FAQ
What is Hippo English Without Borders – The Contest?
Hippo English Without Borders is an international English language Contest for students aged 6 to 19 from around the world. It promotes English language skills, challenges students globally, and fosters cooperation among teachers while encouraging friendly relations and international understanding.
How much does it cost to participate?
The average participation fee per student is $20 and will cover the Preliminary Round and the National Finals. The fee may vary depending on the participating country, please contact the Country Coordinator for more information.
What are the benefits of participating in the Contest?
– Students can assess their English proficiency against international standards.
– Teachers can identify students’ skill levels and encourage further development.
– Participants experience a spirit of friendly competition, fostering international understanding and cooperation.
– Teachers can identify students’ skill levels and encourage further development.
– Participants experience a spirit of friendly competition, fostering international understanding and cooperation.
Who can participate in the Contest?
The Contest is open to students aged 6 to 19 from schools worldwide, including:
– state schools,
– private schools,
– schools that are part of the formal education system,
– individual candidates (where permitted).
– Individual candidates will be assigned to the nearest approved venue.
– private schools,
– schools that are part of the formal education system,
– individual candidates (where permitted).
– Individual candidates will be assigned to the nearest approved venue.
What is the Contest structure?
The Contest consists of four stages:
– Preliminary Round (held on different dates in different countries).
– National Finals (scheduled based on the country’s calendar).
– Regional Qualifiers (organized in specific regions worldwide).
– Play-Off Qualifiers (organized in the UK, Qatar and Romania).
– World Finals (held in Italy in October 2026).
– National Finals (scheduled based on the country’s calendar).
– Regional Qualifiers (organized in specific regions worldwide).
– Play-Off Qualifiers (organized in the UK, Qatar and Romania).
– World Finals (held in Italy in October 2026).
Preliminary Round
The Preliminary Round marks the starting point of the Hippo English Language Olympiad and is held between February and March 2026. It takes place in participating schools as approved venues across all registered countries. This round consists of written tests evaluating reading comprehension and use of English, designed in line with CEFR standards. The best-performing students in each category qualify for the next stage of the Contest.
National Finals
The National Finals are conducted in April 2026, hosted either in central national venues or remotely through authorized online platforms, depending on the country’s structure and participant numbers. The tests are more challenging, and include the writing test as well. National coordinators oversee the administration, and the highest-scoring students from each country or macro-region advance to the Regional Qualifiers.
Regional Qualifiers
Held from May to September 2026, the Regional Qualifiers bring together top students from various countries grouped by macro-regions (e.g., Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas). These tests are not available online, as the event is a unique opportunity for students from different countries to meet and get to know each other. The first winners in each category move forward directly to the World Finals.
Play-Off Qualifiers
The Play-off Qualifiers take place in early August 2026, serving as a final opportunity for high-scoring candidates whose results are just below the cut-off for the World Finals. This stage is conducted online under official supervision, ensuring fairness and accessibility for students worldwide. It provides additional chances for outstanding participants to secure a place in the global finals based on consistent performance across all testing stages.
World Finals
The World Finals will be held in October 2026 in Assisi, Italy, the traditional host city of the event. This final stage brings together the most talented students from over 70 participating countries. Finalists complete both written and spoken examinations under the supervision of international assessors. Beyond the Contest, the World Finals also include cultural and social activities, fostering global friendship and intercultural understanding among participants.
What are the Contest categories?
Participants compete in 12 categories (7 regular, 5 special) based on CEFR levels. Special categories are for:
- – Bilingual students (as defined by Hippo regulations).
- – Students attending international schools or schools with over 50% of their curriculum taught in English (outside English-speaking countries, e.g., the UK).
When are the Contest rounds held?
The dates of the Preliminary and National Finals Round depend on the world area and are as below.
Area 1 broadly defined as EUROPE & AFRICA including: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Nigeria, Niger, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.
- – Preliminary Round: 20th & 21st March 2026
- – National Finals: 23rd, 24th & 25th April 2026
Area 2 broadly defined as GREATER MIDDLE EAST & CENTRAL ASIA including: Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Mongolia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
- – Preliminary Round: 17th & 18th April 2026
- – National Finals: 8th & 9th May 2026
Area 3 broadly defined as ASIA-PACIFIC & AMERICAS including: Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam.
- – Preliminary Round: 8th & 9th May 2026
- – National Finals: 29th & 30th May 2026
How to prepare students for the Contest?
On our website, you can find exam samples and free educational material under the Sample Papers section. In the E-Books section, you can purchase additional in-depth material to help prepare your students for the Contest.
How do I register for the Contest?
For Students
If your school participates, your teacher will handle your registration. If you are participating independently, you can contact us directly at info@hippo-thecontest.org and take the preliminary round with self-proctoring comfortably from home. Students need to register through their school. If the school does not participate, students can contact the Country Coordinator for information on how to apply. The contact details of all our Country Coordinators are available on the Join Us page of our website.
For Schools
If your country does not have a Country Coordinator, please email venue@hippo-thecontest.org with your details. Otherwise, you will need to contact your coordinator by searching for them on the Join Us page of the website. To participate, you must complete the venue approval form for your school’s registration. Once your school is approved, you will be able to enter your students’ data into our SOA database to register them for the Contest.
What are the prizes?
All finalists will have the opportunity to achieve a high-level English certification recognized internationally. The winners will have the chance to participate in study trips and training opportunities with our partners in the UK and USA. Many other prizes will be established throughout the Contest.
Who should I contact for more information?
For school registrations and venue approvals, please contact your Country Coordinator. If there is no Country Coordinator in your country, and you are a school wishing to participate, please email venue@hippo-thecontest.org. For all information about country-specific regulations, deadlines, or fees, please contact your Country Coordinator.
If you need more information, please complete the form.
