Winners advance to the World Finals!
Second-place winners in each category get a fully covered one-week stay at the Hippo Summer Camp (excluding travel costs).
Third-place winners receive a 50% discount coupon for the Hippo Summer Camp.
Final Round:
Candidates scoring at least 55% will receive an internationally recognized Gatehouse Awards certificate in English.
Hippo 3, 4, and 5 Winners win the Bucksmore Golden Ticket Prize—two weeks at a Bucksmore Education college, covering tuition, accommodation, excursions, meals, and airport transfers (travel costs not included).
Little Hippo, Hippo 1 & 2 Winners receive a one-week stay at the Hippo Summer Camp (excluding air travel costs).
Second-place winners in Hippo 4 & 5 get a full Mizzou K-12 Online Diploma program.
Second-place winners in Little Hippo, 1, 2 & 3 receive a 50% discount for the Hippo Summer Camp.
Third-place winners in each category get a Crosswords preparation book.
Awards & Prizes
Preliminary & National Rounds:
Every participant will receive an e-certificate.
Regional Qualifier Round:
Winners advance to the World Finals!
Second-place winners in each category get a fully covered one-week stay at the Hippo Summer Camp (excluding travel costs).
Third-place winners receive a 50% discount coupon for the Hippo Summer Camp.
Final Round:
Candidates scoring at least 55% will receive an internationally recognized Gatehouse Awards certificate in English.
Hippo 3, 4, and 5 Winners win the Bucksmore Golden Ticket Prize—two weeks at a Bucksmore Education college, covering tuition, accommodation, excursions, meals, and airport transfers (travel costs not included).
Little Hippo, Hippo 1 & 2 Winners receive a one-week stay at the Hippo Summer Camp (excluding air travel costs).
Second-place winners in Hippo 4 & 5 get a full Mizzou K-12 Online Diploma program.
Second-place winners in Little Hippo, 1, 2 & 3 receive a 50% discount for the Hippo Summer Camp.
Third-place winners in each category get a Crosswords preparation book.
About Gatehouse Awards
Gatehouse Awards is a top-tier awarding organization, recognized by Ofqual (England) and other accreditation bodies worldwide. They offer a variety of English language and vocational qualifications, working closely with schools, colleges, and industry professionals to develop innovative certifications. Learn more at www.gatehouseawards.org.
U.S. High School Dual Diploma Program
The Mizzou K-12 Online program allows students worldwide to earn a U.S. high school diploma, helping them meet graduation requirements and prepare for college and future careers. Whether you’re in a public or private school—local or international—you can enroll in Mizzou K-12 Online courses!