AOC Pakistan Chapter hosts the national team selection for the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) 2027
An annual competition in which secondary-school students decode the structure of languages they have never seen, using logic alone, so no prior knowledge of linguistics or of any language is needed.
- National round
- 23 January 2027
- Registration closes
- To be announced
- Team
- Teams of 4 students
- International event
- 21–28 July 2027 · Bangkok, Thailand
Section 01
About the olympiad
An annual competition in which secondary-school students decode the structure of languages they have never seen, using logic alone, so no prior knowledge of linguistics or of any language is needed.
- Founded
- First held in 2003 in Borovets, Bulgaria.
- International event
- 21–28 July 2027 · Bangkok, Thailand
How it works. Students sit a 6-hour individual contest of five self-contained problems covering sound systems, grammar, meaning, writing systems and more, then work in teams of four on one large problem. The 24th IOL takes place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 21 to 28 July 2027.
Section 02
Your pathway
- 1
Register
Sign up through the AOC registration form. Deadline: To be announced.
- 2
National round
Sit the remote recorded test. Date: 23 January 2027.
- 3
Results
Results are published on the AOC website by candidate number.
- 4
Training
Top performers prepare with AOC mentors for the international event.
- 5
International team
The selected team represents Pakistan at the IOL.
Section 03
Who can take part
- Age
- Under 20 years old at the time of the international olympiad.
- School status
- Must be a secondary-school student.
- Exclusion
- University students are not eligible.
Section 04
The national round
- Date and time window
- Announced by AOC Pakistan Chapter before the testing period.
- Duration
- To be announced
- Format
- To be announced
- Test environment
- Remote recorded online test with invigilation controls
Calculators
To be announced
Section 05
How to register
- Deadline
- To be announced
- Fee
- Specified on the registration form. A minimal administrative fee may apply.
- Registration portal
- Accessible through the AOC Pakistan Chapter website and our social channels.
- Parental consent
- A signed consent form is required for applicants under 18.
Documents required
- Proof of age: B-Form, CNIC or a copy of the passport
- Current student status verification from the school
Section 06
Selection and the team
- Selection process
- Top performers in the national round are considered for Pakistan's team.
- Team size
- Each country may send one or two teams of four students, each accompanied by an adult team leader.
Training and next steps. Selected students prepare with past IOL problem sets before the international olympiad.
Section 07
Costs
Covered by the host country
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Local transport
- Organised excursions during the official event dates
Covered by families or sponsors
- Return international airfare
- Visa application fees
- Personal travel insurance
Section 08
Preparation resources
Past papers and practice. Every past IOL problem set, with solutions, is published on the IOL website. Visit the IOL website ↗
Syllabus topics
- Phonology
- Morphology
- Syntax
- Semantics
- Writing systems
- Number systems
Recommended reading
- Past IOL problems and solutions, ioling.org
- Language Files, Department of Linguistics, Ohio State University
Section 09
Key dates
Registration closes
To be announced
Results published
To be announced
Team announced
To be announced
Questions about the IOL national round?
Email us at support@academicolympiadcouncil.org, Pakistan's participation is subject to confirmation by the International Linguistics Olympiad organisers.