How do learners enter?
Entries are only accepted through schools. The Call for Entries with details and information on the Olympiad, and the Entry Form can be downloaded from the Home page on this website between 1 July and 30 September each year. Study material for each candidate is sent to their schools at the end of October, and the examination takes place in March of the following year.
Schools may choose to enter their candidates for the Home Language (HL) paper, or the First Additional Language (FAL) paper. FAL entries are permitted provided the candidates are registered for English FAL in their school curriculum - please indicate which paper each candidate is entering clearly on the Entry Form.
As the examination is based on an open-book system, every candidate will be provided with a copy of the Anthology and a Study Guide. While this adds to the cost of entering the Olympiad, an open-book examination enables more creative answers. The organisers of the English Olympiad cannot permit the use of photocopies for copyright reasons.
Who may enter?
The competition is open to ALL learners who will be in Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 in 2023.
Entry Fees and Closing Dates
Entry fees are payable upon application (the entry fee for the 2022 Olympiad was R100). The entry fee covers the administrative and postage costs of the Olympiad, and the cost of the Anthology and Study Guide.
Teachers may purchase additional copies of the text for their use.
CLOSING DATE: Friday, 30 September 2022. (We regret that late entries cannot be accepted.)
Please note that entering earlier will benefit your candidates as they will receive their texts earlier and have more time to prepare.
Proof of payment must be received by the Olympiad Officer, with your entry form, before the entry closing date. Entries will not be processed without a proof of payment.
To enter please download, complete and submit the Entry Form via the link that will be found on the Home page from 1 July each year.
BANKING DETAILS
Account Name: English Olympiad
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch: Grahamstown
Branch code: 050917
Account number: 081 975 988
**NB** Reference for payments: EO & your School’s Name
English Olympiad Sponsorship (EOS)
A limited number of partial bursaries is available for students who cannot afford the entry fees. The amount of the bursary is 50% of the entry fee. If your candidates are not able to afford the entry fee, please ask them each to write:
- A short letter of application saying why they would like to write the exam, stating how they plan to prepare for the examination and their signature to confirm that they are committed to writing the examination on the appointed day.
- The principal of the school also needs to write a supporting letter to endorse the candidate's bursary application. Because the number of bursaries available is limited, they will be awarded on merit, and on a first come, first served basis.
- Successful EOS applicants will be required to pay only 50% of the normal entry fee via the normal method of entry fees payment, i.e via direct deposit or postal order - no cash will be accepted. Please do not send through payment until the Olympiad Officer has confirmed approval of your bursary applications.
Please send EOS applications to the Olympiad Officer at PO Box 304, Grahamstown, 6140, or fax: 086 262 6048, or email: olympiad@foundation.org.za. For further information, phone: 046 603 1145
.
First Additional Language (FAL) candidates
The FAL Olympiad exam paper will be based on the same anthology and theme as the Home Language paper, and will require just as much preparation for the examination as the Home Language paper, however, the FAL paper will differ from the Home Language paper in that there may be fewer question choices and simpler language may be used in some of the exam questions. It is by no means an easier paper, but it will be better suited to English First Additional Language learners.
Condition applied to First Additional Language Entries: To be eligible to write the FAL examination paper, candidates must be registered at their school for English First Additional Language.