Getting started
Quick start guide for The Big Challenge - everything you need to know to get going, in 5 minutes.
Quick start guide
This guide walks you step by step through discovering and taking part in The Big Challenge, from registration to the prize-giving.
For teachers
1. Create your teacher account
Go to the login page and create your account in under 2 minutes. This account lets you manage registrations and follow the results.
→ Why create an account? | Login problems
2. Register your students
Register your classes through the registration portal from 25 August 2026. Choose the Online format (remote) and/or the Mixed format (online + paper).
- Minimum: 30 students
- Price: €10 per student, includes both The Contest and The Academy
- Registration deadline: 6 March 2027 (recommended: before 29 January 2027)
→ Registration details | Pricing and conditions | Format comparison
3. Prepare your students
- Have them use the free The Big Challenge PLAY app all year round
- Browse the past papers from previous years
- Explore The Academy for self-correcting assignments and audio series
→ Everything about practice | About The Academy
4. Run the test
- Online format: online test between 15 March and 27 March 2027, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Mixed format: paper test between 15 March and 27 March 2027
5. Check the results and hand out the prizes
Results are available from 28 May 2027 in your teacher account. Prizes are sent directly to your school from 31 May 2027.
For students
How do I take part?
Ask your teacher to register your class. You don't need to create an account to take part in the contest.
→ Everything about taking part
How do I practise?
- Download the free The Big Challenge PLAY app on iOS or Android
- Play the quizzes and interactive games to improve your English
- You don't need to be registered for the contest to use the app
Results and prizes
Results are available from 28 May 2027 on results.thebigchallenge.com. Every participant receives a prize and a certificate.
→ Check the results | The prizes
The contest format at a glance
| Online format | Mixed format | |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | Online | Paper |
| Questions | 55 MCQs + audio | 55 MCQs (reading only) |
| Duration | 45 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Dates | 15 March–27 March 2027 | 15 March–27 March 2027 |
| Price | €10 | €10 |