IEO(International English Olympiad) - Complete Guide

Introduction

The International English Olympiad ( IEO) is an annual academic competition organized by the Science Olympiad Foundation( SOF) in collaboration with the British Council for students in classes 1-12. The exam assesses students’ knowledge and skills in the English language and comprehension ability. It also provides a platform for the students to recognize their academic talent in the discipline of the English language and literature. Besides providing a healthy competitive environment, the exam also hones students’ creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

Event Details

IEO is conducted in two Levels: Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 is conducted for classes 1 to 12, while Level 2 is conducted for classes 3 to 12. Level 1 is conducted at the school level and is open to all the students who register through their respective schools. Level 2 consists of all the top performers from Level 1. This level determines the final ranks and rewards. Students qualifying for any of the mentioned below 3 criteria are eligible for the level 2 of IEO :

Top 5% of the students, class wise, who appear for level 1
State-wise top 25% rank holders
Class topper from each participating school where at least 10 students from the class appear for the exam and score 50% qualifying marks.

Only students who belong to the participating schools can take part in the International English Olympiad exam. They should apply at least 30 days before the exam. As per IEO regulations, students from participating schools must be below 18 years of age. Students must have a valid email ID and a mobile number to register for the IEO exam. They must give these details before registration can proceed.

For Indian students, you must be from a participating school that is affiliated with either ICSE, CBSE, or the State Board. You should be in any class from 1 to 12 and need to have basic knowledge of English. The registration fee for the olympiad for students from India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh is INR 125(including GST), while those from overseas have to pay USD 11. Apart from these conditions, there are no other IEO Exam eligibility criteria like gender, minimum marks, etc.

For awards, a gold medal, a participation certificate, and INR up to 50,000 are given to the participants as an acknowledgement for their hard work, dedication, and skill. For this year, SOF IEO will be conducted on three dates, as under. A school may select one date to conduct the SOF IEO at its convenience.

DATE ONE – 26th September 2025
DATE TWO – 11th November 2025
DATE THREE – 26th November 2025

IEO Syllabus

The level 1 competition is a test of 60 minutes duration comprising 35 objective-type (Multiple Choice) questions for classes 1 to 4 and 50 objective-type (Multiple Choice) questions for classes 5 to 12. The duration of the test is 1 hour. Here is the paper pattern for the International English Olympiad:

Level 1

Class	Section	No of Qs	Marks per Qs	Total Marks
1 to 4	Word and Structure Knowledge	30	1	30
	Reading
	Spoken and Written Expression
	Achievers Section	5	2	10
	Total	35		40
5 to 12	Word and Structure Knowledge	45	1	45
	Reading
	Spoken and Written Expression
	Achievers Section	5	3	15
	Total	50		60

Level 2

Class	Section	No of Qs	Marks per Qs	Total Marks
3 to 4	Word and Structure Knowledge	20	1	20
	Reading	10	1	10
	Achievers Section	5	2	10
	Total	35		40
5 to 12	Word and Structure Knowledge	35	1	35
	Reading	10	1	10
	Achievers Section	5	3	15
	Total	50		60

Past IEO papers with solutions

Just like other competitive exams, IEO is a challenging exam. But students can excel by familiarizing themselves with the exam pattern and syllabus to understand the topics that will be covered in the exam, practicing sample papers and previous years’ question papers to get a feel of the exam format, and improving their problem-solving skills, enhancing their understanding of English grammar fundamentals and comprehension through regular practice and study, solving previous years’ question papers to understand the exam pattern and types of questions asked and staying updated with the latest developments in the field of science through IEO Olympiad books level 1 and level 2, online resources, and tutorials to broaden your knowledge base and stay ahead in the competition.

Solving previous years’ papers within the stipulated time frame is extremely important to understand the pattern, type of questions, current competencies, and identify areas of improvement. Past papers are for classes 1 & 2, past papers are for classes 3 to 8, and past papers are for classes 9 & 10. For grades 11,12, and additional study material, past year papers and their solutions, you can visit the official website of SOF.

Participating Countries

SOF is an educational organization established by leading academicians, scientists, and media personalities with the aim of promoting Science, Mathematics, Computer Education, English, Social Studies, General Knowledge, Hindi, and professional courses. Science Olympiad Foundation has been striving for over 25 years to promote a scientific attitude and temperament through innovative activities and the use of IT in the learning process that involve school students across the globe. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, through The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, and many highly reputed organizations like The British Council, Star Sports, Techfest IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, National University of Singapore & TCS, etc. have volunteered to partner and support SOF’s various programmes.

India, the USA, New Zealand, and 69 other countries participate in the SOF IEO. More than 96,499 schools all over the world are associated with this organization. They have conducted over 7.2 crore assessments until the present day.

History of IEO

The International English Olympiad is conducted annually. The cut-offs for 2023-24 were 33,35, and 43 marks for classes 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Students can check the past IEO results on the official website of SOF. IEO was founded in 2014 with the very first English Olympiad taking place in October 2014.

Results

The results of the IEO are sent directly to registered schools, ensuring that candidates receive timely information. Results are typically announced within two months following the assessment. If a school does not receive the results, candidates can verify their outcomes on the SOF website. In most cases, Level 1 results are released by December or January, while Level 2 results are available by March or April. The specific dates for each year are firmly determined by SOF.

A crucial aspect of the IEO results is the Student Performance Report (SPR). This report offers an in-depth analysis of each student’s performance and is provided to every student. The SPR is an essential tool for students and their parents, allowing them to evaluate performance and identify strengths and weaknesses.

FAQs

1. What is the mission of the International English Olympiad?

The mission and vision of SOF IEO is to provide a dynamic global environment of learning for the youth by engaging positively and constructively through academic competitions among the children of the same age group across the globe.

2. How does a student benefit by taking IEO?

Participants are ranked on the basis of marks obtained. Hence, after taking the first level of the test, students can judge themselves academically at five different levels - within the school, at city level, at zonal level, at regional level, and above all at the International level. Students are suitably awarded scholarships based on their International, Zonal, and School rankings. Prizes are announced annually and include cash awards/scholarships, medals, gifts, certificates, etc. Selective International toppers from each class are awarded a scholarship at a grand prize distribution ceremony held in Delhi, presided over by eminent personalities. Prizes for zonal winners and school winners are sent to their respective schools. For the year 2022-23, a sum of Rs. 20 crores was spent towards awards, felicitations, scholarships, etc.

3. Can a student appear for more than one Olympiad exam?

Yes, students can register in IEO, IMO, NSO, etc, as per their eligibility. Although the exams are conducted by the same Foundation.

4. What language are the Olympiad exams conducted in?

The medium of question and answer in all the Olympiad exams is English.

5. How to register for IEO?

Enrollment for the IEO Olympiad is processed through participating schools. Interested students should contact the relevant school department to obtain the application form and submit it along with the required registration fee. Schools then receive admit cards, after processing of documents, which are to be distributed among the students.