THE CONDITIONS OF THE SEMI-FINAL ROUND (WRITTEN MULTIPLE-CHOICE EXAMS)

1. The Semi-Final Round Exams (Written Multiple-Choice Exams) will be held online on two separate dates: 7 November 2026 and 23 January 2027.
2. Students may take the exam on either one date or on both dates. Each exam attempt requires a separate payment.
3. The questions will be different for each exam date, but both exams will have the same level of difficulty.
4. The Semi-Final Round Exams will be open for 24 hours on the specified exam dates. Students may take exams in their registered categories at any time during this period.
5. Participation fee in the Hi-Lingua Language Competition is 25 € per language category for the Semi-Final Round. Participation in the Final Round is free of charge for the qualifying students.
6. Participants can choose one or more languages among English, French, Spanish and German to take part in the competition. A separate 25 € fee must be paid for each language category in each Semi-Final Round.
7. Each language exam in the Semi-Final Round will consist of 30 multiple-choice questions.
8. Each language exam will last 60 minutes. 
   
9. Students aiming for a top 10 ranking must keep both cameras and screen sharing active throughout the exam, ensuring that camera angles and visibility meet the specified requirements. Students with the highest exam scores who fully meet these security requirements may receive bonus points, which will be used solely to determine the final top 10 rankings. If the camera connection is interrupted or the participant is disconnected, the participant should continue answering the questions. Such issues will not result in any point deductions or changes to their original exam scores.
10. The exams will be conducted through the Hi-Lingua Student Portal. No additional exam links will be sent via email.
11. The first 20 questions are worth 3 points each, while the final 10 questions are worth 4 points each. A student who answers all questions correctly will receive 100 points. For each incorrect answer, 1 point will be deducted from the participant's final score.
12. All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation for the Semi-Final Round Exams of the Hi-Lingua Language Competition.
13. The top 10 students in each grade group and language category will qualify for the Final Round (Speaking & Essay Writing) based on the results of each Semi-Final Round Exam. The two Semi-Final Rounds are independent, and each will have its own qualification results. A total of 120 students from each Semi-Final Round or 240 students across both Semi-Final Rounds, will qualify for the Final Round (Speaking & Essay Writing).

THE CONDITIONS FOR THE FINAL ROUND (SPEAKING & ESSAY WRITING)

The Final Round consists of 2 parts: 

1. Speaking Exam
2. Essay Writing Exam

The top 10 students in each grade group and language category, based on the results of the Semi-Final Round, will qualify to participate in both exams.

SPEAKING EXAM 

1. The Speaking Exam will be conducted via video conference, allowing participants to interact directly with the examiners.
2. Eligible candidates will receive an email containing guidelines for scheduling the Speaking Exam, along with the details of the evaluation criteria.
3. Participants are required to have an active Zoom camera connection during the Speaking Exam. The camera must remain turned on throughout the exam and participants must use their Student ID as their display name. Technical requirements and instructions will be announced prior to the exams.
4. The Speaking Exam time will be scheduled by the examiners and each participant will receive an assigned appointment time.
5. Students who fail to attend their scheduled Speaking Exam for any reason will not be provided with an alternative appointment.
6. Participants must ensure that they have a stable internet connection and a suitable environment for the Speaking Exam.
7. Participants must join the video conference at least 10 minutes before their scheduled exam time.
8. The Speaking Exam will be conducted in the language category in which the participant qualified for the Final Round.
9. Speaking Exam results will be determined based on the evaluation criteria announced by the Organizing Committee.

ESSAY WRITING

The Essay Writing Exam will be held on 29 November 2026, free of charge for all participants, in four languages. This exam will be evaluated independently, and the top three students will receive 30%, 20%, and 10% Grand Final discounts, respectively.

In addition, a separate Essay Writing Exam will be held on the same day as the Speaking Exams, exclusively for the Top 10 students who advance from the Semi-Final Round to the Online Final Round.

The following conditions apply to both Essay Writing Exams:

1. Qualified participants will write an essay based on one of three topics revealed at the start of the exam, demonstrating their ability to express ideas clearly and effectively.
2. Students will write an essay in the language category in which they qualified for the Final Round.
3. The Essay Writing exam will be conducted exclusively through the Hi-Lingua Student Portal. No external links or exam instructions will be sent by email.
4. Unlike the Speaking Exam, which will be conducted at an appointment time assigned by the examiners, qualified students may take the Essay Writing exam at any time during the designated two-day exam period.
5. Essay Writing Exam Duration: 60 minutes from the time the exam is started
6. Required Essay Length: 250–300 words
7. Participants must use a laptop or desktop computer with a working webcam and a stable internet connection. Mobile phones and tablets are not allowed.
8. The use of two cameras is mandatory throughout the entire recorded exam session. The student must remain clearly visible and the computer’s full screen must be shared. Detailed instructions regarding camera setup and positioning will be provided before the exam. Failure to use both cameras as required will result in a score of 0 for the Essay Writing exam.
9. Any suspicious or irregular activity may result in a warning, termination of the exam or disqualification.
10. Leaving the exam screen is strictly prohibited and will trigger a Tab Error. Each Tab Error will result in a 3-point deduction from the final score.
11. The use of dictionaries, translation tools, AI tools, books, notes, phones, tablets, additional devices or assistance from any person is strictly prohibited.
12. All recordings, submitted essays and personal data will be stored securely for two weeks after the results are announced and used only for administration and assessment purposes.
13. No make-up exam will be available for a missed exam.
14. Sample Essay Topics
    A. How Can We Make Our Schools Eco-friendlier?
    Instruction: Explain why protecting the environment at school is important. Describe actions students or teachers can take to make the school more environmentally friendly, and provide examples.
    B. The Importance of Learning from Mistakes
    Instruction: Explain why mistakes are a natural part of life. Discuss how learning from mistakes can help people grow and improve, using examples or personal experiences.
    C. Why Reading Books Is Still Important Today
    Instruction: Discuss the benefits of reading. Explain how books can help us learn, relax, and understand the world, and provide reasons to support your ideas.
15. Assessment Criteria:
    - Content & Ideas
    - Organization & Structure
    - Language Use
    - Cohesion & Coherence
    - Accuracy & Mechanics
16. The writing rules, technical requirements, and features of the exam interface will be announced during the week preceding the exam.

FINAL ROUND EVALUATION

The final ranking will be determined based on a combined score from all three exams, weighted as follows:

40% – Semi-Final Round Score
35% – Speaking Exam Score
25% – Essay Writing Score