English Language Olympiad

English Language Olympiad – comprehensive preparation for success

The English Language Olympiad (OJA) is one of the most prestigious language competitions in Poland, but its standard goes significantly beyond the ordinary school curriculum. Many talented students are eliminated at the school stage, because school – even the very best – simply does not prepare students for this format. Olympiad requirements reach B2–C1 level according to the CEFR, covering advanced grammar, rich vocabulary, reading comprehension, and – at later stages – a listening test and an oral component.

At MonPat Education we provide focused English Language Olympiad preparation that allows students not only to advance to subsequent stages, but to genuinely compete for the title of laureate. We work with students individually, on the basis of archived tasks, academic materials, and proven examination strategies. The first consultation is completely free of charge – it serves to get to know the student, assess their level, and propose a concrete action plan.

Who is English Language Olympiad preparation for?

Our programme is a proposal for ambitious students who want more than the school curriculum. The olympiad requires an academic standard, analytical thinking, and the ability to solve non-standard tasks – and a student who is “good at school” has often never been trained in problem-based thinking. That is precisely why even talented students find themselves at a disadvantage when faced with olympiad tasks.

Our support is used primarily by:

• secondary school students, particularly in years 2 and 3, who are planning to take part in the English Language Olympiad,
• secondary school students with a language level close to B2–C1 who want to move from “good at English” to “competitive in the olympiad”,
• students planning to apply to universities abroad – in the UK, the Netherlands, Ireland, or the USA – who want a strong distinguishing factor in their academic CV,
• students aiming for philological, journalism, law, or economics programmes, where language proficiency is a key competency,
• parents who are looking for a demanding yet supportive environment – one in which their child genuinely develops their potential.

Why does the English Language Olympiad matter so much?

The OJA is far more than a school competition. The title of finalist or laureate opens doors that no other document can. English Language Olympiad laureates are exempt from both the oral and written components of the English matura exam, receiving a result of 100%, and many Polish universities award them direct entry or maximum recruitment points for philological and related programmes.

The picture is even more compelling in the context of international applications. Universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, and Imperial College London do not look solely at grades – they seek candidates with documented passion and academic potential. The title of olympiad laureate is one of the strongest distinguishing factors in a personal statement – it shows that the student goes beyond the curriculum, can work under pressure, and achieves results at the level of the best in the country.

In the long term this is a straightforward relationship: better preparation leads to better results, better results open the door to stronger universities, and a stronger university means a more powerful network of contacts and greater career opportunities. The olympiad is an investment that pays dividends throughout one’s professional life – not only during the admissions process, but long after it.

What does our methodology look like?

Our mentors are graduates of Cambridge, Oxford, and other leading universities worldwide – people who have themselves followed demanding academic pathways and know the system from the inside. We know how olympiad tasks are constructed, what mistakes participants most commonly make, and how the marking committee thinks.

In our work with students we focus on specifics and planning – each student receives an individual preparation roadmap tailored to their level, the time remaining until the English language competition, and their further goals (matura exam, admissions, studies abroad). Sessions are focused: we work on archived OJA tests, extended grammar and lexical theory, reading and listening exercises at C1 level, and – at later stages – on the oral component and argumentation.

After each session the student and parent receive brief feedback – what went well, what we are working on the following week, and which tasks the student should complete independently. Between sessions we remain in ongoing contact – the student can ask a question, send a piece of work for checking, or request additional materials. The parent sees real progress, not just a “result” – they see their child’s competencies growing.

Why do parents and students choose us? Because we provide reassurance and predictability: clear expectations, a concrete plan, regular feedback, and a sense of academic-level work. The student knows where they stand. The parent knows what their money is going towards. And English language olympiad training becomes an organised process, not a chaotic race against time.

Scope of support in OJA preparation

As part of our programme we provide comprehensive subject and strategic support:

• analysis of the scope and an individual assessment of the student’s level – from grammar to thematic and cultural vocabulary,
• work on archived olympiad tasks from previous OJA editions – so that the student becomes familiar with the real style and difficulty level of the competition,
• extended theory going beyond the standard curriculum – all tenses, reported speech, comparative constructions, idioms, collocations, and academic vocabulary,
• error analysis and solving strategies – the student learns where they are losing points and how not to lose them again,
• preparation for the oral stage – argumentation, presentation, and free expression on abstract and cultural topics,
• project consultations and support for independent work between sessions,
• stage simulations – real mock tests in conditions as close to the examination as possible.

The olympiad is just the beginning – what comes next?

At MonPat Education we view the English Language Olympiad not as an end in itself, but as an element of a broader educational strategy. A student who prepares for the OJA naturally builds a foundation for much larger projects – the extended-level English matura exam, language certificates (IELTS Academic, TOEFL, C1 Advanced), and in the longer term – applications to universities in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, or the USA.

If a student is thinking about the best universities in the world, it is worth knowing that the matura alone or a high IB result is no longer enough. What counts is depth of understanding, a candidate profile, and concrete achievements. That is why many of our students combine olympiad preparation with support through our flagship programme – comprehensive applications to universities in the UK, including Oxford and Cambridge. The English Language Olympiad fits perfectly into such a profile, as do other subject olympiads – in biology, chemistry, mathematics, or history.

If you are planning for your child to study abroad, it is worth thinking about this early – ideally in the first or second year of secondary school. The sooner we begin building the candidate profile, the stronger the application and the greater the chance of reaching a dream university. We invite you to a free consultation, during which we will assess the student’s level, evaluate their potential for starting in the OJA, and show how the English Language Olympiad can become part of a broader educational strategy.