Two Hamptonians have excelled in the prestigious UK Linguistics Olympiad, earning national recognition for their exceptional problem‑solving skills in this year’s challenging round 2 paper.
Following their Gold awards in round 1, Lower Sixth Form pupil Jihwan along with Fourth Year Shishir, produced outstanding performances in the second round of the competition. Jihwan achieved a Distinction, placing him within the top 1.25% of candidates nationwide, while Shishir was awarded a Merit — a remarkable accomplishment that is believed to make him the youngest Hamptonian ever to receive a round 2 award.
Round 2 is a rigorous 3.5‑hour examination in which pupils attempt up to five advanced linguistic problems. Unlike round 1, where pattern‑spotting is key, the second round requires candidates to produce detailed explanations demonstrating their understanding of how each unfamiliar language operates.
This year’s paper featured linguistic data from a fascinating array of world languages, including Manam, Unangan, Ahtna, Bunun, and Ese Ejja. Successfully analysing structures across such diverse languages reflects exceptional analytical skill, creativity, and perseverance. Congratulations to Jihwan and Shishir on their superb achievements, which continues Hampton School’s strong tradition of success in linguistic problem‑solving. We are excited to see how the Hamptonians continue to develop their linguistic talents, and we have no doubt they will build on this year’s success as they progress through future Olympiads and academic challenges.
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