Hippo English Olympiad
The Global Youth English (Non-native) Olympiad Challenge & Assessment
Preliminary → Semi-final → Global Finals
Program Introduction
Hippo "English Without Borders" Olympiad is organized by the GLOBAL HIPPO ASSOCIATION, a non-profit organization founded in 2012 and based in Italy. With the mission "English without borders", the Hippo English Olympiad is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR and is divided into 9 levels of dificulty for young people aged 7 to 18 from non-native speaking countries and regions. In the past ten years, more than 50 countries and regions around the world have organized students to participate, and more than 70,000 students worldwide participated in 2022, making it the world's most influential English (non-native) Olympiad challenge and assessment for youth.
Academic Support

Officially Recognised by Ofqual, the Office of Qualification and Examinations Regulation

The Hippo English Olympiad Official Test Committee, provides test questions based on CEFR standards
Advancement System
Preliminary Round
- April 22nd, 2023, Saturday 10am
- Location: Nationwide Schools as Test Center / Online
- Test Content: Reading | Use of English
Semi-Final
Round
- May 13th, 2023, Saturday 10am
- Location: Nationwide Schools as Test Center / Online
- Test Content: Reading | Writing
Top 10% of Preliminary round participants will be qualified
Global
Finals
- October 2023, date TBC
- Exam Venue: Rome, Italy (Participation fee,board and lodging are free of charge)
- Test content: Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking | Use of English
Top 120 students of Semi Final round will be qualified
Participating Countries and Regions
Asia:
• China
• Japan
• Korea
• Afghanistan
• Azerbaijan
• Brunei
• Cambodia
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Armenia
• Malaysia
• Mongolia
• Burma
• Pakistan
• Palestine
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Tajikistan
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan
• Vietnam
Europe:
• Russia
• Albania
• Cyprus
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Estonia
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Romania
• Serbia
• Slovenia
• Ukraine
South America:
• Brazil
Africa:
• Algeria
• Egypt
• Morocco
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tunisia
Difficulty Level and Age
1. Students may choose a higher HIPPO level than they are suggested based on their school grades, but not a lower HIPPO level. For example, a 7th grade student is recommended to take HIPPO 3, he may also choose to take HIPPO 4 and Hippo 5 if he'd like to, but not HIPPO 1 and HIPPO 2.
2. The Special Category is for students with very high English prociency. The level corresponds to a difculty level 2-3 levels higher than the Regular Category.
3. To know the difficulty of each level before registering, please click Hippo Sample to view the sample questions of each level.
*CEFR:
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an internationally recognized standard for describing language competence and proficiency and is the most widely accepted reference standard for language assessment worldwide. In many countries, the CEFR has replaced their respective assessment systems for foreign language education. For example, many European education authorities have explicitly dened the CEFR levels that secondary school students should achieve, such as B2 for the first foreign language level and B1 for the second foreign language level.
Benchmarking of CEFR with different language measurement systems
2023 Hippo English Olympiad
Project details
Preliminary Round
About Registration
- Deadline for Preliminary Round's Registration & Payment: 2023 Mar 31st
- Participants: Students aged 7-18 (must have an ID from China or another non-native English speaking country)
- Participation Fee: 180 RMB / person (fee includes: paper fee, examination fee, marking fee, certicate fee,
reference questions and one online practice exam) - Academic Supporting Materials: Sample test papers and answers will be provided by the organizing
committee upon registration - Registration Methods:1: Scan the QR code on the right
2: Batch Registration by school

Scan the QR code
About Examination
- Time:April 22nd, 2023, Saturday, Starting at 10:00 a.m
- Location:Nationwide Schools as Test Center / Online*)
* Online tests require participants to prepare: ① a computer with webcam ② a cell phone or Tablet/Ipad - Duration:40-75 minutes (varies by grade, see below)
Preliminary Round Questions
All questions are Multiple Choice Question (MCQ)Group | HIPPO Grade | Test Content | |||
Duration | Reading | Use of English | |||
Regular Category | Little Hippo | 40 mins | 30 Questions 1 Point Each |
20 Questions 1.5 Points Each |
|
Hippo 1 | 50 mins | 30 Questions 1 Point Each |
20 Questions 1.5 Points Each |
||
Hippo 2 | 50 mins | 34 Questions 1 Point Each |
20 Questions 1.5 Points Each |
||
Hippo 3 | 55 mins | 34 Questions 1 Point Each |
20 Questions 1.5 Points Each |
||
Hippo 4 | 70 mins | 34 Questions 1 Point Each |
20 Questions 1.5 Points Each |
||
Hippo 5 | 75 mins | 40 Questions 1 Point Each |
20 Questions 1.5 Points Each |
||
Special Category | Hippo S10 | 70 mins | 34 Questions 1 Point Each |
20 Questions 1.5 Points Each |
|
Hippo S15 | 75 mins | 40 Questions 1 Point Each |
20 Questions 1.5 Points Each |
||
Hippo S19 | 75 mins | 40 Questions 1 Point Each |
20 Questions 1.5 Points Each |
Award Setting
- First Prize Top 10% in China
- Second Prize Top 10%-25% in China
- Third Prize Top 25%-40% in China
- Excellence Award Top 40%-60% in China
*All contestants will receive a certificate of participation from the HIPPO committee

Certificate of Participation (Mock Design)

Certificate of Achievement
Both certificates will identify the CEFR level that corresponds to the participant's level of entry.
Semi-Final
Round
Semi Final Round
About Registration
- Deadline for Registration and Payment: Early May 2023
- Participants: First prize winners in the preliminary round (must have an ID from China or another
non-native English speaking country) - Participation fee: 280 RMB / person (fee includes: paper fee, examination fee, marking fee, certificate fee, reference
questions and one online practice exam) - Academic Supporting Materials: Sample test papers and answers will be provided upon registration
- Registration Method: All qualified candidates will receive email and SMS notifications of the
registration opening date.
1: Through ASDAN Mini Program
2: Batch Registration by school
About Examination
- Time:May 13th, 2023, Saturday, Starting at 10:00 a.m.
- Location:Nationwide Schools as Test Center / Online*
* Online tests require participants to prepare: ① a computer with webcam ② a cell phone or Tablet/Ipad - Entry Criteria:Students who won the first prize in the Preliminary Round
- Duration:75-95 minutes (varies by grade, see below)
Semi Final Round Questions
Reading: multiple choice questions (MCQ); Writing: short answersGroup | Hippo Grade | Test Content | ||
Duration | Reading | Writing | ||
Regular Category | Little Hippo | 75 mins | 30 Questions 1 Point Each | 30 Questions 1.5 Points Each (No Essay) |
Hippo 1 | 75 mins | 40 Questions 1 Point Each | 30 Questions 1.5 Points Each+Essay (40 words) | |
Hippo 2 | 70 mins | 34 Questions 1 Point Each | 30 Questions 1.5 Points Each+Essay (60 words) | |
Hippo 3 | 85 mins | 34 Questions 1 Point Each | 30 Questions 1.5 Points Each+Essay (80 words) | |
Hippo 4 | 90 mins | 40 Questions 1 Point Each | 30 Questions 1.5 Points Each+Essay (120 words) | |
Hippo 5 | 90 mins | 40 Questions 1 Point Each | 30 Questions 1.5 Points Each+Essay (150 words) | |
Special Category | Hippo S10 | 90 mins | 40 Questions 1 Point Each | 30 Questions 1.5 Points Each+Essay (120 words) |
Hippo S15 | 90 mins | 40 Questions 1 Point Each | 30 Questions 1.5 Points Each+Essay (150 words) | |
Hippo S19 | 95 mins | 40 Questions 1 Point Each | 30 Questions 1.5 Points Each+Essay (180 words) |
Award Setting
- Global Award Top 120 Ranking Globally
- Gold Award Top 20% in China
- Silver Award Top 20%-40% in China
- Bronze Award Top 40%-60% in China
* All participants will receive a certicate of participation from the organizing committee

Certificate of Participation (Mock Design)

Certificate of Achievement
Both certificates will identify the CEFR level that corresponds to the participant's level of entry
Global Final Round
- Global Final Date: October 2023, dates to be confirmed
- Global Final Location
- Entry Criteria:Students winning the Global Award in the Semi Final Round
- Test Content:Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking | Use of English
- Award Setting:Global Gold Awards, Silver Awards and Bronze Awards
All participants will receive a certificate of participation issued by the organizing committee. Winners will be selected to the official honor list of the Global HIPPO Association.
- Participants:Winner of the Global Prize in the Semi Final Round (must have an ID from China or other non-native English speaking country)
- Participation Fee:Free of Charge for participation fees and three days of accommodation and food during the finals. Finalists will be responsible for their own international airfare and visa fees to and from Italy. ASDAN China will send coordinator teachers to travel with the students.
- Application Deadline and Application Method: To be announced

Global
Finals
Hippo Sample
Click corresponding level and check samples
GA A1 Classic Hippo Sample Version Exam Recording
level01音频
1 - 22
level01音频
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GA A1 Classic Hippo Sample Version Exam Recording
level01音频
1 - 22
level01音频
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Regional Academic Specialists

Ms Zhang 13269709296
North China:
Beijing、Tianjin、Shanxi、Shandong、Hebei、Henan、Inner Mongolia、Heilongjiang、Jilin、Liaoning

Ms Wang 15618633087
East China:
East China:Zhejiang

Ms Wu 13166025498
East China:
East China:Shanghai、Jiangsu

Ms Li:18502808484
south China:
Guangdong、Guangxi、Fujian、Hainan、Hong Kong、Macao、Taiwan

Ms Li:18502808484
Central & West China:
Chongqing、Sichuan、Guizhou、Yunnan、Shaanxi、Gansu、Qinghai、Tibet、Ningxia

Mr Wang:13086629260
Central & West China:
Hubei、Hunan、Anhui、Jiangx、Xinjiang
Q&A
A: The Hippo Olympiad Committee has strict age and grade restrictions for each level of entry, candidates must apply for the exam in accordance with their school grade as indicated on the exam details page. The examinations team allows students to apply for a higher level than the school grade they are enrolled in. For example, a 7th grade student is recommended to take HIPPO 3, he may also take HIPPO 4/5, but not HIPPO 1/2.
Students with excellent English skills are welcome to challenge the special category. Hippo S10's dificulty is equivalent to Hippo 4, Hippo S15 = Hippo 5, Hippo S19 is higher than Hippo 5. To know the difficulty of each level before registering, please click the Hippo Sample to view the sample questions of each level.
A: Online exams allow candidates aged 12 and under to be assisted by their parents in setting up the equipment and taking the mock exam. Parents are required to leave the room where the student is after the test has officially started. If parents are found to be involved in the exam answering process, the exam results shall be disqualified.
The offline exams will be proctored by the school teachers at the test site, and parents are not allowed to enter the test room.