International English Olympiad — Class 12 (SCO)
Introduction — International English Olympiad for Class 12 Students
The SCO International English Olympiad (IEO) for Class 12 is a subject-focused competition that evaluates advanced language skills: grammar accuracy, vocabulary depth, stylistic awareness, comprehension, and effective written expression. Tailored for senior secondary learners, the Olympiad helps students demonstrate mastery in English—useful for university applications, scholarship applications, public-speaking portfolios and subject awards.
Exam Overview — Class 12 SCO English Olympiad
- Format: Timed online exam with objective (MCQ), short-answer and extended writing components.
- Duration: Typically 90–120 minutes (varies by year).
- Levels: School → National → International recognition for top scorers.
- Assessment: Grammar & usage, reading comprehension, vocabulary in context, idioms & proverbs, paragraph/narration/essay writing, punctuation and editing tasks.
Why Choose SCO English Olympiad for Grade 12?
- Curriculum-aligned questions that mirror higher-education expectations.
- Balanced assessment: language mechanics + critical reading + expressive writing.
- Useful credentials for college applications and English scholarships.
- Ready-made teacher resources, rubrics and reporting dashboards for schools.
- International benchmarking against global peers.
Eligibility Requirements
- Current enrolment in Grade 12 (or equivalent) at a recognised school during the exam year.
- Open to domestic and international candidates (registration rules may vary by country).
- No prior certification required—first-timers welcome.
Advantages for Students & Schools — Class 12 English Olympiad
Students
- Improves accuracy in grammar, clarity in expression and advanced vocabulary.
- Produces polished writing samples for college essays and applications.
- Access to scorecards and feedback to identify strengths & improvement areas.
Schools
- Enhances the school’s academic profile and language programme.
- Provides measurable learning outcomes for English departments.
- Teacher training modules and reporting help integrate Olympiad prep into curricula.
Registration Process
- Create a student account on the SCO registration portal.
- Select International English Olympiad — Class 12 and choose exam slot.
- Upload required proof (school ID or enrollment confirmation).
- Pay registration fee online.
- Receive admit card and exam instructions by email.
- (Optional) Register written submission or project if an achievers’ track exists.
Exam Pattern — Class 12 English Olympiad
- Section A — Grammar & Usage (MCQs): Modal verbs, tense usage, prepositions, subject-verb concord, punctuation.
- Section B — Vocabulary & Idioms: Word choice, idioms/proverbs in context, word formation.
- Section C — Reading Comprehension: Long & short passages with inference, tone, and vocabulary questions.
- Section D — Writing & Narration: Short paragraphs, narrative/argumentative essay, editing/proofreading.
- Marking & Time: Section-wise weights and time allocation published each cycle; practice under timed conditions is strongly advised.
Grade 12 English Olympiad — Syllabus & Learning Outcomes
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Chapter No.
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Chapter Name
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1
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Modal and Auxiliary Verbs
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2
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Tenses — All
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3
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Direct and Indirect Speech
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4
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The Gerund
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5
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Word Power
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6
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Prepositions
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7
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Adjectives (Degree of Comparison)
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8
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Idioms and Proverbs
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9
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Subject–Verb Concord
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10
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Punctuations
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11
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Narrations
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12
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Voices (Active & Passive)
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Chapterwise Brief Notes & Learning Outcomes (concise study pack)
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Chapter
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Brief notes
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Learning outcomes / Tasks
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1 — Modal & Auxiliary Verbs
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Uses and nuances of can/could, may/might, must/should, shall/will; perfect & progressive forms with auxiliaries.
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Accurately choose modal verbs for obligation, possibility, deduction; rewrite sentences with correct auxiliaries.
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2 — Tenses (All)
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Present/Past/Future forms, simple/continuous/perfect/perfect-continuous; time markers and sequence.
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Correctly apply tense forms in narrative and reporting; edit common tense errors in passages.
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3 — Direct & Indirect Speech
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Rules for shifting tenses, pronouns, time expressions; reporting questions and commands.
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Convert dialogues between direct and indirect speech with correct tense & pronoun changes.
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4 — The Gerund
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Gerund vs. infinitive uses, gerund phrases as subjects/objects, verb patterns.
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Use gerunds appropriately; transform sentences using gerunds; spot common gerund errors.
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5 — Word Power
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Word formation, prefixes/suffixes, collocations, synonyms/antonyms, register (formal/informal).
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Expand vocabulary with active collocations; choose register-appropriate words in essays.
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6 — Prepositions
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Prepositions of time, place, movement and prepositional phrases.
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Use prepositions accurately in complex sentences and edit prepositional errors.
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7 — Adjectives (Degree of Comparison)
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Positive, comparative, superlative forms; irregular forms and rules for multi-word adjectives.
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Form comparative/superlative structures correctly and apply them in descriptive writing.
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8 — Idioms & Proverbs
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Common idioms & proverbs, contextual usage and connotation.
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Interpret meaning from context; use idioms sparingly and accurately in higher-level responses.
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9 — Subject–Verb Concord
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Agreement with collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, compound subjects and inverted structures.
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Ensure subject–verb agreement in complex sentence structures.
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10 — Punctuations
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Comma, semicolon, colon, dash, quotation marks, apostrophe, full stop and parentheses in complex sentences.
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Apply punctuation to clarify meaning and avoid ambiguity; perform proofreading edits.
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11 — Narrations
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Narrative techniques, cohesive devices, paragraph structure, perspective and voice.
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Craft coherent narratives with proper sequencing and varied sentence structures.
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12 — Voices
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Active vs passive voice, appropriate use of passive in formal registers.
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Convert between active and passive while preserving meaning and tense; choose voice for tone and style.
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Practice Resources & Downloads
- Sample Papers & Timed Mocks: Objective + short answer + essay practice packs.
- Chapterwise Practice Sheets: Exercises for modal verbs, tenses, punctuation, and narration.
- Vocabulary Builder: Word lists, collocations, and 30-day word-a-day calendar.
- Model Essays & Narratives: Annotated examples for different registers and prompts.
- Teacher’s Marking Rubric: Clear band descriptors for writing tasks and narration.
- Quick Reference PDFs: Tense tables, punctuation cheatsheet, idioms & proverbs list.
Important Dates & Registration Fees
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Item
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Details
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Olympiad
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International English Olympiad — SCO IEO (Class 12)
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Registration Fee (INR)
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?200
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Registration Fee (USD)
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$12
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Registration Open
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09-Oct-2025
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Registration Close
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06-Nov-2025
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First Exam Date
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24-Jan-2026
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Second Exam Date
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27-Feb-2026
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Third Exam Date
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28-Feb-2026
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Note: Dates and fees are included as provided. Always confirm final schedules and payment gateways on the official SCO registration portal and admit card communications.
How to Prepare for Class 12 English Olympiad — Practical 8-Week Plan
Week 1–2: Grammar foundation — tenses, modals, subject–verb concord; daily drills (30–45 min).
Week 3: Vocabulary & idioms — 20 new words/day + collocations; apply in sentences.
Week 4: Reading comprehension practice — inference, author’s tone, structure analysis.
Week 5: Punctuation, editing & gerund/infinitive exercises.
Week 6: Writing skills — short paragraphs, narrative & argumentative essay structure; timed practice.
Week 7: Mock test 1 (full-length) → detailed error analysis and revision plan.
Week 8: Mock test 2 + final revision, focused practice on weakest chapters.
Extras: Peer review sessions, teacher feedback, example essay edits and memorised idioms.
Cut-off & Answer Key
- Cut-offs: Determined by cohort performance each year; SCO announces cutoffs with results (percentile/score based).
- Answer Keys: Official answer keys are typically released after the exam window; provisional keys may be published first with a short objection period. SCO provides downloadable keys and scorecards for transparency.
Results & Prizes
- Results: Digital scorecards with section-wise breakdown.
- Prizes & Recognition: Merit certificates, medals, scholarships, school recognition letters, and selection for advanced workshops or training camps. Top performers may receive featured mentions on SCO platforms.
Global Reach & Country-Wise Advantages for Students & Schools
Below are country-specific benefits of participating in the SCO IEO
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Country
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Student benefits
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School benefits
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India
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Strengthens college admission portfolios (English proficiency), supports competitive exam essays.
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Integrates with CBSE/ICSE communicative English programs; teacher PD for language labs.
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United States
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Boosts college application essays and SAT/ACT writing readiness; improves critical reading skills.
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Enhances AP/IB English programs; useful for school portfolios and extracurricular transcripts.
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United Kingdom
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Preps students for A-level/IB assessments, strengthens UCAS personal statement evidence.
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Adds enrichment for English departments; supports Oxbridge-style application prep.
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Canada
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Improves clarity of expression for university essays and scholarship narratives.
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Supports provincial curriculum literacy outcomes and IB/AP offerings.
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Australia
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Aids ATAR-era essays and narrative assessments; useful for scholarship applications.
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Strengthens senior school English modules and extracurricular enrichment.
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Singapore
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Enhances oral/written English for competitive university admissions and scholarships.
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Supports MOE/IB curriculum alignment and school reputational growth in language arts.
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UAE & Gulf
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Demonstrates international English proficiency for overseas study pathways.
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Helps bilingual & international schools show global benchmarks and parent-facing outcomes.
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Germany
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Prepares English-medium applicants for university programs and exchange applications.
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Offers enrichment for bilingual programs and international school rankings.
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South Africa
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Boosts applications to local and international universities; improves writing standards.
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Supports IEB/CAPS aligned development and teacher upskilling.
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Important FAQs for Students, Parents & Schools
Q: Who can register — Class 11 or 12?
A: The Class 12 Olympiad is intended for current Grade 12 students. Grade 11 students may use Class 12 materials for stretch preparation; check SCO for a Grade 11/junior track.
Q: Is prior tutoring or coaching required?
A: No—self-study plus guided classroom practice is sufficient. Coaching helps accelerate progress but is not mandatory.
Q: Is English first-language required?
A: No—both native and non-native speakers can participate. Non-native speakers benefit especially from vocabulary & writing practice.
Q: Can schools register groups?
A: Yes—schools can register batches and request teacher dashboards to manage students and track performance, for school registration please follow this link -
Q: What is the writing component like?
A: Tasks include short paragraphs, narrative/argumentative essays and editing/proofreading prompts. Marking focuses on clarity, cohesion and accuracy.
Q: Are past papers available?
A: Yes—SCO provides past/sample papers and timed mock tests on the student portal.
Q: What help is available for students with disabilities?
A: Reasonable accommodations are considered—request during registration with supporting documents; subject to SCO policy.
Q: Who judges extended writing?
A: Trained markers use rubrics that assess content, organisation, grammar, vocabulary and register. Top scripts may be double-marked.
Q: Can international students participate?
A: Yes. SCO offers international registration and localized exam windows; confirm country-specific instructions on the portal.
Q: How to appeal scores or question keys?
A: SCO typically publishes provisional keys and offers an objection window—follow official channels and timelines for appeals.
Important Links -