“Books are the mirrors of the soul.”
— Virginia Woolf
Welcome to the
International Literature Olympiad
Through a rigorous two round essay competition, the International Literature Olympiad evaluates students from around the world as they compete to demonstrate their passion for literature and understanding of the written word.
Participants will:
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Read
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Evaluate
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Critique
texts and articulate their understanding of some of the greatest works of literature in the world on a global stage.
Students are expected to evaluate literature such as:
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Ancient Texts
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Shakespeare
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American Literature
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British Literature
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Medieval Literature
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Contemporary Authors
The International Literature Olympiad is entirely online and challenges students to comprehend and articulate the complexities, nuances, and meanings of literature. Win prizes, boost your college application, and have your work published.
Essays are submitted via a Typeform link we will send.
How does the Olympiad work?
Mission
The International Literature Olympiad is designed to bring the richness and depth of literature to high school students who aspire to explore and interpret works that reflect the human experience. We champion the right for every student to test their literary insight and compete alongside the next generation of writers, critics, scholars, and cultural leaders.
Through two rounds of essay competitions, participants engage with timeless and contemporary literary concepts ranging from character analysis and plot devices to storytelling narratives and rhetorical devices. The Olympiad challenges students to apply close reading and analytical reasoning to demonstrate their academic and artistic potential to top universities.
Outstanding participants are recognized through letters of recommendation, international distinction, and college consulting credit, helping them take the next step toward careers in writing, publishing, education, and the arts.
Objectives
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To promote literature education at the secondary school level and increase interest in the fields of literary theory, storytelling, and the arts.
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To encourage the development of close reading, analytical reasoning, and creative writing among pre-university students worldwide.
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To help students explore the purpose and impact of literature in shaping cultures and societies. In a world where stories reflect all facets of life, a deep understanding of literature is more vital than ever.
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To promote reflection on how literary works across genres, languages, and cultures illuminate human experience and influence art, history, philosophy, and social change.
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To encourage students to widen their view of the world through the lens of various works of literature, especially in relation to issues such as identity, cultural diversity, justice, and the imagination’s role in envisioning a better world.
Structure
Step 2
Regional Round
October 2025
Participants are grouped into five global regions. On the launch date, students are given three Shakespearean monologues or dialogues to analyze and submit before the deadline. The top performers from each region advance.
Get prepared with our Resources page.
Step 3
International Round
October - November 2025
Regional finalists compete in an international round where they select an era of literature and provide a full report on the impact and importance of that literary era.
Learn more on our Guidelines and Rules page.
Step 4
Finalists Announced
November 2025
The top three international finalists are announced. Winners will be featured on our website and awarded for their exceptional achievement, gaining global recognition.
See prizes for more information.
Method
The International Literature Olympiad is an individual competition where participants compete by exploring, researching, and interpreting the most influential literary works in history. The Olympiad is divided into two stages: Regional and International (see our Guidelines and Rules for more details).
Regional Round:
Write an analytical essay evaluating one of the texts we will send on the start date of the Olympiad. See our Resources pages for a sample essay.
We will also post the questions on our website.
International Round:
Finalists from each region are invited to participate in the international essay competition where they will have the opportunity to explore the different realms of literature. See our Guidelines and Rules page for more details.
Students have 7 days to answer and submit their response. Responses must be in an essay format (see our Guidelines and Rules for more details) and submitted to a Typeform link we will send.
The Olympiad is fully online and designed for individual participants.
Why You Should Participate
Expert Judges
Participants work reviewed by a distinguished panel of doctoral-level professors, and literary experts.
Prizes
Finalists receive international recognition, college consulting services, letters of recommendation, and have their work featured on our website.
Stand Out
An International Literature Olympiad victory is a mark of academic excellence that stands out on any university application.
Register for the International Literature Olympiad
"The Literature Olympiad provides a great opportunity for these students to showcase their prowess in literary analysis while continuing to build a competitive profile for the college admissions process.”
— Ria Jagasia, Former Johns Hopkins Admissions Officer
Judges Panel
With great pleasure we present the judges that will be reviewing your submitted work. The International Literature Olympiad is proud to have a diverse panel of experts who are prominent members of the literary community.
Our panel of judges represents a wide range of literary expertise, covering everything from poetry, playwriting, prose, critical theory, and world literature, and they’re ready to select this year’s Literature Olympiad finalists.
Dr. Candide Simard
PhD, Linguistics - University of Manchester
MA, Linguistics - The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), UK.
BA, Applied Linguistics (Language and Literature) - Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada
Minor in Spanish - McGill University
As a linguistics expert, Dr. Simard has supervised many MA and PhD projects across topics like syntax and sociolinguistics, and has conducted fieldwork around the world. Her research explores the relationship between language, culture, and the environment, with interests in phonetics, sociolinguistics, language documentation, prosody, and information structure.
Testimonials
"The Literature Olympiad helped me realize I wanted to study English when I got to college. I always liked to read but I never knew I could see my education this way.”
Allison Denning
"The Literature Olympiad helped me stand out in my college applications, even though I was going to study physics. It was the best way I could show my university that I would be a good candidate while still being well rounded. "
Jonas Wu
"It was an honor to compete and to finally have a chance to show universities, companies, organizations, and my family what I was capable of. Honestly, I was glad to have the opportunity because I learned I had what it takes to study liberal arts in a university."
Deborah Jacobs