The IBO is one of the most prestigious biology competitions globally and serves as the foremost biology competition for high school students, drawing nearly 6,000 ambitious young minds annually from the United States alone.

If you’re a high school student passionate about biology, this competition was made for you.

In this blog, we’ll cover all the basics of the Biology Olympiad, including eligibility requirements, the structure of the tests, and essential tips for scoring high.

Whether you’re aiming to represent your country on the international stage or simply looking to challenge yourself, this guide will help you navigate the path to success in the IBO.

Eligibility and Competition Structure Eligibility for the IBO is broad, welcoming high school students from grades 9 through 12 across the world, whether they are from public, private, or home schools.

The competition’s inclusivity is a testament to its mission: to inspire a deeper interest in biology among high school students nationwide.

There are multiple rounds that you need to complete before you are even able to complete the IBO.

This guide provides the process for participation in the US; make sure to check the pathway to qualification for your own country before participating.

Open Exam Qualification: The first gateway to the USABO, the Open Exam, is accessible to all high school students in the United States who are registered through their schools.

This broad inclusivity encourages a wide range of participants, making the competition a rich and diverse experience.

Preparation: Success in the Open Exam relies on a solid grasp of high school biology fundamentals.

Reviewing general biology textbooks, focusing on major concepts and themes, and practicing with previous years’ Open Exam questions can provide a competitive edge.

Strategy: Since there’s no penalty for guessing, you should try to answer all the questions!

Time management is crucial, as the exam covers a wide range of topics within a limited timeframe.

USABO Semifinals Exam Qualification: Advancing to the Semifinal Exam requires placing in the top 10% of scorers on the Open Exam.

This significant jump in difficulty filters for students who not only have a broad understanding of biology but also possess the ability to tackle more complex problems.

Preparation: Delving into more specialized areas of biology and developing a deeper understanding of the subjects covered in the Open Exam is crucial.

Participants should familiarize themselves with analytical and critical thinking questions, often involving data interpretation and experimental scenarios.

Strategy: The Semifinal Exam introduces short answer and essay questions, requiring clear, concise, and well-structured responses.

Effective study groups and mock exams can be particularly beneficial for this stage.

USABO National Finals Qualification: The top 20 scorers from the Semifinal Exam are invited to the National Finals, a residential program that includes both theoretical and practical exams.

Qualification is a prestigious achievement, signaling a student’s status among the top young biologists in the nation.

Preparation: At this stage, preparation goes beyond theoretical knowledge to include hands-on laboratory skills.

Strategy: Success in the National Finals requires a balanced mastery of theoretical knowledge and laboratory skills.

Engaging with mentors, previous finalists, and utilizing online resources for laboratory techniques is necessary for success.

International Biology Olympiad (IBO) Qualification: The four highest-scoring students from the National Finals are selected to represent your country at the IBO.

This selection is the culmination of a year-long process of preparation and competition.

Preparation: The IBO team undergoes additional training to fine-tune their theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

This preparation often includes studying advanced topics not typically covered in high school curricula and practicing laboratory techniques that may be encountered in the competition.

Strategy: Representing one’s country on the international stage is both an honor and a challenge.

Success at the IBO requires not only individual excellence but also the ability to work effectively as a team, sharing knowledge and strategies with teammates.

Another Thing to Consider If you are interested in biology, you have probably thought about doing research in the field at some point.

One way you can pursue this is by registering for the International Research Olympiad.

This nonprofit competition had over 1000 participants last year and an in-person finals event at Harvard University.

The Olympiad aims to meritocratically assess research capabilities.

Full disclosure: While I am on the board of the IRO, I do believe that it is a genuinely valuable competition.

Board members are not compensated monetarily by the IRO.