2026 Hippo English Olympiad

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 13 levels of difficulty for young people aged 6 to 19 from non-native speaking countries and regions. In the past 14 years, more than 70 countries and regions around the world have organized students to participate, and more than 100,000 students worldwide participated in 2025, making it the world's most influential English (non-native) challenge for youth.

	Grade	Preliminary Round of CERF level	National & World Finals of CERF level	Age Recommended	School Grade
Regular Category	Mini HIPPO	CEFR Pre A1 YL	-	-	-
	Baby HIPPO	CEFR Pre A1 YL	CEFR A1 YL	6-7	Grade 1-2
	Little HIPPO	CEFR Pre A1 YL	CEFR A1 YL	8-9	Grade 3-4
	HIPPO 1	CEFR A1 YL	CEFR A2 YL	10-11	Grade 5-6
	HIPPO 2	CEFR A1	CEFR A2	12	Grade 7
	HIPPO 3	CEFR A2	CEFR B1	13-14	Grade 8-9
	HIPPO 4	CEFR B1	CEFR B2	15-16	Grade 10-11
	HIPPO 5	CEFR B2	CEFR C1	17-19	Grade 12
Special Category	HIPPO S1	CEFR A1	CEFR A2	10-11	Grade 5-6
	HIPPO S2	CEFR A2	CEFR B1	12	Grade 7
	HIPPO S3	CEFR B1	CEFR B2	13-14	Grade 8-9
	HIPPO S4	CEFR B2	CEFR C1	15-16	Grade 10-11
	HIPPO S5	CEFR C1	CEFR C2	17-19	Grade 12

1. The Mini Hippo level is only open for the preliminary round.
2. The Baby Hippo and Little Hippo papers are of identical in difficulty.
3. A student may enter any Hippo level that is higher than his/her current school grade, but never a level that is lower. Example: A 7th-grade student is recommended to register for Hippo 2; he/she may also opt for Hippo 3 or 4, but not Hippo 1 or any level below it.
4. The Advanced category is designed for learners with outstanding English proficiency; its difficulty is 1–2 levels above that of the Regular category.
5. Students who qualified for the 2025 Hippo Global Finals may not re-enter the same difficulty level in the 2026 Hippo competition.

*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 defined 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.

Hippo English Olympiad Preliminary Round

Registration information

Participants：Students aged 6-19
Participation Fee：Including paper fee, examination fee, marking fee, sample papers, and one online mock test
* Please pay in HKD, with the RMB price adjusted according to exchange rate fluctuations.
Deadline for Preliminary Round's
Registration：March 9, 2026 9:00 AM
Registration Methods：1: Through the official website (www.seedasdan.org/hippo)
2: Scan the QR code on the left
3: Batch registration by school
Academic Supporting Materials：
Sample test papers and answers will be provided by the organizing committee upon registration

Examination information

Time：March 21, 2026
Location：Nationwide Schools as Test Center / Online*
* Online tests require participants to prepare:
① a computer with camera 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

Group	HIPPO Grade	Test content
		Duration	Reading	Use of English
Regular Category	Mini HIPPO	30mins	30 questions 1 point each	10 questions 1.5 points each
	Baby HIPPO	40mins	30 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
	Little HIPPO	40mins	30 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
	HIPPO 1	50mins	30 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
	HIPPO 2	50mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
	HIPPO 3	50mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
	HIPPO 4	70mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
	HIPPO 5	75mins	40 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
高阶组别	HIPPO S1	50mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
	HIPPO S2	50mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
	HIPPO S3	70mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
	HIPPO S4	75mins	40 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 points each
	HIPPO S5	75mins	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 25 percent of each province/municipality/autonomous region/special administrative region (except first, second and third prizes)

* The First,Second and Third Prize winners will be invited to participate in the National Finals
* All contestants will receive a certificate of participation from the HIPPO committee
* Results will be announced within 2 to 3 weeks after the test.

Certificate of Participation (Sample)

Certificate of Achievement (Sample)

Both certificates will identify the CEFR level that corresponds to the participant's level of entry.

Hippo English Olympiad National Finals

National Round Theme Introduction – 2026：The 2026 Hippo English China National Finals will be held under the theme “Hippo’s Journey Along the Silk Road”. Students will follow the Flying Hippo on a journey across the ancient Silk Road, uncovering the cultural treasures hidden along this historic trade route.Along the way, they will experience the rich diversity of history and art across different regions, and appreciate the beauty of cultural exchange and innovation sparked by the interaction between East and West. The event aims to convey the message that true cultural confidence comes from exploring the world while staying grounded in one’s own cultural roots.

Registration information

• Participants：First,Second and Third Prize winners in the Preliminary Round will be invited to National Finals
• Registration Method：All qualified candidates will receive email and SMS notifications of the registration opening date.
1: Register through the website (www.seedasdan.org/hippo)
2: Through ASEEDER Mini Program
3: Batch Registration by school
• Academic Supporting Materials：Sample test papers and answers will be provided upon registration

Examination information

National Finals Dates and Locations：May, 2026 Macao, China

Sample Schedule

* The schedule may be adjusted, please refer to the actual schedule for final details.

Grade	Date	9:00-12:00	14:00-17:00
1-4	D1 5.2	Arrival and Check-in at Hotel	Opening Ceremony（16:30-17:30） · Welcome speech · Rules and Schedule Overview
	D2 5.3	Written Assessment Reading Test/Writing challenge Spelling Bee Challenge (Round 1)	Spelling bee Showcase
	D3 5.4	Hippo "Silk Road" English Carnival	Hippo Talent Show Closing Ceremony and Award Ceremony
5-12年级	D1 5.1	Arrival and Check-in at Hotel	Opening Ceremony (16:30-17:30) · Welcome speech · Rules and Schedule Overview
	D2 5.2	Written Assessment· Reading Test/Writing challenge English Expression and Presentation Workshop	Chinese Culture Fair Preparation · Chinese Culture Theme Booth Setup · Chinese Culture Theme Poster Preparation · Chinese Culture Presentation Preparation
	D3 5.3	Spelling Bee Challenge (Round 1) Chinese Culture Fair Preparation	Chinese Culture Fair · Group Poster Show and Presentation
	D4 5.4	Spelling bee Showcase Quiz Bowl "Silk Road"	Closing Ceremony and Award Ceremony

Written Assessment Content

Group	Hippo Grade	Test Content
		Duration	Reading	Writing
Regular Category	Baby HIPPO	75mins	30 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, No Essay
	Little Hippo	75mins	30 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, No Essay
	Hippo 1	75mins	40 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, Essay*
	Hippo 2	75mins	34 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, Essay*
	Hippo 3	85mins	34 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, Essay*
	Hippo 4	90mins	40 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, Essay*
	Hippo 5	90mins	40 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, Essay*
Special Categor	Hippo S1	75mins	34 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, Essay*
	HIPPO S2	85mins	34 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, Essay*
	HIPPO S3	90mins	34 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, Essay*
	Hippo S4	90mins	40 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, Essay*
	Hippo S5	95mins	40 questions 1 point each	30 questions 1.5 points each, Essay*

*The essay section will not be counted towards the total score. It will only be used as a basis for score evaluation and ranking when multiple candidates have the same total score in the reading and writing sections.
*According to the rules, the scores of all contestants in the preliminary round and the National round will be weighted and summarized, and then submitted to the global organizing committee for global comprehensive ranking.

Award Setting：

Global Award Top 140 Ranking Globally
Gold Award Top 30% in China
Silver Award Top 30%-60% in China
Bronze Award Specified fraction line

* The contestants who win the global award will successfully qualify for the global finals
* All participants will receive a certificate of participation from the organizing committee

Certificate of Participation (Sample)

Certificate of Achievement (Sample)

Both certificates will identify the CEFR level that corresponds to the participant's level of entry.

Hippo English Olympiad Regional Qualifers

Date：July 2026 (exact dates TBA)
Venue：Thailand
Eligibility：Top-performing students from across Asia.
Chinese candidates who excelled but did not secure a direct berth to the Global Finals during the National Finals may still be invited to join the Regional Qualifiers.
Participation fee & registration details：To be announced.

A second-chance pathway: students attend an intensive five-day Hippo English boot-camp, sit the Hippo test on the sixth day, and the top scorer in each level is “revived” and advances to Hippo Global Finals 2026.

Date：August 2026 (exact dates TBA)
Venues：United Kingdom / Doha, Qatar / Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Eligibility：Students who did not secure direct progression to the Global or Regional Qualifiers in the National Finals but whose results place them among the highest-ranking non-qualifiers.

Hippo English Olympiad Global Finals

Date：12 – 15 October 2026
Venue：Assisi, Italy
Eligibility：The world’s top 240 students (including qualifiers from both the National Finals and the Regional Qualifiers).
Participation fee：Entrants are responsible for their own round-trip international airfares to Italy and any visa costs. The Italian Hippo English Challenge Organising Committee will cover the registration fee and three days of accommodation and meals (Accommodation, Breakfast, Dinner) for all finalists during the Global Finals in Italy.

* Students entered in Baby Hippo, Little Hippo and Hippo 1 may be accompanied by one parent, who will also receive three days of complimentary accommodation.

Which aspects of your English learning do you feel the Hippo English Olympiad has changed the most?

The Hippo English tests are really complete — they've got reading, listening, writing, and more. I can tell Hippo English Contest has definitely helped me level up my skills in every way.

Taking part in the Global Finals, you met top students from over 60 countries and regions. How has this international experience influenced you?

I got to compete with students from so many countries for the first time — it felt incredible! I prepared with some panda gifts to give out to the other contestants and judges. Everyone was truly awesome; the older students were especially kind in taking care of us younger competitors. The entire event was so much fun!

What message would you like to share with students who dream of stepping onto the international stage? And during your own preparation, did you develop any efficient or unique English-learning strategies that you’d like to pass on?

Here's what I think: you gotta be confident! If you're into something, just go for it and don't even worry about messing up.And my advice for improving English isn't about drilling for exams. The real key is to use English naturally every day—listening, speaking, reading, writing, and mixing it into your own thoughts.

What would you like to share with future Hippo contestants?

The Hippo English contest is the perfect chance to challenge your English and meet friends from different countries. If Italy is your dream place, this is your ticket—don't miss out!

How did you prepare for the Hippo English Olympiad? Do you have any effective study tips or strategies you’d like to share with other participants?

Participating in the Hippo English Contest has been an incredible journey for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to share myself with others. It was a pity that I didn’t get in the semi finals in the first competition in 2023, let me realized I still need to keep working hard on English. Luckily, I came to Macau in 2024 and 2025 to get the gold award. Throughout these experiences, I have learned the importance of perseverance and dedication. There were times when I felt discouraged and wanted to give up, but I pushed through and continued to next. These competitions have the beautiful experiences and taught me that success often comes after overcoming challenges and setbacks.

Which part of the “Journey to the West” National Round did you enjoy most, and why?

What would you like to share with future Hippo contestants?

Remember, everyone can shine if they are willing to work hard. So believe in yourself, speak up boldly, and let your English greatness shine.

How did you prepare for the Hippo English Olympiad? Do you have any effective study tips or strategies you’d like to share with other participants?

It feels like the Hippo English Olympiad and I were simply meant to meet. In 2024, when I was in Grade 1, I entered the challenge for the first time and made it all the way to the Asia Round in Hong Kong. Although I didn’t qualify for the Global Finals that year, I promised myself: “One day I’m going to reach the world stage in Italy.” From that moment on, I paid extra attention to using English actively and building my vocabulary in every school lesson. The Hippo experience gave my learning a clear goal—and real momentum—so that by the first semester of Grade 2 I had already passed Cambridge KET with “Distinction.” To turn my one-year dream into reality, I sat the Hippo English Olympiad again in 2025. Thanks to twelve months of steady effort, I finally achieved what I’d set out to do: I secured my ticket to the Global Finals in Italy! And because of the exam practice I gained the first time and the language I’d accumulated day by day, the 2025 challenge felt much smoother and more enjoyable.

How has taking part in the Hippo English Olympiad helped you overall? In what ways do you feel you’ve changed?

Competing twice in the Hippo English Olympiad has sky-rocketed my confidence! I used to be quite shy, but the challenge pushed me to take the first step and make new friends—an amazing change for me. At the 2025 Global Finals in Italy I not only battled it out on stage with kids from all over the world and sharpened my English, but also laughed and chatted with them everywhere we went. Taking in Italy’s stunning sights at the same time, I really lived the saying “travel ten thousand miles instead of reading ten thousand books.” English has no borders—come and join the fun!

What would you like to say to the “you” who was once preparing for the Hippo English Olympiad?

"Wow—I really am amazing!"

How has taking part in the Hippo English Olympiad helped you overall? In what ways do you feel you’ve changed?

Participating in the Hippo English Contest has been an incredible journey for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to share myself with others. It was a pity that I didn’t get in the semi finals in the first competition in 2023, let me realized I still need to keep working hard on English. Luckily, l came to Macau in 2024 and 2025 to get the gold award. Throughout these experiences, I have learned the importance of perseverance and dedication. There were times when I felt discouraged and wanted to give up, but I pushed through and continued to next. These competitions have the beautiful experiences and taught me that success often comes after overcoming challenges and setbacks.

Since you started the Hippo English Olympiad, what challenges have you met—and how did you bravely overcome them?

What would you like to share with future Hippo contestants?

Remember, everyone can shine if they are willing to work hard. So believe in yourself, speak up boldly, and let your English greatness shine.

Q: How do I select the right exam level for my students? How do I select between regular category and special category?

A: The Hippo English 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 2, he may also take HIPPO 3/4, but not HIPPO 1. Students with excellent English skills are welcome to challenge the special category. The Special Category level corresponds to a difficulty level 1-2 levels higher than the Regular Category. To know the difficulty of each level before registering, please go to the official website https://www.seedasdan.org/en/hippo-en/ to view the sample questions of each level.

Q: How do the test scores correspond to the CEFR levels? How do I obtain the corresponding language proficiency certificate?

A: CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is an internationally recognized reference standard for assessing language ability and proficiency. The content of Hippo questions is based on the CEFR assessment framework, so the difficulty level of the questions corresponds to the difficulty level of CEFR level (see page 4 for details of the level comparison table). Hippo English Assessment's award certificates are marked with the CEFR level corresponding to the student's enrollment level. Schools and parents can also consider Hippo English Assessment as an authoritative CEFR-based English language proficiency assessment, which provides a reference basis for subsequent English grading teaching and learning.

Q: Where will the offline test sites be located? Will students be able to choose between taking the online and offline exams on their own?

A: Offline test centers are usually ASEEDER partner schools that organize registration across the country. Please check with your school teacher to see if the school will organize the test. If your school does not organize the test, the organizing committee can assist you in reserving a place at another test center in the same city. Students who fail to obtain a reservation seat offline will take the exam online. The content of the test, test duration and marking criteria are identical between the online and offline exams.

Q: Where will the offline test sites be located? Will students be able to choose between taking the online and offline exams on their own?

Q: Can parents help with the test if the child is young?

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.

Q: How do I get past test papers and study guide?

A: After registration, you can download the Hippo English Assessment sample papers and answers from the "My ASEEDER" → "My Project" → "Hippo English Assessment" → "Material Download" in the ASEEDER WeChat Mini-program.

Q: What kind of targeted tutoring can schools and teachers do?

A: Teachers at the test site can obtain the Examination Syllabus for each level provided by the Hippo committee, which can be used as the study and teaching guidance. The Hippo sample questions and answers can also be used as reference materials for teachers in their daily teaching and preparation for the test.

Q: How long does it take to receive the test results and certificates?

A: The results and the National Finals admission list will be announced within 2-3 weeks after the Preliminary Round, at which time candidates and parents can check the results and admission results in the ASEEDER WeChat mini-program. For students who register collectively,Preliminary Round certificate will be sent to the school about 6 weeks after the exam . For students who do not register as a group, Hippo organizing committee will collect the certificate mailing intentions after Preliminary Round. The certificate will be sent (at your own expense) to the recipient address reserved by the student about 6 weeks after the exam.The National Finals results and Global finalists will be announced within 6 weeks after the National Finals Round, For students who register collectively,National Finals certificate will be sent to the school about 8 weeks after the exam. For students who do not register as a group, Hippo organizing committee will collect the certificate mailing intentions after National Finals. The certificate will be sent (at your own expense) to the recipient address reserved by the student about 8 weeks after the exam.

2026 Hippo English Olympiad

The Global Youth English (Non-native) Challenge

Introduction

Academic Support

Advancement System

Preliminary

Round

National

Finals

Regional

Qualifiers

Global

Finals

Participating Countries and Regions

Difficulty Level and Age

*CEFR：

Benchmarking of CEFR with different language measurement systems：

2026 Olympiad Hippo English

Program Information

Preliminary Round

National Finals

Regional Qualifiers

Global Finals

Hippo English Olympiad Preliminary Round

Registration information

Examination information

Preliminary Round Questions

Award Setting

Certificate of Participation (Sample)

Certificate of Achievement (Sample)

Hippo English Olympiad National Finals

Registration information

Examination information

Sample Schedule

Written Assessment Content

Award Setting：

Certificate of Participation (Sample)

Certificate of Achievement (Sample)

Hippo English Olympiad Regional Qualifers

Hippo English Olympiad Global Finals

2024 Hippo English Annual Review

The 2024 Hippo English Annual Review outlines the organization's development history and past event themes, along with selected testimonials from former students and teachers.

Sample paper

Preliminary Round

National Round

Syllabus

初轮例题展示

请点击下方 Hippo 等级查看对应初轮题目示例

GA A1 Classic Hippo Sample Version Exam Recording

level01音频

level01音频

GA A1 Classic Hippo Sample Version Exam Recording

level01音频

level01音频

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