Call for Entries

The theme for 2027 will be “Stepping Through – Future Uncertain; Possibilities Abound”.

The syllabus will be based on a selection of writing related to the journey from adolescence to adulthood.

The core prescribed texts will be provided within an on-line Study Guide, with references and links to supplementary study material (including video clips), and periodic further support will be provided via FaceBook and Instagram.

There will be two examinations – one for English Home Language (HL) candidates, and another for English First Additional Language (FAL) candidates.

Both examinations will be written simultaneously at participating schools on 2 March 2027.

On 2 March the examinations may commence at any time between 11:00 and 14:00, at the discretion of each school, provided candidates are allowed three hours to write.

To avoid clashes with other events, all schools are asked to ensure that the date and the time of the Olympiad examinations are included in their 2027 school calendars.

Candidates are required to prepare for a three-hour, open-book examination.

The examination question paper will be accompanied by an addendum containing the core texts to which candidates will be expected to refer in their responses to the questions.  Answer books will be provided.

NB – Candidates should be advised that, although the Olympiad involves an open-book examination, they should prepare thoroughly in advance, making sure that they are well acquainted with the prescribed texts.

The examination will require answers to the following:

• one question from Section A – a literature essay  (60 marks)
• one question from Section B – a creative response related to particular texts  (40 marks)

1. The 2027 Olympiad is open to all learners (English HL and FAL) who will be in Grades 9 to 12 in 2027 – i.e. learners who are in Grades 8 to 11 in 2026.
2. Candidates may register for the Home Language (HL) or the First Additional Language (FAL) examination. To be eligible to register for the FAL examination, however, candidates must be studying English FAL at their schools.  (NB – When submitting entries, teachers must clearly indicate whether each candidate intends to write the HL paper or the FAL paper.)
3. Please use the on-line entry form available on this website, or contact the Olympiad Officer to request the link.
4. Please complete all sections of the entry form, to ensure that your entries are processed correctly.  Please pay special attention to the spelling of candidates’ names.
5. A school may save its on-line entry form and return to it later before submitting their final version.  If assistance is required, please contact the Olympiad Officer.
6. To avoid duplication, each school may submit the entry form only once. A school wishing to add entries after submitting its entry form should contact the Olympiad Officer.
7. In your entry form, please indicate the name of the PostNet branch to be used for counter-to-counter delivery of your school’s examination question papers and answer books that will be delivered in February 2027.  (Certificates will be sent via the same branch in July 2027).

Please note that the organisers of the English Olympiad cannot accept responsibility for packages that are mislaid or delayed in transit.

A maximum of two candidates per school may apply for detailed written comments on their individual scripts.  Applications for detailed assessments must be made on the Entry Form.

The fee for each detailed assessment is R190. This is in addition to the standard entry fee. 

Detailed assessments will be sent to candidates via their schools after the Olympiad results have been released at the end of June 2027.  (Please note that answer scripts are never returned to schools or to candidates.)

The Eastern Cape Branch of SACEE offers partial bursaries to learners who cannot afford the full entry fee. To apply, a candidate should write and sign a short letter of application explaining why they wish to write the English Olympiad, and how they plan to prepare for the examination.  Candidates must also confirm that they are fully committed to writing the examination on 2 March 2027.

Bursaries cover R70 of the entry fee, so successful bursary applicants will pay a reduced fee of R50.

A letter from the School Principal, supporting the application and verifying that the applicant is normally not required to pay school fees, must be included with each bursary application.

Bursary applications must reach the Olympiad Officer by 30 September 2026 so that the school may be notified of the outcome before the deadline for entries.

Schools applying for bursaries should not send any payment until the outcome of their bursary applications have been confirmed.

After the midyear Prize Giving, the names of the Top 100 HL and Top 20 FAL candidates will be published on the Olympiad website.  Schools may then access all their candidates’ results via the Olympiad website.   (Please note that there is no mechanism for appeals against results.)

All Candidates

All candidates who attempt and adequately complete their Olympiad examinations will receive certificates indicating the classification of their examination assessments.

Top 20 Home Language (HL) Candidates

The winner of the English Home Language Olympiad will receive a trophy as well as The Len and Betty Welland Memorial Prize valued at R25 000, donated by Dr Maxine Ward-Cox.

The other HL candidates in the Top 20 will receive prizes ranging from R1 000 to R20 000, sponsored by the Grahamstown Foundation and the South African Council for English Education.

Top 10 First Additional Language (FAL) Candidates

The winner of the First Additional Language Olympiad will receive a trophy and a prize of R7 500.

The other FAL candidates in the Top 10 will receive prizes ranging from R1 000 to R5 000, sponsored by the Grahamstown Foundation and the South African Council for English Education.

National Schools’ Festival Tour Prizes

The top ten HL and top three FAL candidates will be offered free admission to the annual National Schools’ Festival in Grahamstown/Makhanda, with free accommodation and meals.

These prize winners will receive their certificates and prizes on stage during the annual English Olympiad Prize Giving that forms part of the Schools’ Festival.

Rhodes University English Olympiad Scholarships

The Top 40 Home Language candidates and the Top 10 First Additional Language candidates will be offered free tuition scholarships for their first-year of any undergraduate programme of study at Rhodes University after the successful completion of their matriculation examinations, subject to their meeting the University’s normal entry requirements.