KGL CONTEST English Olympiad

Organized by the International Testing Authority

Created for non-native English learners aged 6-17

3 advanced levels from Satge1, Stage 2 to the World Finals

Aligned with CEFR, with internationally recognized results and awards

Designed for diverse language learning needs based on classroom content

Fast-growing global influence in recent years

The KGL CONTEST English Olympiad is organized by the International Testing Authority in 2016, which is a fun English challenge with fast-growing global influence in recent years. In 2024, over 80,000 English learners from more than 40 countries participated in the KGL CONTEST English Olympiad.

KGL CONTEST English Olympiad aims to improve students' English skills in a relaxed environment through high-quality, standard-based challenges designed by ITA. It is fully aligned with the CEFR standards with internationally recognized results and awards and is scaled into three stages: Stage 1- Stage 2- World Finals. The World Finals is held in a different European country each year, inviting top students worldwide to participate in the finals. The 2024 World Finals is held in Greece.

In 2024, ASEEDER officially established a strategic partnership with ITA, becoming the organizing committee for the Greater China region of the KGL CONTEST English Olympiad.
Global Committee Website: https://www.kglcontest.org/

Level	Aligned with CEFR	Grade & Age	Stage 1 Duration & Question Number	Stage 2 Duration & Question Number
KGL Pre A1	CEFR Pre A1	Below Grade 4, maximum age 11	45 minutes, 35 questions	60 minutes 35 questions + writing
KGL A1	CEFR A1	Below Grade 6, maximum age 13	60 minutes, 40 questions	75 minutes 40 questions + writing
KGL A2	CEFR A2	Below Grade 8, maximum age 14		80 minutes 40 questions + writing
KGL B1	CEFR B1	Below Grade 9, maximum age 15		80 minutes 40 questions + writing
KGL B2	CEFR B2	Below Grade 11, maximum age 17		90 minutes 40 questions + writing

* What is CEFR?

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an internationally recognized standard for describing language proficiency and levels. It is the most widely accepted language assessment reference framework globally. In many countries, the CEFR has replaced the original evaluation systems used for foreign language education. For instance, many educational authorities in Europe have explicitly stated the CEFR levels that secondary school students should achieve, such as B2 being the level for the first foreign language and B1 for the second foreign language.

Comparison between Cambridge KET & KGL Contest

Reading	KET-Reading and Writing	KGL-A2 Stage 1
CEFR	A2	A2
Section	Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, writing	Reading Comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, spelling
Duration	60mins	60mins
Content	Part 1-2: Multiple-choice (Announcement, Dialogue) Part 3: Reading comprehension (School) Part 4: Cloze (Vocabulary) Part 5: Fill-in-the-blank (Grammar) Part 6-7: Writing	Part 1-2: Multiple-choice (Topic: Announcement, Dialogue) Part 3: Reading comprehension (Story) Part 4: Cloze (Grammar, vocabulary) Part 5: Spelling
Similarity & Difference	The similarity between the two is approximately 80%. The vocabulary and grammar sections are of similar difficulty, and the main difference lies in whether there is a writing task or not.
Difficulty	For reading materials, KGL has a more diverse vocabulary and richer styles of reading materials compared to KET. It requires candidates to grasp the details and implicit information within the stories.

Comparison between Cambridge PET & KGL Contest

Reading	PET-Reading	KGL-B1 Stage1
CEFR	B1	B1
Section	Reading comprehension, language application, vocabulary	Reading comprehension, grammar,vocabulary
Duration	45 minutes, 32 questions	60 minutes, 40 questions
Content	Part 1-2: Short reading comprehension (Announcement, matching) Part 3-4: Long reading comprehension (Multiplechoice questions, sentence gap filling) Part 5: Cloze (Grammar, vocabulary) Part 6: Word Gap Filling Questions	Part 1: Cloze (Grammar, vocabulary) Part 2: Short reading comprehension (Dialogue Matching) Part 3-4: Long reading comprehension (Multiplechoice questions, matching) Part 5: Word Gap Filling Questions (Multiple-choice questions) Part 6: Spelling
Similarity & Difference	The similarity between the two is approximately 70%. The KGL focuses more on the direct application of vocabulary and grammar, while the PET paper emphasizes reading comprehension and language application.
Difficulty	The KGL focuses more on language structure and the direct application of vocabulary, with more specific tasks. The PET has more complex reading comprehension, including inference and long text analysis, requiring students to have strong reasoning and analytical skills.

Q: Who can take part in the KGL CONTEST English Olympiad?

A: Students up to the age of 17 who are learning English as a foreign language can participate in the KGL CONTEST English Olympiad. You can refer to the【Difficulty and Duration】for a specific level to register.

*Please note the contest is not open to native English speakers or students who are already certified for their chosen level.

Q: How do I apply to take part?

A: If you are already attending a language center for English, contact your teacher and ask to enter through your school. You can also scan the QR code in this brochure to enter the ASEEDER mini-program to sign up.

Q: How do I prepare for the Contest?

A: You can get previous sample questions of Stage 1 from test center schools or from【Download Materials】in ASEEDER mini-program. Don’t try to prepare specifically for the contest. The contest content is mapped with the outline of the CEFR, which only requires you to complete tasks that you already do in class or tasks you are familiar with.

Q: Can I enter for a level lower than my current level?

A: No, you can enter for a higher level but the lowest level you can enter for is your current level.

Q: If my level of English is good, can I enter for a higher level?

A: Yes, you can enter for a level higher within the age requirement.

Q: How soon after Stage 1 will I receive my result?

A: All test papers will be graded by the International Testing Authority (ITA). Results of Stage 1 are available one month after the contest.

Q: How do I get my results after Stage 1?

A: Results of Stage 1 are available within a month after the contest from the ASEEDER mini-program. Approximately six weeks after the contest, you can get your e-participation certificate and certificate of award in【Download Certificate】in ASEEDER mini-program (if applicable).

Q: Stage 2 first-prize finalists at all levels will have the opportunity to be invited to participate in the World Finals held annually in Europe. What activities will take place during the World Finals?

A: The World Finals is a three-day event where Stage 2 first-prize finalists from different countries come together to participate (including the World Finals contest, sightseeing, cultural activities, etc.). During the World Finals, all contestants must take an English test, including a written writing task. Based on the overall performance of the contestants, the first, second, and third-place winners at each level (A1, A2, B1, B2) will receive corresponding awards. Regardless of level, the contestant with the highest total score will become the KGL Global Winner for that year and will receive the Global Winner Award and an extra monetary prize of $1,000!

Registration for Stage 1

World Finals

Date:

21 December 2024
14:30-16:30：A1-B2 (*The specific timeslot is subject to email notification.)
16:30-18:30：Pre A1 (*The specific timeslot is subject to email notification.)

Location:

Test center schools nationwide or online test
* For online tests, contestants must provide a stationary mobile phone or computer device to be used as the proctoring equipment.

Fee:

includes: test paper fee, examination fee, grading fee, certificate fee, 3 sets of reference past papers, and 2 mock practice opportunities.
* Please pay in HKD. The RMB price may be adjusted based on exchange rate fluctuations.

Registration Deadline:

1 December 2024
Note： Details of the Stage 2 and registration method will be provided in the invitation letter sent to qualified contestants.

Date:

October, 2025*

Location:

Europe (The specific date and location is subject to the actual arrangement.)

Advancement Qualification:

Stage 2 first-place finalists at levels A1, A2, B1, and B2 (to be invited)

Fee:

The activity expenses during the World Finals are provided free of charge by the KGL organizing committee (excluding lunch, airfare, and visa fees).

Award Setting:

First Prize（A1、A2、B1、B2）Prize: $500
Second Prize（A1、A2、B1、B2）Prize: $250
Third Prize（A1、A2、B1、B2）Prize: $150

*An extra monetary prize of $1,000 awaits the overall Global Winner (regardless of level).

KGL CONTEST English Olympiad

Stage 1 → Stage 2 → World Finals

Highlights

Organized by the International Testing Authority

Created for non-native English learners aged 6-17

3 advanced levels from Satge1, Stage 2 to the World Finals

Aligned with CEFR, with internationally recognized results and awards

Designed for diverse language learning needs based on classroom content

Fast-growing global influence in recent years

Program Introduction

Advancement System

Award Setting

Award Setting

Award Setting

Countries and Regions