• The main goal is to create and nourish friendly relations, international understanding and a spirit of sporting competitiveness between young people interested in English language from all around the world.

• Developing language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing

• Qualifying students to participate in the HIPPO 8th INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE OLYMPIAD.

• The Olympiad encourages the development of a shared sense of identity and integration, serves as a role model for young people living together as one community .

• Developing students' ability to think and analyze information in English.

• Establishing the importance of the English language and its use in dealing in any country in the world and linking it to daily life.

• Discovering the outstanding students in the English language to join them in specialized training programs to develop their skills in the English language.

Mechanism and conditions

Mechanism and conditions OLYMPIAD – REGULAR & SPECIAL CATEGORIES The participants will compete in 12 categories (7 regular and 5 special) based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and will take Gatehouse Awards examinations as well as Hippo Tests. The students of lower grades than the ones in the table can also compete if they feel prepared for the level. The age limit for the Olympiad is 19 or as long as the students are in high school. Bilingual students can only compete in one of the special categories. Students that are considered bilingual are the ones who were born or have lived and attended school for at least 3 years in an English-speaking country in the past 5 years as well as those who live in a non-English speaking country but attend an English/American International or a specialised school. Should a student, who is considered bilingual according to the above, apply for a regular category through another school, and should one of the abovementioned schools apply as a regular school, Hippo Association reserves the right to disqualify them from the Olympiad. Special categories are aimed at students who are considered bilingual according to the Hippo Olympiad regulations (see above) as well as for the international schools and the schools where 70% or more of the subjects are taught in English (except for the countries where English is the only official language, e.g., UK). These students can compete in one of the five special categories. Baby Hippo and Little Hippo students, even if they are considered bilingual according to the above, will still compete in the regular categories. N.B. Global Hippo Association keeps the right to check the school’s curriculum, the language of instruction and number of hours of English taught. Students who enrol in one of the regular categories but are supposed to compete in the special categories according to the regulations will be disqualified.

Regular Categories

Level	Grade	Preliminary Round Level	National Finals & Final Round Level
BABY HIPPO	1 - 2	CEFR Pre A1 Young Learners	CEFR A1 Young Learners
LITTLE HIPPO	3 - 4	CEFR Pre A1 Young Learners	CEFR A1 YL Young Learners
HIPPO 1	5 - 6	CEFR A1 Young Learners	CEFR A2 Young Learners
HIPPO 2	7	CEFR A1	CEFR A2
HIPPO 3	8 - 9	CEFR A2	CEFR B1
HIPPO 4	10 - 11	CEFR B1	CEFR B2
HIPPO 5	12	CEFR B2	CEFR C1

NB : The students of lower grades than the ones in the table can also compete if they feel prepared for the level. The age limit for the Olympiad is 19. Bilingual students can only compete in one of the special categories. Students that are considered bilingual are the ones who were born or have lived and attended school for at least 3 years in an English-speaking country in the past 5 years as well as those who live in a non-English speaking country but attend an English/American International or a specialised school. Should a student, who is considered bilingual according to the above, apply for a regular category through another school, and should one of the abovementioned schools apply as a regular school, Hippo Association reserves the right to disqualify them from the Olympiad

Special categories

Special categories are aimed at students who are considered bilingual according to the Hippo Olympiad regulations as well as for English/American international schools and the schools where the majority or all subjects are taught in English.

Level	Grade	Preliminary Round Level	National Finals & Final Round Level
BABY HIPPO	1 - 2	CEFR Pre A1 Young Learners	CEFR A1 Young Learners
LITTLE HIPPO	3 - 4	CEFR Pre A1 Young Learners	CEFR A1 YL Young Learners
HIPPO S1	5 - 6	CEFR A1	CEFR A2
HIPPO S2	7	CEFR A2	CEFR B1
HIPPO S3	8 - 9	CEFR B1	CEFR B2
HIPPO S4	10 - 11	CEFR B2	CEFR C1
HIPPO S5	12	CEFR C1	CEFR C2

Baby Hippo and Little Hippo students, even if they are considered bilingual according to the above, will still compete in the regular categories.
NB : Global Hippo Association keeps the right to check the school’s curriculum, the language of instruction and number of hours of English taught. Students who enrol in one of the regular categories but are supposed to compete in the special categories according to the regulations will be disqualified.

• Students enrolled in pre-university education can be enrolled from 6 – 19 years old.

• Paying the participation fee of 500 LE.

• Participation in the name of the school where the student is enrolled.

• The student is committed to the place and date of the test to be nominated.

• Contest fees are non-refundable (so please make sure you are serious about participating before paying the fees).