FAQ
Frequently asked questions
If your question is not here, write to us. We answer every email.
Do I need to know any logic or linguistics?
No, and this is the point of the competition. Every problem contains all the information needed to solve it. Students who have never studied logic regularly outperform students who have.
Is it really free?
Yes. There is no entry fee, no fee for the final, and no fee for the training programme.
Which language should I choose?
The one you think most comfortably in. The three papers are prepared together and checked against each other, so none is easier. During the contest you can look at the other versions if a sentence is unclear.
Who can take part?
Any student enrolled at a school in Sri Lanka, in any grade and any stream. There is no minimum grade or age. Students who left school this year may sit the competition, but should check the age rules for international selection.
What do I need for the online round?
A computer, laptop or tablet with a browser, a working internet connection, and paper and a pen for rough work. A phone will work but is uncomfortable for two hours. If you cannot get online, write to us and we will try to arrange a supervised centre.
What happens if my internet drops during the round?
The platform saves your answers as you go and keeps track of your remaining time, so you can log back in and continue. If you lose a substantial amount of time to a technical failure, tell us the same day and we will look at your case.
Can my whole class enter together?
Yes, and we encourage it. Each student registers individually with their own email address. Teachers who want to run the online round in a school computer lab should write to us and we will help arrange it.
Are calculators or dictionaries allowed?
No, and neither is needed. No problem requires arithmetic you cannot do on paper, and no problem requires you to know a word you have not been given.
How hard is it?
The first questions in the online round are approachable for most students who read carefully. The last ones are genuinely difficult. Scoring well below full marks is normal and expected: the paper is built to separate the top of a wide field.
What is the International Olympiad in Linguistics?
One of the twelve International Science Olympiads. Contestants solve problems in languages they have never seen, using only the data in front of them. It is a reasoning competition rather than a language competition, which is why the national selection is a logic olympiad.
Do I need to know a foreign language for the international olympiad?
No. IOL problems are set in languages that essentially no contestant has studied, precisely so that nobody has an advantage. Knowing more languages is not a meaningful edge.
How is the national team chosen?
Finalists join a free training programme from February 2027. The team of four is selected from that group on performance in selection tests, and competes in Bangkok later in the year.
Will the problems be published?
Yes. Problems, full solutions and the mark distribution are published after each round.
I registered but did not get a confirmation email.
Check your spam or promotions folder first. If it is not there, email us with the address you registered with and we will sort it out.