Organisation
Find out how to organise The Big Challenge in the Online or Mixed format. This guide covers preparation, running the contest and managing it, along with answers to the most frequently asked questions.
General questions
Does the contest require a lot of organisation?
No, the organisation stays light. You simply register the students, and the rest is handled by the contest office. What's more, a teacher account lets you manage every step in a few clicks.
Is it possible to run the contest over several sessions?
Yes, each teacher can run several contest sessions during the contest window.
👉 Tip : It is recommended to group students of the same level together.
Does the contest have to be taken at a specific time?
No, you are free to choose the time of the contest.
- Online format: the contest is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
- Mixed format: choose the times yourself.
Do I need to tell you which time slots I have chosen for the contest?
No, there is no need to tell the contest office your time slots.
- Online format: the contest is open over a long window. You can therefore organise the sessions whenever it suits you.
- Mixed format: you freely choose the times on the day of the contest.
Do I need to provide the students' names before the contest?
No, there is no need to send the students' names in advance.
- Online format: students enter their surname, first name and date of birth on the online platform before they start.
- Mixed format: students write their surname, first name, date of birth and Big Challenge code on the answer sheet.
What happens if unregistered students take the contest?
The prizes are sent only for registered students.
👉 What should I do? Let us know about the student by sending an email and paying the participation fee.
Organising the Online format
What preparations are needed for the contest?
- Make sure each student has a device connected to the internet.
- Check that the earphones or headphones work properly.
- Test access to the contest page before the day: an audio and display test page is available before the contest.
- Test the contest yourself using the "teacher test" function available in your account.
How do I access the question papers?
You will receive the address of the contest page and your school's access code a few days before the contest.
👉 Pass the login details on to your students before they take part.
What if I haven't received the question papers?
We send you all the information you need before the contest starts, and it is also available in your teacher account. If you haven't received our email, please contact us promptly.
What equipment is needed?
The contest is compatible with all standard browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer (versions 10 and 11). Check with your school's administration that:
- the domain thebigchallenge.com is accessible from your school's computers
- each participant will have access to a computer, a tablet or a smartphone on the day of the contest (the platform is responsive and mobile-compatible).
- each device will have an internet connection and be fitted with earphones or individual headphones.
- Soundcloud works
Do I need to be logged in to my teacher account for my students to take part in the contest?
No. You only have to pass on the contest link and your school's Big Challenge code (4 digits and 1 letter) to the students. You do not need to be logged in at the same time.
As the coordinator, you will be able to see your students' provisional results in your user account a few days after they take part. Access to your personal account was sent to you with your registration confirmation.
I can't access the Online contest page
If you have trouble accessing it, simply re-enter the page URL or click this link.
How does the contest work?
Students log in to the contest page and follow the on-screen instructions. They must follow the rules on working individually and must not use any external aids.
Make sure students follow these rules:
- the contest is strictly individual
- participants must not receive any help (dictionary, search engine, etc.)
- participants must not use the internet to find answers
Any breach of these rules will lead to the disqualification of the participants involved. The platform also includes an anti-cheating system that detects when other tabs are opened during the contest.
Do students need individual codes?
Students only need the Big Challenge code that was sent to you. This code must be entered on the contest page for the Online format. It gives access to the contest.
My school's code is not accepted
The school's Big Challenge code always consists of 4 digits and a letter at the end.
What happens if a computer breaks down?
In that case, the student can resume the contest by logging back in: their answers are saved in real time. Only the first complete set of answers will be taken into account.
What happens if a student has taken the contest at the wrong level?
The student can retake the contest at their actual level. Please report the error in your teacher account.
How do I send back my students' answers?
You have nothing to do; we automatically record your students' answers.
Organising the Mixed format
What preparations are needed for the contest?
- Prepare a room to welcome the students.
- Receive and check the paper question papers as soon as they arrive.
- Check the materials in advance to avoid any surprises.
What should I do when I receive the question papers?
- Open the parcels and check the number of question papers and answer sheets.
- Contact us if anything is missing.
What if I haven't received the question papers?
If you haven't received the question papers, contact us immediately.
👉 Tip : You will receive a confirmation email when the question papers are sent.
How does the contest work?
Hand out the question papers and answer sheets to the students. Make sure they fill in the answer sheets correctly.
- The contest is strictly individual.
- Participants must not receive any help (dictionary, search engine, etc.).
- Participants must not use the internet to find answers.
Any breach of these rules will lead to the disqualification of the participants involved. Once the contest is over, make sure you collect all the answer sheets.
Do students need individual codes?
Students only need the Big Challenge code that was sent to you. This code is used to rank the students within your school.
How do I send back my students' answers?
- You must use the pre-addressed return envelope (the padded envelope or cardboard box containing the answer sheets) to send us the answer sheets of the participating students.
- Write the number of answer sheets per level on the envelope. This information helps us check that all the sheets have been marked.
- Send the envelope on the day of the contest, or the next day at the latest. Schools that send their return envelope after this date may be ranked outside the competition.
Do I have to use my return envelope to send back the answer sheets?
Yes, you absolutely must use your return envelope to send us your answer sheets.
The answer sheets are not returned to us but directly to the processing centre, and specific information is shown on this envelope to make sure it is routed to the right department, which helps optimise processing times.
If you do not have this envelope, please contact us.
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