Linguistics Olympiad Prep
Solve puzzles in languages you have never seen.
The North American Computational Linguistics Open (NACLO) is a free contest where students work out how a language behaves from a small set of examples. No linguistics background is needed. Our self-paced course teaches the problem types, one at a time.
The course is self-paced, so a student works whenever it suits the family. The first module is free. Every problem in the course is written by us, and none is copied from a past contest.
The contest
A contest of language puzzles, not language classes.
In the NACLO Open Round, students get short problems built from real languages, with a few words and their meanings. They find the pattern, then use it to translate, predict or explain something new. It is closer to a logic contest than a vocabulary quiz.
The top scorers move on to the Invitational Round, and strong performers there are considered for the US team at the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL).
Who can enter
Who can enter
- The Open Round is online at host sites and runs three hours.
- No linguistics background is needed, and students do not need to know the languages in the problems.
- Rules on grades and residency are in the 2027 Student Handbook on the NACLO site. Check it before you register.
- Our course is written for students in grades 6 to 12.
The rounds
From the Open Round to the international team
- 01
Open Round
An online contest at a host site. Students solve linguistics puzzles in three hours.
- 02
Invitational Round
The top scorers from the Open Round are invited. The problems are harder and the field is smaller.
- 03
US team and the International Linguistics Olympiad
Top Invitational performers are considered for the US team. The 2027 date and host for the international event are to be announced.
Dates
Key dates for 2027
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opened | October 12, 2026 |
| Open Round | Thursday, January 28, 2027 |
| Invitational Round | Thursday, March 18, 2027 |
| International Linguistics Olympiad | Date to be announced by the organizer |
Dates are from naclo.org. We last checked on November 11, 2026. Dates can change, so confirm them on the official site before you register.
The course
What the course covers
Eight modules, taken in order or one at a time. Each one has:
- A lesson that teaches the idea from the ground up
- Worked examples, explained step by step
- A practice set with a full solution for every problem
The course ends with a timed mock exam. It is self-paced, the first module is free, and every problem is original.
- Module 1
How a puzzle works
Read a problem, spot what it asks, and set up the data so the pattern shows.
- Module 2
Sounds and writing systems
Letters, sounds and scripts, and how to match one writing system to another.
- Module 3
Word building
Roots, prefixes and endings, and how a language builds new words from small parts.
- Module 4
Agreement and word forms
How nouns and verbs change for number, tense, case and gender.
- Module 5
Number words and counting
How languages name numbers, and how to decode a counting system from examples.
- Module 6
Sentence structure
Word order, phrases and simple trees, and what they reveal about meaning.
- Module 7
Meaning and translation
Matching sentences to meanings, and handling words that do not translate one to one.
- Module 8
Computational puzzles
Codes, rules and simple procedures, the kind of problem that gives the contest its name.
Waitlist
Hear first when the free module opens.
We are building this course now. Join the list and we will email you once, when the free first module opens.
EduAvenues is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NACLO and the International Linguistics Olympiad. Contest names belong to their organizers and appear here only to say which contest a student is preparing for.