Practice
The Big Challenge PLAY is a free and fun app for improving students' English through interactive games and motivating leaderboards.
What is The Big Challenge PLAY?
The Big Challenge PLAY is a fun, educational app that helps students improve their level of English throughout the year. Through a range of interactive games, students can practise the language independently and enjoyably, while getting ready for The Big Challenge contest.
Key features:
- Varied, interactive games: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, written expression and vocabulary-building activities.
- Thousands of questions: more than 20,000 questions are available, covering a wide range of language skills.
- Use all year round: accessible outside the contest window, allowing continuous practice.
- Free: the app is free, but paid licence options are available for additional activities.
- Daily leaderboards: students stay motivated thanks to leaderboards that encourage them to practise regularly.
Is The Big Challenge PLAY open to all levels?
The Big Challenge PLAY app is open to all students from Grade 4 to Grade 10 (vocational track). It is therefore suitable for a wide audience, whatever the students' starting level. It allows them to work in a personalised way and at their own pace.
Who is it for?
- Independent students: students can play and practise on their own.
- Whole classes: teachers can integrate The Big Challenge PLAY into their lessons thanks to additional features available through "Classroom Activities" licences.
- Schools: primary schools and lower- and upper-secondary schools can use this resource to strengthen English learning.
How can my students access The Big Challenge PLAY?
Students can access the app in two ways:
- Independent download:
- Download the app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).
- Create a personal account (the student enters their name, an email (optional) and creates a password).
- Accounts created by the teacher:
- The teacher can log in to their teacher area.
- From there, they can create accounts for their students, making access and user management easier.
Tip : To make it easier for students to log in, the teacher can print login sheets with usernames and passwords.
Do my students need to be registered for the contest to access PLAY?
No, you do not need to be registered for the contest. The Big Challenge PLAY app is available to everyone, whether or not the student takes part in the contest. However, some content remains exclusive to participants.
Content accessible to everyone:
- The practice games
- The monthly leaderboards
Content reserved for contest participants:
- Access to past papers: students registered for the contest can access past papers from previous years to practise.
- Access to all topics: a thematic revision area with more than 20,000 questions.
Is the practice paid for?
The app is 100% free. However, there are paid options for teachers and schools:
- "Classroom Activities" licence: lets you run group sessions of games and training for students directly in class, gives access to many resources and lets you take part in the CLASS Challenge.
- Advanced features: tools for tracking students and creating working groups are available with the paid licences.
Are the questions in the practice app at the same level as those in the contest?
Yes, the app's questions are similar to those in the contest. The questions in the "Quiz" game come from the past papers of previous editions of the contest and follow the same difficulty standards.
Types of questions:
- Reading comprehension: reading and understanding texts in English.
- Listening comprehension: listening to short conversations and answering questions.
- Vocabulary: exercises on everyday vocabulary, expressions and idioms.
Tip : Using the "past papers" section lets students practise under conditions identical to those of the contest.
Does The Big Challenge PLAY app work on tablets and smartphones?
The app is available on tablets and smartphones.
System compatibility:
- iOS: iPhone and iPad via the App Store.
- Android: tablets and smartphones via Google Play.
Important : Make sure you have the latest version of the app to benefit from the newest features and security updates.
What features can I find in The Big Challenge PLAY?
The app's main features include:
- Interactive games (vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, grammar).
- A daily leaderboard system to stay motivated.
- Challenges between students to boost motivation.
- Exercises geared to each student's level.
How do I create and manage student accounts?
Teachers can generate student accounts through their teacher area.
Procedure:
- Log in to the teacher area.
- Create accounts for each student.
- Print the login sheets (optional).
Students can also create their own accounts independently.
What are the educational benefits of The Big Challenge PLAY?
The educational benefits are numerous:
- Independent learning: students practise on their own, at their own pace.
- Regular practice: the app encourages daily practice.
- Multiple skills: reading and listening comprehension, vocabulary and grammar.
- Motivation through play: students stay motivated thanks to the leaderboards and challenges.
How are the leaderboards calculated?
Each day, students earn points by playing and successfully completing activities. These points are used to draw up daily leaderboards.
Ranking criteria:
- Number of correct answers.
- Response time.
Can I track my students' progress?
Teachers with a "Classroom Activities" licence have access to tracking tools. They can follow each student's progress and see their strengths and areas for improvement.
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