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International Kangaroo Linguistic Contest
INTRODUCTION
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The International Kangaroo Linguistic Contest is an exciting competition for students aged 6 to 19. It is organised for various foreign languages, including English, French and German, and Romanian (for students whose first language is Romanian).
For foreign languages, the Linguistic Kangaroo assesses knowledge of language and civilisation, together with intuition, logic, and speed reaction in reading with comprehension. This test is available for levels: Pre-A1, A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It also contains a set of questions addressing students’ awareness of general knowledge and culture.
The first language (Romanian) Linguistic Kangaroo assesses reading capacity. It aims to evaluate reading speed, attention to detail and depth of text comprehension. The test contains a story or fragments from a novel or other fiction texts, accompanied by a set of questions. Questions correspond to the following four-Level Reading Skills:
Extracting information explicitly contained in the text or image
Formulating direct conclusions following a brief analysis of the text
Interpreting and integrating ideas generated by the text
Content evaluation, including abstracting arguments, conclusions, attitudes.
For foreign languages, the Linguistic Kangaroo assesses knowledge of language and civilisation, together with intuition, logic, and speed reaction in reading with comprehension. This test is available for levels: Pre-A1, A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It also contains a set of questions addressing students’ awareness of general knowledge and culture.
The first language (Romanian) Linguistic Kangaroo assesses reading capacity. It aims to evaluate reading speed, attention to detail and depth of text comprehension. The test contains a story or fragments from a novel or other fiction texts, accompanied by a set of questions. Questions correspond to the following four-Level Reading Skills:
Extracting information explicitly contained in the text or image
Formulating direct conclusions following a brief analysis of the text
Interpreting and integrating ideas generated by the text
Content evaluation, including abstracting arguments, conclusions, attitudes.
FORMAT
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The IKL Contest test papers comprise exclusively of multiple-choice questions. There are a maximum of 30 questions in the Pre-A1 level, whilst the higher levels consist of up to 50 questions. The effective time for a test is 60 minutes.
START (PRE A1)
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At this level, the following reference points must be met:
Candidates can answer short, very simple questions accompanied by pictures. They can recognise words/signs in a clearly defined, familiar context. They can understand short, simple instructions accompanied by pictures.
Candidates can answer short, very simple questions accompanied by pictures. They can recognise words/signs in a clearly defined, familiar context. They can understand short, simple instructions accompanied by pictures.
STORY (A1)
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At this level, the following reference points must be met:
Candidates can recognise words, signs, and names in simple, short displays based on a story accompanied by images. They can answer and follow short and simple questions and instructions. They can find information about places and times in a simple, illustrated text.
Candidates can recognise words, signs, and names in simple, short displays based on a story accompanied by images. They can answer and follow short and simple questions and instructions. They can find information about places and times in a simple, illustrated text.
JOEY (A1-A2)
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At this level, the following reference points must be met:
Candidates can read very short, simple texts. They can find specific, predictable information in simple, everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables, and can understand short, simple personal letters. They can use simple language structures.
The paper consists exclusively of multiple-choice items, and is structured as follows:
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading and understanding signs, notices, short messages, etc.
• 5 vocabulary and grammar questions – identifying collocations, simple verb patterns, etc.
• 5 multiple matching questions – descriptions of people to be matched to five short texts.
• 10 language questions – selecting the word which best fits each gap, with short context to provide clues.
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading a longer text and identifying its main points.
• 20 questions on language and general knowledge (related to English literature, geography, history, arts, logic, etc.).
Candidates can read very short, simple texts. They can find specific, predictable information in simple, everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables, and can understand short, simple personal letters. They can use simple language structures.
The paper consists exclusively of multiple-choice items, and is structured as follows:
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading and understanding signs, notices, short messages, etc.
• 5 vocabulary and grammar questions – identifying collocations, simple verb patterns, etc.
• 5 multiple matching questions – descriptions of people to be matched to five short texts.
• 10 language questions – selecting the word which best fits each gap, with short context to provide clues.
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading a longer text and identifying its main points.
• 20 questions on language and general knowledge (related to English literature, geography, history, arts, logic, etc.).
WALLABY (A2-B1)
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At this level, the following reference points must be met:
Candidates can understand texts that consist mainly of high-frequency everyday or job-related language. They can understand the description of events, feelings and wishes in personal letters. They can use simple and some complex language structures.
The paper consists exclusively of multiple-choice items, and is structured as follows:
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading and understanding signs, notices, short messages, etc.
• 5 vocabulary and grammar questions – identifying collocations, simple verb patterns, etc.
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading a longer text and identifying its main points.
• 5 questions – selecting the word which best fits each gap, with short context to provide clues.
• 10 questions based on a cloze – choosing the correct option to complete the gaps in a longer text.
• 20 questions on language and general knowledge (related to English literature, geography, history, arts, logic, etc.).
Candidates can understand texts that consist mainly of high-frequency everyday or job-related language. They can understand the description of events, feelings and wishes in personal letters. They can use simple and some complex language structures.
The paper consists exclusively of multiple-choice items, and is structured as follows:
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading and understanding signs, notices, short messages, etc.
• 5 vocabulary and grammar questions – identifying collocations, simple verb patterns, etc.
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading a longer text and identifying its main points.
• 5 questions – selecting the word which best fits each gap, with short context to provide clues.
• 10 questions based on a cloze – choosing the correct option to complete the gaps in a longer text.
• 20 questions on language and general knowledge (related to English literature, geography, history, arts, logic, etc.).
GREY (B1-B2)
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At this level, the following reference points must be met:
Candidates can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics. They can read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints. They can understand contemporary literary prose. They can use simple and complex language structures.
The paper consists exclusively of multiple-choice items, and is structured as follows:
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading a longer text and identifying its main points, and the writer’s opinions and attitudes towards the topics covered.
• 5 vocabulary and grammar questions – identifying and choosing correct language patterns (structures and vocabulary – idioms, collocations, phrasal verbs, etc.).
• 5 conversational patterns questions – choosing the best response to prompts.
• 10 questions based on a cloze – choosing the correct option to complete the gaps in a longer text.
• 5 spelling questions – choosing the correctly-spelled word, with context provided.
• 20 questions on language and general knowledge (related to English literature, geography, history, arts, logic, etc.).
Candidates can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics. They can read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints. They can understand contemporary literary prose. They can use simple and complex language structures.
The paper consists exclusively of multiple-choice items, and is structured as follows:
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading a longer text and identifying its main points, and the writer’s opinions and attitudes towards the topics covered.
• 5 vocabulary and grammar questions – identifying and choosing correct language patterns (structures and vocabulary – idioms, collocations, phrasal verbs, etc.).
• 5 conversational patterns questions – choosing the best response to prompts.
• 10 questions based on a cloze – choosing the correct option to complete the gaps in a longer text.
• 5 spelling questions – choosing the correctly-spelled word, with context provided.
• 20 questions on language and general knowledge (related to English literature, geography, history, arts, logic, etc.).
RED KANGAROO (B2-C1)
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At this level, the following reference points must be met:
Candidates can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise their implicit meaning. They can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. They can understand long and complex factual and literary texts, appreciating distinctions of style. They can understand specialised articles and longer technical instructions, even when they do not relate to their field.
The paper consists exclusively of multiple-choice items, and is structured as follows:
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading a longer text and identifying its main points, and the writer’s opinions and attitudes towards the topics covered.
• 5 vocabulary and grammar questions – identifying and choosing correct language patterns (structures and vocabulary – idioms, collocations, phrasal verbs, etc.).
• 10 questions based on a cloze – choosing the correct option to complete the gaps in a longer text.
• 5 vocabulary questions – understanding the meaning of idiomatic phrases and choosing synonymous expressions to replace them.
• 5 vocabulary questions – choosing the word that can be used in different contexts, across multiple sentences.
20 questions on language and general knowledge (related to English literature, geography, history, arts, logic, etc.).
Candidates can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise their implicit meaning. They can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. They can understand long and complex factual and literary texts, appreciating distinctions of style. They can understand specialised articles and longer technical instructions, even when they do not relate to their field.
The paper consists exclusively of multiple-choice items, and is structured as follows:
• 5 reading comprehension questions – reading a longer text and identifying its main points, and the writer’s opinions and attitudes towards the topics covered.
• 5 vocabulary and grammar questions – identifying and choosing correct language patterns (structures and vocabulary – idioms, collocations, phrasal verbs, etc.).
• 10 questions based on a cloze – choosing the correct option to complete the gaps in a longer text.
• 5 vocabulary questions – understanding the meaning of idiomatic phrases and choosing synonymous expressions to replace them.
• 5 vocabulary questions – choosing the word that can be used in different contexts, across multiple sentences.
20 questions on language and general knowledge (related to English literature, geography, history, arts, logic, etc.).
OBJECTIVES
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The IKL Contest tests are prepared and curated by language the IDEA experts twice every year, in order to ensure high quality and accuracy. The contest is organised with the following objectives in mind.
• To develop essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to linguistic competence
• To enhance vocabulary and functional grammar across different languages
• To increase awareness of verbal interaction types and language registers
• To promote understanding of societal conventions related to language use
• To encourage appreciation of cultural aspects and the variability of languages
• To foster respect for each person’s individual linguistic profile
• To support appreciation of a country’s official language(s) as a common framework for interaction
By participating in the Kangaroo competitions, young intellectuals improve their linguistic competences, share their creative ideas, develop their potential, and build self-confidence.
• To develop essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to linguistic competence
• To enhance vocabulary and functional grammar across different languages
• To increase awareness of verbal interaction types and language registers
• To promote understanding of societal conventions related to language use
• To encourage appreciation of cultural aspects and the variability of languages
• To foster respect for each person’s individual linguistic profile
• To support appreciation of a country’s official language(s) as a common framework for interaction
By participating in the Kangaroo competitions, young intellectuals improve their linguistic competences, share their creative ideas, develop their potential, and build self-confidence.
THE REACH
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In Romania, the IKL contest is held twice a year, with over 25,000 participants per edition across the country. Internationally, the contest is organised by our country partners in various centres across the globe, attracting thousands of students.
Candidates can participate in the IKL Contest physically or online, through our dedicated test portal. They can also access their results and analysis of their answers, and download their personalised certificate on our portal.
Candidates can participate in the IKL Contest physically or online, through our dedicated test portal. They can also access their results and analysis of their answers, and download their personalised certificate on our portal.
Partners
