Koala English Olympiad (KEO)
Proudly Australian | Open to the World - Reading, Spelling, Writing
About the Koala English Olympiad (KEO)
The Koala English Olympiad (KEO) is an international competition that assesses the three core abilities of reading, spelling, and writing in one paper. Rooted in Australia’s high educational standards, the Olympiad encourages creativity, critical thinking, and linguistic excellence. Through engaging and challenging rounds, students develop their skills while celebrating the joy of language.
The competition is open to students worldwide and can be administered either online through a secure platform or as a traditional paper-based exam at participating schools.
Why Partner with KEO?
Key Benefits for Your Students
Skill Development
The competition is structured to boost spelling accuracy, enhance reading comprehension, and improve writing fluency. It specifically teaches structured writing, including introductions, conclusions, and thesis statements.
Confidence & Creativity
Students have the opportunity to perform in spelling bees and showcase their original stories and writing pieces.
Competition Format and Structure
The KEO is designed to be accessible and challenging for a wide range of age groups.
Eligibility
Open to all students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Individual, group, and homeschooler registrations are welcome.
Competition Tiers
The Olympiad consists of two stages:
- Preliminary Heat Round: Focuses on foundational knowledge. Top performers advance to the final.
- International Final Round: A more challenging round for top students to compete for the grand prizes.
Exam Components
All three skills are assessed in a single, integrated exam paper:
- Reading Comprehension (50% of score): Age-appropriate fiction and non-fiction passages.
- Spelling (25% of score): Word lists that progress from basic phonetic words to advanced global English vocabulary.
- Writing (25% of score): Creative writing tasks with prompts often inspired by Australian culture, wildlife, and landmarks.
All three sections are included in the same exam paper
– For primary school students, the content includes modified MC questions only.
– For secondary school students, the writing tasks are extended to more complex topics, enabling progression and skill enhancement.
The competition consists of three parts:
All three sections are included in the same exam paper.
.
Primary-to-Secondary Transition:
- For primary school students, the content includes modified MC topics.
- For secondary school students, the writing tasks are extended to more complex topics, enabling progression and skill enhancement.
Competition Structure
Preliminary Heat Round
- Focus: Reading, Writing & Spelling
- Format: Online or Paper
- Reading Comprehension
- Age-appropriate passages (fiction and nonfiction)
- Multiple-choice (MC)
- Assessment of understanding, vocabulary in context, and inference skills
- Creative Writing Task
- Narrative, descriptive, or persuasive prompts
- Prompts often inspired by Australian wildlife, culture, or landmarks
- Assessment criteria: originality, structure, grammar, vocabulary, and creativity
- Spelling Bee
- Words: Test basic, phonetically regular words that follow simple patterns (e.g., cat, sun, pen, hop)
- Also include a few very common sight words (e.g., the, and, is).
Advancement:
- Top performers in each grade category advance to the International Final Round
International Final Round
- Focus: Reading & Writing
- Format: Online or Paper
● Reading Comprehension:
- More challenging and analytical passages
- Questions may include the main idea, details, inference, and the author’s purpose
● Creative Writing Task:
- Narrative, descriptive, or persuasive prompts
- Prompts often inspired by Australian wildlife, culture, or landmarks
- Assessment criteria: originality, structure, grammar, vocabulary, and creativity
● Spelling Bee:
- Advanced oral and written spelling challenges
- Includes Australian, British, and global English vocabulary
- Finalists may spell words in real-time or provide written responses
Summary Table
| Feature | Preliminary Heat Round | Final International Round |
|---|---|---|
Reading |
Short passages, direct questions. |
Longer passages, simple inference questions. |
Spelling |
Basic CVC words, common sight words. |
Words with blends, digraphs, silent ‘e’, tricky sight words. |
Writing |
Simple fill-in-the-blank sentences. |
Longer close story with more nuanced vocabulary choices. |
Overall Goal |
Assess foundational knowledge. |
Assess deeper application and understanding. |
Grade Categories and Curriculum Alignment
KEO is aligned with international educational standards, including the Australian Curriculum, Cambridge English, and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), ensuring its pedagogical value.
(Noted: One writing will be in KEO E and KEO F)
| KEO Category | Grade Level | CEFR Level | Exam Details |
|---|---|---|---|
KEO A |
Kindergarten,Grade 1–2 |
Pre-A1–A1 |
45 mins (25 questions) |
KEO B |
Grade 3–4 |
A2 |
45 mins (25 questions) |
KEO C |
Grade 5–6 |
B1 |
45 mins (25 questions) |
KEO D |
Grade 7–8 |
B2 |
60 mins (25 questions) |
KEO E |
Grade 9–10 |
C1–C2 |
60 mins (25 questions) |
KEO F |
Grade 11–12 |
C1–C2 |
60 mins (25 questions) |
Prestigious Awards and Recognition
KEO offers a generous awards structure for both rounds to motivate and reward students at all levels.
Preliminary (National) Round Awards
| Award Title | Requirement | Prize / Recognition | Qualifies for Final Round |
|---|---|---|---|
Perfect Score Award |
The highest score |
Certificate + AUS$200 Bonus Prize |
Yes |
Gold Award |
Score ≥ 85 |
Certificate of Excellence |
Yes |
Silver Award |
Score ≥ 75 |
Certificate of High Distinction (Silver) |
Yes |
Bronze Award |
Score ≥ 65 |
Certificate of Distinction (Bronze) |
Yes |
Honorable Mention |
Score ≥ 55 |
Certificate of Honorable Mention |
No |
Certificate of Participation |
All other participants |
Digital Certificate of Participation |
No |
International Final Round Awards
| Award Title | Requirement |
|---|---|
Golden Koala Champion |
Rank #1 in the Final Round |
2nd Place Winner |
Rank #2 in the Final Round |
3rd Place Winner |
Rank #3 in the Final Round |
Perfect Score Bonus |
Score of 100/100 |
Gold Award |
Score ≥ 90 |
Silver Award |
Score ≥ 80 |
Bronze Award |
Score ≥ 70 |
National Finalist |
All other finalists |
KEO Word Lists and Sample papers
How to Register and Participate
As a partner, you can register students as a school or a group.
- For paper-based/ online participation, your school or organization should contact the KEO organizing committee directly to arrange for the secure delivery of test materials and supervision guidelines.
- Registration fees and detailed deadlines are opened for discussion.
About the KEO English Program Team
Mr. Nick Strong and Mr. Patrick Murray are dedicated English educators who share a passion for language learning and cultural exchange.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Nick has many years of teaching experience and has been actively involved in English education across Australia. Patrick, an Australian native, specialises in practical English teaching and cross-cultural communication.
Together, they collaborate with Miss Man International Education, founded by Miss Man, who also graduated in Australia. The team works to promote high-quality English learning opportunities and to inspire students to build global perspectives through the KEO English Program.
About Miss Man
Miss Man is the Founder of Miss Man International Education, an organization committed to supporting students in pursuing their international study goals. She graduated in Melbourne, Australia, where her passion for education and cultural exchange first began.
Before founding her own education institution, Miss Man worked with IDP IELTS, gaining valuable experience in English language assessment and international education services. Her background in both education and student support has shaped her mission to guide learners in building confidence.
Through Miss Man International Education, she continues to connect students with overseas learning opportunities and collaborative programs such as the KEO English Program, ADEPT Olympiad, fostering global understanding through education.
Contact Us for Partnership Inquiries. We are excited about the prospect of working with you. For any questions or to formalize a partnership, please contact us directly.
Contact and Support
Koala Excellence Olympiad (KEO)
- Email: keo@koalaolympiad.com
- Australian Phone: +61 415 257 812
- Website: https://koalaolympiad.com/
- Australia Address: 459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW 2010
- Facebook: The Koala English Olympiad – KEO (https://www.facebook.com/share/1GfzNfus8n/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
- Instagram: koala_english_olympiad_keo
- Another contact with Hong Kong representative: +852 63327108
The Koala English Olympiad (KEO) Team
