INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ...

HIPPO 1st INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Introduction GLOBAL INPUT – LCCI IQ Reps for Slovenia and Balkans are organising 1st International Competition in English Language. The competition is open to students 10 – 19 years old from schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. Students wishing to participate must apply through the closest registered LCCI centre in one of the mentioned countries.

Competition Regulations 1. Dates and Venues The competition will be run in two rounds: preliminary round and final round. The preliminary round will be held on 16th March 2013 in registered LCCI centres or public schools. Public schools will be allowed to run the preliminary round of the competition on their premises only if the minimum number of their students participating in the competition is 20 and they will need to contact GLOBAL INPUT – LCCI Reps ([email protected] or +381 18 212 474) directly for approval. The final round will be held in Lido di Jesolo, Italy, on 11th and 12th May 2013. The 25 highestranking students as well as a school representative (chosen by the school), e.g. the student’s teacher, will be invited to the final round of the competition. GLOBAL INPUT – LCCI Reps keep the right to increase the number of finalists if the number of applicants exceeds 2000, all in accordance with the competition regulations.

2. Candidate Application and Fees Every LCCI centre participating in the competition as well as public school needs to appoint one of their staff as the competition responsible/contact person. The person will be in charge of applications and will need to ensure that all the LCCI rules and regulations are followed.

The contact person needs to send the completed application forms1 to [email protected] by 11th February 2013. No applications will be accepted after this date. They will then receive a confirmation email and payment instructions. The application fee per candidate is €4 or the equivalent in local currency as follows: Bosnia and Herzegovina: 8 BAM Bulgaria: 8 BGN Croatia: 30 HRK Macedonia: 250 MKD Montenegro: 4 EUR Serbia: 470 RSD Slovenia: 4 EUR Upon application, all candidates will receive their own user name and password to access sample/practice tests online. The competition responsible person will receive a promotional packet from GLOBAL INPUT – LCCI Reps.

3. Competition Materials Tests for the preliminary round of the competition will be sent to the LCCI centre/school by 13th March and need to stay closed until the preliminary round start time. Candidate answer sheets must be sent to GLOBAL INPUT - LCCI Reps on 18th March and must be delivered no later than 25th March 2013. The return address will be provided with the materials. The materials delivered after this date will not be considered.

4. Schedules and Inspections Each centre decides on the start time of the test depending on the number of participants per category. All centres must send their schedules by 8th March 2012 for possible inspections. EDI – LCCI Examination Regulations will apply throughout the competition.2

5. Competition – Preliminary Round The participants will compete in 5 categories based on the Common European Framework and will be taking EDI – LCCI JETSET exams: 1

Application forms can be downloaded from: www.hippo-competition.org

2

Appendix 1

Category

Grade

JETSET Level

CEF Level

HIPPO 1

Students born in 2001 and younger

Level 1

Below Scale

HIPPO 2


Level 2

CEF A1

HIPPO 3


Level 3

CEF A2

HIPPO 4


Level 4

CEF B1

HIPPO 5


Level 5

CEF B2

The students of lower grades than the ones in the table can also compete if they feel prepared for the level. The age limit for the competition is 19. Bilingual students will not be admitted to the competition. The tests for the preliminary round of the competition will consist of three parts: test of reading comprehension (multiple choice questions), test of listening comprehension and free-writing task. The maximum allowed time per part is shown in the table below. The tests are the same for all the participants of a category and each centre will get a CD with the listening test audio. It is strictly forbidden to open the competition materials before 16th March. At least one teacher of English must be present during the tests. There is only one correct answer to every question. One mark is awarded for each correct answer. There are no negative marks. Ranking is based on the average number of marks achieved on both the reading and the listening test. Answers are given on an answer sheet (OMR form) and not in the test booklet. The free-writing task (100 – 200 words depending on the category) will be marked only in case there are suspected competition irregularities. Maximum allowed times per category and part: HIPPO 1

HIPPO 2

HIPPO 3

HIPPO 4

HIPPO 5

60 minutes

60 minutes

75 minutes

80 minutes

90 minutes

LISTENING 30 minutes

30 minutes

30 minutes

30 minutes

45 minutes

WRITING

30 minutes

30 minutes

30 minutes

30 minutes

READING

30 minutes

6. Competition – Final Round In the final round of the competition, the candidates will be taking the EDI – LCCI JETSET exams, all 4 skills included. The reading and listening comprehension tests will have the same structure as the preliminary round tests. The writing and speaking test samples can be found on www.hippocompetition.org.

7. Marking and Ranking Tests of reading and listening are marked by an OMR device and for that reason need to be properly filled in. Candidates are required to use a pen while completing the OMR form. An OMR sample form will be available on the website two weeks before the preliminary round of the competition at the latest. In case an OMR form is not properly filled in and the OMR device cannot read it, the candidate will automatically be disqualified. If the overall marks of two or more candidates are equal, the candidate who took less time to complete the reading test is to be ranked higher. In case the times of two or more candidates are also equal, the test of writing will be marked and if the number of marks is still the same, the younger or youngest candidate is to be ranked higher. The ranking list for all categories as well as the names of the candidates who qualified for the final round will be available on www.hippo-competition.org by 3rd April 2013. 5 candidates from each of the categories will be admitted to the final round. The maximum of 2 candidates from the same country per category will be admitted to the finals. GLOBAL INPUT – LCCI Reps keep the right to increase the number of finalists if the number of applicants exceeds 2000, all in accordance with the competition regulations. The finalists will have to confirm their participation in the final round by 8th April 2013. In case a candidate is unable to travel to the finals, the next one on the ranking list will be invited.

8. Final Round The final round of the competition will be held in Lido di Jesolo, Italy, on 11th and 12th May. All candidates will be accompanied by a school representative. Half-board accommodation will be provided for all the candidates and school representatives free of charge. Transport to Venice will be organised by LCCI staff, who will also accompany the candidates, from Niš, Belgrade and Zagreb. The bus fare will be €50 per person. The programme of the final round will be available on www.hippo-competition.org two weeks before the final round at the latest and will include the competition schedule as well as sightseeing options.

9. Prizes All preliminary and final round candidates will receive a certificate of participation. All candidates who pass the final round tests (score 50% minimum) will be awarded an internationally recognised certificate in English. Additional prizes for the finalists will be announced in due course and before the start of candidate enrolment.

10. Certificates The preliminary round candidates who pass the tests with a minimum score of 50% and do not qualify for the finals, will be given an opportunity to complete their certificate (all four skills) and take the same level exam at a discounted price of €22/€27 (depending on the level) or €34/€39 for Listening, Reading and Writing and €30 for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking (depending on the level). The candidates who pass the tests with a minimum score of 75% and do not qualify for the finals, can either take the same level exam or one level higher at a discounted price. These exams will have to be taken in one of the LCCI centres. The application deadline is 20th May and the exams will be scheduled for a date from 20th to 30th June depending on the centre’s availability.

Full and discounted JETSET exam prices: Full Price w/o Speaking

Discounted Price w/o Speaking

Full Price with Speaking

Discounted Price with Speaking

JETSET Level 1

€39.50

€22

€56

€34

JETSET Level 2

€41.50

€22

€58

€34

JETSET Level 3

€41.50

€22

€58

€34

JETSET Level 4

€43.50

€27

€60

€39

JETSET Level 5

€43.50

€27

€60

€39

11. Liability By applying for the competition, the participants accept the conditions of the competition, organisation of the competition, marking criteria, assessment and prizes. The personal data of the participants will be used only for the purposes of the competition and will not be disclosed to third parties except for the needs of the competition.

APPENDIX 1 Examination Regulations Test Materials -

Do not open test materials until the time of the test.

-

Store all test materials in a locked safe, or cabinet, in a locked and secure room.

Invigilators -

At least one invigilator must be present throughout the test.

-

At least of teacher of English must be present throughout the test. The teacher of English can also be an invigilator.

-

No person who has taught any of the candidates in English may act as the sole invigilator.

-

No relative of, or person directly interested in, a candidate may invigilate a test when this candidate is present.

-

Where there are more than 25 candidates, one additional invigilator will normally be required for each additional 25 candidates, or part thereof.

-

When only one invigilator is present, this invigilator must be able to contact immediate assistance without disturbing candidates or leaving the room.

-

Check the attendance register is available and correct (sent with the test materials) is available and correct. This document must be completed and returned with the completed tests.

-

Only candidates whose names appear on the attendance register should be permitted to take part in the competition. No tests from unregistered candidates will be accepted.

Tests -

After the tests, pack and seal the papers, sorting by level.

-

Post the tests on the same day to GLOBAL INPUT – LCCI IQ Reps, Gutenbergova 44, 18000 Niš, Serbia.

-

GLOBAL INPUT – LCCI IQ Reps can only be responsible for the tests from the point of receipt.

Instructions for Invigilators Arranging the Room -

Check that any display material that might be useful to candidates has been cleared from the walls.

-

Check that desks are positioned at least 1 metre apart.

-

Check that a wall clock is clearly visible to all candidates.

-

Display a board showing the test start and finish times.

Identifying Candidates -

Make sure you know the identity of every candidate in the room, by checking if necessary.

Before the Tests -

Check that candidates have not brought into the examination any material they are not allowed such as revision notes, mobile phones, dictionaries, etc.

-

Give out answer sheets (OMR forms). Give time to the candidates to complete the personal information part of the form. The personal information boxes need to be completed in BLOCK CAPITALS.

-

Read out the instructions on the front of the question paper.

-

Tell candidates when they may begin and how much time they have to complete the test.

During the Examination -

Do not allow candidates to enter the room if the test has already started.

-

Be vigilant and supervise the candidates at all times to prevent cheating.

-

If you discover cheating, take away any unauthorised material and allow the candidate to continue. Make a note on the attendance register next to the candidate’s name.

-

Candidates can leave the room only to go to the toilet and must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

-

Tell the candidates to stop writing at the end of the test.

After the Tests

-

Collect the tests and answer sheets before candidates leave the examination room ensuring that all details on the front page have been completed.

-

Sign the attendance register.

-

Pack and post the answer sheets together with attendance register.