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Hippo English Without Borders - The Contest, organized by the Global Hippo Association Italy and Gatehouse Awards United Kingdom, is an international English language Olympiad open to students aged 6 to 19 from around the world. It aims to promote the importance of English language knowledge and bring together young people from different countries.
The Contest is run in four stages: Preliminary Round, National Finals, Qualifiers (subject to T&Cs), and World Finals in Italy. Candidates who do not qualify for the World Finals will be given a chance to participate in Regional Qualifiers and Play-Off Qualifiers.
Hippo is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Internationally recognised and Ofqual regulated English language qualifications are used throughout the Olympiad. The qualifications are intended for candidates who are not native speakers of English and who wish to achieve high quality, internationally recognised qualification in English that is available and recognised worldwide.
Hippo English Without Borders – the Contest is an international event which promotes English language, challenges students around the globe to compete in English language knowledge and motivates the teachers to cooperate. The Contest encourages the development of a shared sense of identity and integration, serves as a role model for young people living together as one community. The main goal is to create and nourish friendly relations, international understanding and a spirit of healthy competition between young people interested in English language from all around the world.
Apart from that, by participating in such a challenge, students get a chance to measure their level of English against international standards and get used to the concept of examination. Schools will more easily understand the level of English of their pupils and challenge them to learn more.
Date
21, 22, or 23 March 2025 (one of the days)
Duration
1 hour
Mode
(1) Online at home
(2) Face-to-face (refer to Hippo 2025 Regulations #1 for the venues)
(3) Online or Paper-based at your school (if your school is hosting)
Area of Test
• Reading
• Use of English
[All multiple choice questions]
Date
26 April 2025
Duration
1 hour
Mode
Online
Area of Test
• Reading
• Writing
• Essay (except Baby & Little Hippo)
Date
July 2025
Mode/Venue
Face-to-face at Da Nang, Vietnam
Area of Test
• Use of English
• Crossword
Date
29 September to 1 October 2025
Mode/Venue
Face-to-face at Assisi, Italy
Area of Test
• Reading
• Listening
• Writing
• Speaking
• Use of English
• Crossword
The competition comprises 4 main rounds: Preliminary Round, National Final Round, Regional Qualifier Round and World Final Round.
PRELIMINARY ROUND
Option 1
Date: 21, 22, or 23 March 2025
Duration: Around 1 hour (during one of the dates above)
Mode: Online test
Host: The session will be conducted by Hippo Malaysia team using Zoom
Option 2
Duration: Around 1 hour
Mode: Face-to-face
Venue #1: Sekolah Sri UCSI, Kuala Lumpur
Date & Time: 22 March 2025 (morning)
Venue #2: SAM Raja Uda, Butterworth
Date & Time: 22 March 2025 (4.00pm to 8.00pm) or 23 March 2025 (9.00am to 1.00pm)
Venue #3: SAM Iramanis Centre, Kota Kinabalu
Date & Time: 23 March 2025 (2.00pm to 5.00pm)
Venue #4: SAM Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru
Date & Time: 22 March 2025 (3.00pm to 7.00pm)
Venue #5: Wonderlearn Taping
Date & Time: 23 March 2025 (9.00am to 2.00pm)
Option 3
Date: 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23 March 2025
Duration: Around 1 hour
Mode: Either a Paper-Based test or an Online test conducted within your school/tuition premises.
Host: The session will be supervised by your respective school/tuition teachers (only if they decide to host). The date and mode can be anytime between 19 to 23 March 2025, with the decision to be made by teachers.
NATIONAL FINAL ROUND
Date: 26 April 2025
Duration: 1 hour
Mode: Online
REGIONAL QUALIFIER ROUND
Date: July 2025
Mode & Venue: Face-to-face at Da Nang, Vietnam
WORLD FINAL ROUND
Date: 29 September to 1 October 2025
Mode & Venue: Face-to-face at Assisi, Italy (finalists and their accompanying teacher will receive a complimentary 3-night stay, including breakfast and dinner)
Individual Registration
If you’re a parent, teacher, or student looking to register individually, please click on Hippo Registration. You will be directed to our registration form. Select "To register myself/my child/students individually" and complete the subsequent sections of the form to register.
Group Registration
If you are a teacher and wish to register a group of students from your school or tuition center, please click on Hippo Registration. Select "I am a teacher, please send me bulk registration form", and we will WhatsApp you shortly to explain the group registration process.
Alternatively, you may download the bulk registration form here: Regular Category Bulk Registration Form or Special Category Bulk Registration Form.
For more information regarding group registration, please contact us at 012-3833218.
[Registration Deadline]
Please note that the registration deadline is 9 March 2025. Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted.
All participants will receive a certificate after each round. Those advancing to the National Finals, Regional Qualifiers, or World Finals will also be awarded a medal.
For Hippo 2025, students should enroll according to their school grade or school year in 2025. There are 2 Hippo categories: Regular Category and Special Category.
Regular Category
Students from National (Public) or Private Schools (National Syllabus) are eligible to enroll in the Regular Category, equivalent to proficiency in "English as a Second or Foreign language".
Level Assignment based on School Grade/Year as of February 2025:
Primary 1 & 2: Baby Hippo
Primary 3 & 4: Little Hippo
Primary 5 & 6: Hippo 1
Secondary 1: Hippo 2
Secondary 2 & 3: Hippo 3
Secondary 4 & 5: Hippo 4
Form 6 & College students: Hippo 5
Special Category
Students from English medium private/international schools or those who have studied for at least 3 years in an English-speaking country will have to choose the Special Category, equivalent to proficiency in "English as a First Language".
Students from the Regular Category wishing to challenge higher levels can participate in the Special Category.
Level assignment based on School Grade/Year as of January 2025:
Year 1 & 2: Baby Hippo
Year 3 & 4: Little Hippo
Year 5 & 6: Hippo S1
Year 7: Hippo S2
Year 8 & 9 (or Sec 2 & 3): Hippo S3
Year 10 & 11 (or Sec 4 & 5): Hippo S4
Year 12 & 13 (or Form 6 & College): Hippo S5
[Important Notes]
1) Both Regular and Special Categories combine the grading of Baby Hippo and Little Hippo without distinct categorization.
2) Baby Hippo will be of the same difficulty level as Little Hippo. The Use of English test for Baby Hippo will assess receptive knowledge only in both the preliminary and national finals rounds.
3) Hippo S1 mirrors Hippo 2; Hippo S2 mirrors Hippo 3; Hippo S3 mirrors Hippo 4; and Hippo S4 mirrors Hippo 5. Despite the similar content, they are evaluated separately based on their respective categories.
4) Students who reached the Hippo 2024 final round cannot compete at the same level in Hippo 2025. They will be recommended to enter the Special Category or participate one level higher.
5) Students from lower levels may compete at a higher level if they feel adequately prepared for that level.
6) The Global Hippo Association reserves the right to verify the school's curriculum, language of instruction, and the hours dedicated to English education.
7) The Global Hippo Association reserves the right to disqualify those who do not comply with the regulations.
Baby Hippo / Little Hippo
Preliminary Round: CEFR Pre A1 YL (Young Learners)
National Final & Final Round: CEFR A1 YL (Young Learners)
Hippo 1
Preliminary Round: CEFR A1 YL (Young Learners)
National Final & Final Round: CEFR A2 YL (Young Learners)
Hippo 2 / Hippo S1
Preliminary Round: CEFR A1
National Final & Final Round: CEFR A2
Hippo 3 / Hippo S2
Preliminary Round: CEFR A2
National Final & Final Round: CEFR B1
Hippo 4 / Hippo S3
Preliminary Round: CEFR B1
National Final & Final Round: CEFR B2
Hippo 5 / Hippo S4
Preliminary Round: CEFR B2
National Final & Final Round: CEFR C1
Hippo S5
Preliminary Round: CEFR C1
National Final & Final Round: CEFR C2
If you wish to learn more about CEFR, click here.
There are 4 main competition rounds.
More of a visual person? Watch our video to understand better!
1) Preliminary Round (March 2025)
• Participants compete in Reading and Use of English tests (50 to 54 multiple-choice questions) across various categories.
• Top 10% (or more with the same marks) of participants from Malaysia proceed to the National Final round in April 2025.
2) National Final Round (April 2025)
• The National Final round includes Reading, Writing (30 questions), and a free-writing task (100–200 words, excluding Baby & Little Hippo) with difficulty one level higher than the preliminary round.
• The essay is assessed only if two or more candidates have the same scores on both reading and writing test.
3) World Final Round (Italy, September 2025)
• Top scorers from the National Final qualify for the World Final Round in Assisi, Italy in September 2025.
• Three-day half-board accommodation will be provided for all the candidates and their teachers free
of charge, while the costs of travel will be borne by the participants.
• In the World Final, participants take the Gatehouse Awards exam covering all four language skills, Use of English test (30 questions), and a crossword test to determine the winners.
4) Regional Qualifier Round (Vietnam, July 2025)
• Where the number of enrolments in Southeast Asia and Far East countries reaches 1,000 students (with a minimum of 100 candidates per category), Qualifiers will be organised.
• Best ranking participants from the National Final round, who did not qualify for the World Finals will be invited to join the qualifiers.
• The number of participants admitted will be proportional to the number of preliminary round participants in each category per country.
• The Qualifier Round will be held in Vietnam in July 2025, featuring Use of English open-ended questions and a crossword.
• There is a participation fee ranging from €100 to €180, depending on the location for the regional qualifier round.
• The winner of each category will proceed to the World Final Round in Italy.
Play-Off Qualifier Round (United Kingdom, August 2025)
• Offers a chance for additional participants to qualify for the World Finals.
• Open to select categories and regions, held in the UK in August 2025.
• Participants take an intensive five-day Hippo English Language preparation course followed by a test on day 6. The fee will be announced after the National Final round.
• Winners proceed to the World Finals, with entries proportional to the number of preliminary round participants in each category per country.
PRELIMINARY ROUND
The tests for the preliminary round of the Olympiad will consist of two parts: Reading Comprehension test & Use of English test (multiple choice questions). The maximum allowed time for each part is specified below.
There is only one correct answer to every question. There are no negative marks.
• Baby Hippo & Little Hippo (similar paper content)
- Reading: 30 questions | 1 point each | 20 minutes max
- Use of English: 20 questions | 1.5 point each | 20 minutes max
• Hippo 1
- Reading: 30 questions | 1 point each | 30 minutes max
- Use of English: 20 questions | 1.5 point each | 20 minutes max
• Hippo 2 & S1 (similar paper content), Hippo 3 & S2 (similar paper content)
- Reading: 34 questions | 1 point each | 30 minutes max
- Use of English: 20 questions | 1.5 point each | 20 minutes max
• Hippo 4 & S3 (similar paper content)
- Reading: 34 questions | 1 point each | 40 minutes max
- Use of English: 20 questions | 1.5 point each | 30 minutes max
• Hippo 5 & S4 (similar paper content), Hippo S5
- Reading: 40 questions | 1 point each | 45 minutes max
- Use of English: 20 questions | 1.5 point each | 30 minutes max
Note: Answers are recorded on an answer sheet (OMR) for the paper-based test; there is no OMR for the online test.
NATIONAL FINAL ROUND
The exam level for the National Final Round will be one CEFR level higher than the one in the Preliminary Round. The tests for the National Final Round of the Olympiad will consist of Reading test, Writing test (30 questions) and Essay test (except for Baby & Little Hippo).
The essay will be assessed only in case two or more candidates have the scores on both the reading and the writing test, to decide who will enter World Final Round.
There is only one correct answer to every question. There are no negative marks.
• Baby Hippo & Little Hippo (similar paper content)
- Reading: 30 questions | 1 point each | 30 minutes max
- Writing: 30 questions | 1.5 point each | 45 minutes max
• Hippo 1
- Reading: 40 questions | 1 point each | 30 minutes max
- Writing: Free-writing task (essay) + 30 questions | 1.5 point each | 45 minutes max
• Hippo 2 & S1 (similar paper content)
- Reading: 34 questions | 1 point each | 30 minutes max
- Writing: Free-writing task (essay) + 30 questions | 1.5 point each | 45 minutes max
• Hippo 3 & S2 (similar paper content)
- Reading: 34 questions | 1 point each | 40 minutes max
- Writing: Free-writing task (essay) + 30 questions | 1.5 point each | 45 minutes max
• Hippo 4 & S3 (similar paper content), Hippo 5 & S4 (similar paper content)
- Reading: 40 questions | 1 point each | 45 minutes max
- Writing: Free-writing task (essay) + 30 questions | 1.5 point each | 45 minutes max
• Hippo S5
- Reading: 40 questions | 1 point each | 50 minutes max
- Writing: Free-writing task (essay) + 30 questions | 1.5 point each | 45 minutes max
Note:
• Reading test answers are recorded on an answer sheet (OMR), while Writing test answers are given in the test booklet for the paper-based test.
• For the Online test, all answers will be submitted through the online system.
The Contest participants will be divided into the Contest regions (hereinafter regions) for the purpose of organising regional qualifiers. The pre-set regions are as follows:
1. Mediterranean Europe
2. Continental Europe
3. Middle East
4. Central Asia
5. Indian Subcontinent
6. Maritime Southeast Asia
7. Far East
8. Africa
9. Central & South America
The 2025 Qualifiers will be held in:
1. Venice, Italy for Mediterranean countries and Continental Europe
2. Samarkand, Uzbekistan for Central Asia
3. Doha, Qatar for Middle East and Indian Subcontinent
4. Da Nang, Vietnam, for Southeast Asia and Far East countries
5. Central & South America location to be announced
Where the number of enrolments in a specific region reaches 1,000 students in the 2025 edition, with a minimum of 100 candidates per Hippo Category, Qualifiers will be organised.
Students with the best ranking among those not qualified for the World Finals will be admitted to
the Qualifiers. The number of students admitted to the Qualifiers per category and country will be
proportional to the number of preliminary round participants in each category per country.
Regional Qualifiers will be held in person. Online examinations will not be available and no exemptions will be made. Initially, the top 10% of the students who do not qualify for the World Finals will be invited to participate in the Qualifiers. If a student does not confirm their participation, the next student in the ranking list from the same country will be invited. The minimum percentage of achievement for a student to be invited to the qualifiers will be 70% of the first ranked student points.
Students invited to the Regional Qualifiers will be requested to pay a participation fee ranging from €100 to €180, depending on the location. The participation fee will cover the costs of insurance, merchandising (given to the participants upon arrival), participation in the organised activities and examination materials. Where applicable, a package including accommodation and participation fee will be proposed to the participants through an exclusive service provider. Participants who book accommodation through the service provider will not need to pay the participation fee. Students and accompanying teachers or parents will need to cover the costs of travel and accommodation. Travel arrangements will need to be made by the participants themselves, while Hippo will propose accommodation options. Consequently, participants will be
able to choose between the two options.
Students and one accompanying teacher or parent are expected to arrive at the venue one day before the examination date. The examinations will take place on the morning after while the proclamation of winners will take place in the evening.
First place winners of each Hippo category and for any of the Regions will proceed to the World
Finals.
The World Finals will be held in Italy, in October 2025. The venue and the date will be announced shortly. All candidates can be accompanied by their English language teacher, or an English-speaking teacher from their school.
Parents who wish to accompany their children need to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements as the hotels where the students are accommodated are booked exclusively for the Contest participants.
Three-day half-board accommodation will be provided for all the candidates and their teachers free of charge, while the costs of travel will be borne by the participants.
Finalists are expected to arrive the day before the examinations start; examinations will be held over two days while the proclamation of winners and awarding ceremony will be held on the evening of the second day of examinations.
The programme of the final round will be sent directly to the finalists who confirmed their participation one week before the event.
Finalists will be contacted and helped with making their travel arrangements.
Hippo will organise Play-Off Qualifiers in order to give additional participants the opportunity to reach Hippo 2025 World Finals by offering an intensive five-day Hippo English Language preparation course followed by a Hippo Test to be taken on day 6.
Play-Off Qualifiers are open to Hippo 2, Hippo 3, Hippo 4 and Hippo 5 students of both regular and special categories.
Participants will be divided into the Contest regions (hereinafter regions) for the purpose of organising Play-Off Qualifiers. The same pre-set regions as for the Regional Qualifiers have been
established.
Pre-set regions are as follows:
1. Mediterranean Europe
2. Other countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea
3. Continental Europe
4. Middle East
5. Central Asia
6. Indian Subcontinent
7. Maritime Southeast Asia
8. Far East
9. Africa
10. Central & South America
Play-Off Qualifiers will be held in Bucksmore Education’s Oxford International College Brighton, UK, from 5th to 12th August 2025.
Students with the best ranking among those not qualified for the World Finals or for the Regional Qualifiers will be admitted to Play-Off Qualifiers. Students who qualify for the Qualifiers but do not
participate or do not qualify for the World Finals are also eligible for the Play-Off Qualifiers.
The minimum percentage of achievement for a student to be able to participate in the Play-off qualifiers is 70% of the first ranked student points. The number of Play-Off Qualifiers slots are limited and will be available on a first-come first-served basis.
Students will need to make their own travel arrangements and cover the costs themselves. The package covers the costs of teaching, learning materials, accommodation, all meals, transfers arrival/departure, all activities and 1 excursion. Costs and other details are available on the dedicated pages of the Hippo website.
No accompanying teachers or parents are accepted. Students will be accommodated in a college open to students only, supervised by guardians 24/7.
The courses will be taught by Bucksmore Education teachers, for a minimum of 15 and maximum of 20 hours in classes 20 students. Students will be allocated to their class based on the category in which they participate and the entry test results. Lessons will be tailor-made and will include Hippo mock examinations. Play-Off Qualifiers examinations will take place on the morning of the 6th day of their stay.
Medal
All candidates in the national final round, regional qualifier and the world final round will be awarded a medal after the competition.
Regional Qualifier Round
Winners of each category will proceed to the World Finals.
World Final Round
• All candidates who pass the final round tests (scoring a minimum of 55%) will be awarded a Gatehouse Awards internationally recognized certificate in English.
• Other World Final prizes will be announced closer to the World Finals date.
For paper-based examinations, the reading test answers are marked by an OMR device and for that reason need to be properly filled in. Candidates are required to use a pen while completing the OMR form. Our OMR sample form is available here.
In case an OMR form is not properly filled in (e.g., incorrect or missing candidate number) or scanned and the OMR device cannot read it, Hippo keeps the right to disqualify the candidate if the identity of the candidate cannot be established.
For online examinations, in case of suspected malpractice, Hippo keeps the right to re-test the candidates using a parallel test and under the invigilation of the Hippo staff.
In the national finals, the essay will be marked only if two or more candidates have the same number of points on both the reading and the writing test or in case of suspected cheating or malpractice.
The ranking list for all categories as well as the names of the candidates who qualified for the national finals will be available on http://www.hippo-thecontest.org/ within three weeks of the preliminary round date.
The ranking list for all categories as well as the names of the candidates who qualified for the final round and eventually regional qualifiers will be available on http://www.hippo-thecontest.org/ within three weeks of the national finals date.
The final round places will be assigned in the following way:
Top 140 finalists will be admitted directly from the national finals ranking list. The number of finalists per category and country will be proportional to the number of preliminary round participants in each category per country. In order to promote a multicultural environment, wildcards will be granted to the best participant from each of the countries that does not have a finalist. In addition to the above, winners of regional qualifiers will be admitted to Finals.
Hippo keeps the right to increase the number of finalists if the number of applicants exceeds 83,295, all in accordance with the Contest regulations.
Registered Hippo participants will receive past-year questions. Upon verification of your submission and payment, we will send you a WhatsApp message containing the link to download the past-year question papers, with login username and password.
Sample papers to practise are available to download on https://hippo-thecontest.org/sample-papers/.
By registering for the competition through our online form, WhatsApp, direct contact, or schools, you agree to allow us to use your personal data, including your full name, phone number, and email, to send you communications such as welcome letters, payment reminders, updates, announcements, and materials related to future competitions and classes from Caya Academy Sdn Bhd.
The registration for Hippo 2025 is now opened!
Click the button below to register:
Join our weekly online lesson to better prepare for the competition and get familiar with CEFR syllabus.
Global Hippo Association is a non-profit organisation founded in 2012 with the purpose of promoting the importance of English language knowledge and bringing together children from different countries.
Hippo 2024
15,000 Malaysian participants from 1,600 schools
Hippo 2023
12,000 Malaysian participants from 1,200 schools
Hippo 2022
6,500 Malaysian participants from 1,000 schools
Hippo 2021
6,800 Malaysian participants from 950 schools
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