For teachers

Why schools take part

• An external benchmark. Papers follow the format and the marking of the examinations they are modelled on, so a class in one country is measured by the same yardstick as a class in another, and the same class can be compared with itself a year later.

• A diagnostic picture. The analysis of results shows where a class is strong and where it is not by part of the paper, not only by total score: vocabulary against grammar, reading for gist against reading for detail.

• Familiarity with the format. Pupils who sit the olympiad each year arrive at their first real Cambridge, IELTS or TOEFL paper knowing what the instructions mean, how long a part takes and what a good answer looks like.

• No extra work for the teacher beyond the half-lesson itself. Registration, papers, marking and awards are handled by the national partner.

What the teacher does

1. Registers the class with the national partner and confirms the number of pupils.

2. Receives the papers for the grade from the partner shortly before the olympiad, together with the teacher’s instructions.

3. Runs the olympiad in one lesson. Each pupil gets a paper, writes their name and school on it, and has 30 minutes. Answers go on the paper itself: a circled letter, a letter in a box or a word on a line. No outside invigilator is required.

4. Returns the papers to the partner for marking.

5. Receives the diplomas for the pupils and the analysis of results for the class.

What the school receives

• DiplomasA diploma for every pupil who sat the paper, and diplomas of the first, second and third degree for the best results in each grade.
• Analysis of resultsFor each class: points by part of the paper and by pupil, what the marker noticed, and a suggested focus for the year. Sample analysis (PDF).

Nothing else is sent to the school, and nothing is left with the pupils but the diploma.

What the papers look like

Each grade from 1 to 11 has its own paper, modelled on the examinations that suit that age: Cambridge Starters with TOEFL Primary for grades 1 to 3, Cambridge Movers and Flyers with TOEFL Primary for grades 4 and 5, Cambridge Key and Preliminary for Schools with TOEFL Primary and Junior for grades 6 to 9, and Cambridge First for Schools, IELTS and TOEFL ITP and iBT for grades 10 and 11. All papers test reading and language use; from grade 8 there is also a short piece of writing, an e-mail or a story, worth 5 points. Every paper takes 30 minutes. Grades, points and sample tasks. Full papers from earlier years, with answer keys, and the olympiad’s documents are on the Papers and documents page.

How a school takes part

Schools take part through the national partner in their country, who will usually have been in touch with the school directly. The partner sets the dates for the country, supplies the papers and returns the results.