Discovery
Taken at your school or local test centre.
- Multiple-choice test of reading, vocabulary and grammar
- 45–60 minutes, depending on level
- Results in about three weeks
- Every candidate receives a certificate
KGL Contest · About 2027
Registration openOne standard. Every level. A world stage.
An international English olympiad for students learning English as a foreign language. Every candidate competes at their genuine CEFR level and every candidate is recognised. Candidates pay a one-time contest fee, with no additional contest fees to progress to the National Finals or the Global Finals.
Start here: I'm a student I'm a parent I'm a school
10years2017–2026
- 5CEFR levels offered in every country, Pre-A1 to B2, plus A1 Senior and C1 in selected countries
- 3stages, from Discovery to the Global Event
- 3routes to the National Finals
- $150–$500for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place at A1, A2, B1 and B2
- $1,000additional prize for the Overall Global Winner
Who we are
A contest built on a fair test
The KGL Contest English Olympiad is organised by the International Testing Authority (ITA) and run locally by KGL Country Partners. Every paper is aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Since 2017 the contest has given students a reason to push their English further and a fair way to measure how far they have come. Candidates do not compete against native speakers. They compete against students at the same level, judged by the same criteria, wherever they live.
The tests are pitched at the upper end of each level and include some elements from the next, so a top score shows genuine command of the level. The highest qualifying candidates in each country meet at the Global Event, where they sit the Global Final Test and celebrate together.
What we stand for
Three principles of fairness
These three principles shape every rule of the contest, from how you choose your level to how winners are decided.
Level-appropriate entry
Every candidate competes at their genuine current level, not their age, school year or coursebook.
Why it mattersA student who enters honestly at A2 should never lose a medal to someone who is really at B1. No candidate performing above their entered level is awarded a top-three place, nationally or globally.
One standard
All candidates at a level are judged by the same criteria. There are no separate streams by school type.
Why it mattersA Global Final place is earned on the same paper, against the same standard, whichever school or country a candidate comes from.
Open access to the final
Candidates pay one contest entry fee when they register. Qualifying candidates pay no additional contest fees to progress to the National Finals or the Global Finals.
Why it mattersThere is no paid regional round and no extra qualifying stage abroad. Progress depends on performance, not on a family's ability to pay.
The journey
Three stages, one level throughout
You compete at the level you registered for in every stage. Each stage you reach is another stamp in your KGL passport.
National Finals
The top Discovery candidates in each country compete for national places.
- Listening, reading and a writing task
- 60–90 minutes, depending on level
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Commended at each level
- Rankings published about one month later
Global Event
National champions meet in Thessaloniki, Greece, for the Global Finals.
- Categories at A1, A2, B1 and B2
- Global Final Test and Award Ceremony
- Cash prizes and trophies for the top three at each level
- Finalists confirm travel and visas by the stipulated deadlines
Test timings by level
Your KGL Country Partner confirms the venue and start time for each stage.
| Minutes | Pre-A1 | A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery | 45 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| National Finals | 60 | 75 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
Choosing your level
Enter where you are today
Your current English level decides your entry, and each level has a maximum age. Before registering, check your level in two ways:
- Use the KGL eligibility checker
- Try the automatically marked past papers online, alongside your teacher's assessment of your independent work
Pre-A1
A1
A1Senior
A2
B1
B2
C1
Offered in every country
Available in selected countries
Reaching the National Finals
Three ways to qualify
The strongest candidates qualify on merit. Schools can also earn places of their own, so more students get to experience a national final.
Merit
On Discovery score
The highest-scoring candidates at each level qualify automatically, ranked nationwide.
1per 10 entries
School Guaranteed Places
Every school receives one guaranteed National Finals place for each complete group of ten registered entries.
1per 20 entries
KGL Rescue Cards
Schools can earn one Rescue Card for each complete group of twenty registered entries, used under the published scheme.
Merit qualifiers advance automatically and are not counted against a school's guaranteed places.
Calculate your school's places
Recognition
Every candidate is recognised
Taking part is an achievement in itself. Each step further brings a higher award.
- Every candidateCertificate after DiscoveryCertificate
- National CommendedCertificate and award from your KGL Country PartnerCommended
- National 1st, 2nd and 3rdCertificates and prizes at every level, Pre-A1 to B2Podium
- Global 1st, 2nd and 3rdCash prize and trophy at A1, A2, B1 and B2$150–$500
- Overall Global WinnerThe highest honour of the Global Finals+$1,000
Global Finals 2026 · Thessaloniki
The best of every level
In the contest's tenth-anniversary year, the 2026 Global Finals brought national champions to Thessaloniki. Nadine Hasnaoui of Morocco took the top score of the event and the title of Overall Global Winner.
- A1 · 1st placeYerassyl ZhiyengaliKazakhstan
- A2 · 1st placeTserendavaa MyagmarnaranMongolia
- B1 · 1st placeMukjirathorn WangsukThailand
- B2 · 1st placeNadine HasnaouiMorocco
Next stop
Global Finals 2027
30 September – 2 October 2027 · Thessaloniki, Greece
The 1st-place National Finals winner at A1, A2, B1 and B2 in each country may be invited. Pre-A1 winners receive their national prizes.
Voices from the KGL community
In their own words
Reaching the KGL Global Finals gave me a confidence I never expected. I was proud of what I had achieved, but meeting students from other countries made it even more special. English became something that connected us.
KGL gives my students a clear goal and a reason to believe in their abilities. Seeing them challenge themselves, grow in confidence and take pride in their progress has been the most rewarding part of the experience.
What makes KGL special is the combination of educational purpose and international opportunity. We are proud to help schools recognise their students’ achievements and give young learners a chance to represent their country on a global stage.
Fair play
Level Verification protects honest entrants
At the National Finals and the Global Finals, KGL now checks candidates' writing to make sure everyone has entered at their current level.
Mixed-level language is normal. Some language from the next level is expected, and a high mark alone never triggers a review. Write naturally and do your best.
- Independent level assessment
CEFR specialists assess your writing without seeing your name, country or entry level.
- Marking at your entered level
Separate markers mark your writing against the criteria for the level you entered.
- Comparison and review
KGL compares the two findings and looks more closely only where there is a material mismatch.
For schools
Your school on the international stage
Schools that take part receive recognition for their entries and their winners, and can earn National Finals places for their students.
Platinum
Gold
Silver
- International School Partner status
Platinum, Gold or Silver status, awarded according to your number of entries.
- Certificates of recognition
Schools with winners receive a certificate of recognition.
- Guaranteed places and Rescue Cards
National Finals places that can be earned through your entries, on top of merit qualifiers.
- A seat at the Global Event
Schools with a global finalist and at least 10 Discovery entries may send a teacher or school representative.
Find your path
Where to go next
StudentsCheck your levelConfirm your eligibility by level and age before you register.Eligibility checker →
ParentsGet your answersDates, fees, results and what happens on test day.FAQ 2027 →
SchoolsEnter your studentsRegister through your KGL Country Partner by your country's closing date.How to register →
EveryoneContact your partnerYour KGL Country Partner handles registration, fees, dates and queries.Country Partners →
Your level. Your stage. Your moment.
Registration for the 2027 KGL Contest is open. Read the rules, check your level and enter through your school or KGL Country Partner.
KGL Contest English Olympiad · Organised by the International Testing Authority (ITA) · Aligned to the CEFR