2025 Hippo English Olympaid

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 12 levels of difficulty for young people aged 6 to 19 from non-native speaking countries and regions. In the past 12 years, more than 60 countries and regions around the world have organized students to participate, and more than 100,000 students worldwide participated in 2024, making it the world's most influential English (non-native) challenge for youth.

	Grade	Preliminary Round of CEFR level	National & World Finals of CEFR level	Age Recommended	School Grade
Regular Category	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. Baby HIPPO exam is the same level of difficulty as Little HIPPO exam.
2. 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 2, he may also choose to take HIPPO 3 and Hippo 4 if he'd like to, but not HIPPO 1 and lower level.
3. The Special Category is for students with very high English proficiency. The level corresponds to a difficulty level 1-2 levels higher than the Regular Category.
4. Students who enter the 2024 Hippo Global Finals cannot take the same difficulty level assessment as the 2024 Hippo.

*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 Olympaid Preliminary Round

Registration information

Participants：Students aged 6-19 (must have an ID from China or another non-native English speaking country)
Participation Fee：(fee includes: paper fee, examination fee, marking fee, certificate fee, reference questions and one online practice exam
Deadline for Preliminary Round's Registration：February 28th, 2025
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 15th 2025, Saturday, Starting at 10:00 a.m
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)

Scan to sign up

Preliminary Round Questions

All questions are Multiple Choice Question

Group	HIPPO Grade	Test content
		Duration	Reading	Use of English
Regular Category	Baby HIPPO	40 mins	30 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
	Little HIPPO	40mins	30 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
	HIPPO 1	50 mins	30 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
	HIPPO 2	50 mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
	HIPPO 3	50 mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
	HIPPO 4	70 mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
	HIPPO 5	75 mins	40 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
Special Category	HIPPO S1	50 mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
	HIPPO S2	50 mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
	HIPPO S3	70 mins	34 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
	HIPPO S4	75 mins	40 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point each
	HIPPO S5	75 mins	40 questions 1 point each	20 questions 1.5 point 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

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 Olympaid National Finals

Registration information

Participants：First,Second and Third Prize winners in the Preliminary Round will be invited to National Finals (must have an ID from China or another non-native English speaking country)
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 Theme：Hippo English Without Borders - Hippo Journey to the West
Theme Introduction：For this year's Hippo English National Round, we have chosen "Hippo Journey to the West" as our theme to convey the concept of "China Story to the World." By incorporating vibrant Chinese cultural elements into this event, we aim to showcase China's culture and traditions while fostering global understanding and exchange. We believe that language knows no borders, and stories can bridge cultural differences, connecting people from various backgrounds. Through Hippo English, an international platform, we encourage every participant to share their interpretations of Chinese stories in English, allowing more people to appreciate the richness and depth of Chinese culture.
National Finals Dates and Locations：Grade1-4: 5.1 - 5.3, 2025 Macao, China
Grade5-12: 5.2 - 5.5, 2025 Macao, China

Hippo National Finals Sample Schedule

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

	Date	9:00-12:00	14:00-18:00
Grade 1-4	5.1	Arrival and Check-in at Hotel	Opening Ceremony (16:30-17:30) · Welcome speech · Rules and Schedule Overview
	5.2	Written Assessment · Reading Test/Writing challenge	Hippo "Journey to the West" English Carnival
	5.3	Speech Showcase on Traditional Chinese Culture Hippo Talent Show	Closing Ceremony and Award Ceremony
Grad 5-12	5.2	Arrival and Check-in at Hotel
	5.3	Opening Ceremony · Welcome speech · Rules and Schedule Overview 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
	5.4	Spelling Bee Challenge (Round 1) Chinese Culture Fair Preparation	Chinese Culture Fair · Group Poster Show and Presentation
	5.5	Spelling bee Showcase Quiz Bowl "Journey to the West"	Closing Ceremony and Award Ceremony

Written Assessment Content

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

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

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

Name：Zhen, Grade 6
School：DAUGHTERS OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS CHAN SUI KI PERPETUAL HELP COLLEGE
Hippo Grade：Hippo S1

● How would you assess the overall difficulty and engagement of the various stages of the Hippo English Olympaid?

I was satisffed about the overall difffculty. It was quite a challenge, but in my opinion, it was satisfactorr. In addition, I enjoyed myself a lot in the assessments. It was fun and enjoyable.

● Which segment of the Hippo English National Finals Round do you find most enjoyable?

The Quiz Bowl was a fascinating challenge of learners’ literature and science skills. We could test our knowledge against other learners. And we can also get to know others’ strengths!

● How has participating in the Hippo English Olympaid benefited you overall?

Participating in the Hippo English Assessment made me understand what fellow learners’ levels are, so I can know what proffciency level I am. I think I changed after realizing that, before, I pictured English as words and words and words, but now I know it isn’t, instead it’s a complex dance of all the English skills.
Name：Gio, Grade 5
School：Hangzhou Yinhu Elementary School
Hippo Grade：Little Hippo

● How did you prepare for the Hippo English Olympaid? Are there any effective study tips or experiences you can share with others?

I began participating in the Hippo English in 2022, where I won a Gold Award in the Preliminary Round and a Silver Award in the National Finals Round. However, I realized that my grammar was still a weakness, which led to a loss of points. In 2023, I achieved Gold in the Preliminary Round again, but only managed a Bronze Award in the National Finals Round, once again due to my grammar. Determined to improve, I decided to focus on strengthening my weak areas. After successfully passing the KET exam with excellent results, I gained more confidence for the 2024 Hippo English. In that year, I won Gold in the Advancement Round and earned the opportunity to participate in the National Finals Round. In addition to preparing for the written test, I also worked diligently on my speaking, presentation, and spelling skills. I even courageously signed up for the opening speech. After a rigorous interview process, I was selected as an outstanding student representative to deliver the opening speech. Standing on stage, I felt immense pride as I had broken through my own limits. I’ve always held the belief that, given such a valuable opportunity, I must seize it and continue improving.
In the National Finals Round, I was awarded the Gold Award and advanced to the Regional Qualifiers Round. There, I had the chance to meet young participants from countries such as Mongolia and Singapore, and I was inspired by their impressive English skills. This experience motivated me even more to continue striving for excellence in English. I’ve realized that English is not just about reading, writing, and memorizing vocabulary; it’s also about communication and presentation skills. I am determined to work even harder to master the language!

● How has participating in the Hippo English Olympiad benefited you overall? What changes do you feel you have experienced?

Hippo English Olympaid has helped me clearly identify my strengths in English (reading) and my weaknesses (grammar), giving me a better understanding of my learning progress and allowing me to target specific areas for improvement. I have made significant progress in grammar, and the challenges I faced during the National Finals . After the Hippo English Olympiad, I returned to school and went on to win the school-wide Spelling Bee competition, earning the title of 'Spelling King.' This achievement is a direct result of the experiences and skills I gained through the Hippo English challenges.
Name：Tian Zichen, Grade 6School：Tianjin Haileybury Elite SchoolHippo Grade：Hippo 1

● What challenges have you encountered since participating in the Hippo English Olympaid, and how did you overcome them?

For example, in this round of the English Hippo comperraion in Macau in 2024, I encountered a diversified range of competition events. There was the on-site Spelling Bee, as well as a team cooperation competition event. We were all students from different schools and different cities. We formed a team within a very short period of time and had to achieve mutual understanding, which was a quite challenging task for me. We needed to get to know each other well in a shorr time and then achieve teamwork. At that time, since we were result-oriented and aimed to win, we had to get familiar with each other quickly. As I am a shy boy, I was able to take the initiative to starr conversations with the other two girls. I think this was a great ffrst step for me to overcome my fear. In the process of our team cooperation later on, although we didn't win in the end, we still achieved a good result.
Name：Mu Xuanyi, Grade 2School：SHENZHEN HONG KONG PUI KIU COLLEGE LONGHUA XINYI SCHOOLHippo Grade：Baby Hippo

● How did you prepare for the Hippo English Olympiad? Are there any effective study strategies or tips you can share with others?

I have always enjoyed English, but never had the right opportunities to showcase and apply what I learned daily. The Hippo competition has given me the honor of having such a platform. The Preliminary Round was very interesting, and during the National Finals in Macao, I had the chance to share joy with my friends, exchange learning experiences, grow through competition, and learn in a fun and engaging way, all while deepening my impression of Macao. In the Regional Qualifiers Round, the competition format became more streamlined. Here, I met many young contestants from other Asian countries, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity Hippo has provided, as it has allowed me to gradually experience the broader world through English!
Name：Liu, Grade 4School：Gems Wellington Academy Al KhailHippo Grade：Little Hippo

In 2023 Hippo English Assessment, I scored full marks in the written test and listening session, I lost some marks in speaking.For English learning, I keep reading everr day for 365 days and never give up. I would slack off occasionally at ffrst, but I found that persistence it self is a cool thing, so the more I learnt, the more fun it became!

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.

2025 Hippo English Olympaid

The Global Youth English (Non-native) Challenge

Program Introduction

Academic Support

Advancement System

Preliminary

Round

National

Finals

Regional

Qualiffers

Global

Finals

Participating Countries and Regions

Difficulty Level and Age

*CEFR：

Benchmarking of CEFR with different language measurement systems：