National Reading Champions Quiz
Introducing the National Reading Champions Quiz
The National Reading Champions Quiz is an aspirational event that recognises and celebrates the book knowledge of more than 2,000 keen readers aged 10 to 14 each year.
23 regional heats are delivered across the whole of the UK and the winners of the heats go on to compete in an amazing grand final event in London where one team will be crowned National Reading Champions.
The quiz is fortunate to benefit from the generous support of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS).
Taking part in the National Reading Champions Quiz
If you're interested in taking part next year, read on to learn more about key dates, and be sure that you've signed up on newsletter preferences for our regular Training and Resources newsletter, and/or ticked the the box for occasional competitions updates.
- Registration for the quiz normally opens in early December - join our mailing list to be sure you are notified
- Regional heats take place from late February through to April - dates for your region will be clearly specified when booking opens
- The majority of regional heats take place online. However, some regions are run as in-person events and you may need to plan accordingly
- 25 teams are allowed to compete in each heat
- Schools can to book one or two teams to their regional heat
- Each team consists of four members
- Participants should be aged between 10 to 14 years
- The cost of entering is £25 per team
- Based on previous years, the grand final is expected to take place in mid/late May in central London, although no details have been confirmed yet.
Important information for registered schools (2025)
Thank you to everyone who took part this year! We loved seeing you at the regional heats, and for those who won their local heat, at the Grand Final on 21 May.
The information below relates to 2025 and is here for reference only. This includes guidance for participating schools plus a media toolkit and promotional materials to help build anticipation and celebrate your school's commitment to reading for pleasure.
All materials will be updated for 2026.
Share the excitement
Why not promote the quiz in school with posters and flyers or among your wider school community with this celebratory badge?
Practice questions
The quiz suits students aged 10 to 14 years who already read eagerly and widely; there is no set reading list. Questions are based only on fiction titles and include books for ages 5+ up to, and including, some YA titles.
Each year we provide a selection of questions from previous years to give you and your students an idea about content, question types and structure.
Our pupils have cherished every moment of their experience of being part of the reading champions team. They have bonded over their love of books, become really good friends and were so, so excited to win their heat and get to the final.
Librarian, Harris Academy Sutton
Further advice
If you cannot find the answer to your query in the downloadable information pack, then please email NRCQ@literacytrust.org.uk
Terms and Conditions for booking (2025).
We look forward to meeting your teams in next year's National Reading Champions Quiz!
Why join the quiz?
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Students
Your star readers become part of a team, represent their school in a national competition and have a chance to really shine.
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Reading
Celebrates libraries and librarians, raises the profile of reading in school and encourages a wider reading community across the UK.
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Fun!
Brings enjoyment and drama (not to mention costumes and mascots!) to the wonderful world of reading with added excitement and support from spectacular quizmaster Mr Dilly.
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Support
The quiz is easy to attend and efficiently organised, with help available each step of the way.
I have taken part for three years now and each time, I've found it very fun and challenging. I think it's a great opportunity for those who don't particularly take part in sports-based things, etc. to be given a way to show that their skills are useful and valued.
Student, Year 9
Our partner
National Literacy Trust Reading Champions is supported by ALCS.
Find out more about the National Reading Champions Quiz and Challenges.
Explore useful teaching resources developed by ALCS to support understanding and communication about copyright with guides for children, young people and teachers.
Watch this ALCS animation as a great starting point to helping your students understand copyright in a fun and interactive way. Karl Nova uses his voice and talent to bring the importance of copyright for writers and artists to life in this video from ALCS.