Congratulations to year 12 pupil Sri, who has been selected to represent the United Kingdom at this year’s International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL), taking place in Taiwan from 21–26 July.
The IOL is one of the world’s leading academic competitions for secondary school pupils, bringing together talented young linguists from across the globe to tackle challenging problems in language analysis, structure, and logic.
Sri’s achievement follows an outstanding performance earlier this year. He secured a Gold award in the first round of the UK Linguistics Olympiad in February, before placing among the top 12 students nationally in the second round. Over Easter, he attended an intensive Linguistics Training Camp at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where his success earned him a place on the national team.
Sri commented as follows: “During the Easter holidays, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the selection camp for the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL), held at Selwyn College, Cambridge. The camp was the final stage in the UK Linguistics Olympiad (UKLO) process, in which only the top 12 students nationally are invited to participate. It was both an intense and unforgettable experience, and I’m thrilled that I’ve been selected to represent the UK at the IOL in Taiwan this July as part of one of the two UK teams! The camp was a whirlwind of languages and logic. Over four packed days, we dove deep into topics that extended far beyond anything covered in the UKLO rounds. We explored the fascinating structures of unfamiliar languages through the lenses of phonology, morphosyntax, semantics, and writing systems. Each day involved solving challenging problems from previous international competitions, which tested not only our analytical skills but also our ability to work under pressure.
“The best part of the camp was how it blended serious academic work with a real sense of community and fun. We had plenty of opportunities to relax and bond with each other—whether that meant grabbing gelato while wandering around Cambridge’s historic streets or playing unique card games late into the evening. These light-hearted moments made the experience even more enjoyable and helped us connect as a group of like-minded students with a shared passion for languages and problem-solving. One of the most valuable aspects of the camp was learning from past IOL participants and expert linguists, who generously shared their knowledge and advice. Their guidance helped us understand not just how to approach a problem, but how to think like a linguist—identifying patterns, testing hypotheses, and considering the cultural and contextual background of each language.
“When I found out I had been selected for one of the UK teams, I was both ecstatic and humbled. It still feels surreal to know that I’ll be travelling to Taiwan this summer to compete on an international stage alongside some of the world’s brightest young linguists. I’m incredibly grateful to the UKLO organisers, our mentors, and everyone who
Image: Sitara Bartle Davies, The Manchester Grammar School
