The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is the world championship of secondary-school biology — an annual competition, held since 1990, for pre-university students under 20. Countries send national teams of up to four students, selected through their own olympiads (in the US, the USA Biology Olympiad), who compete individually for gold, silver and bronze medals across theoretical and practical (laboratory) exams against 75+ nations.
Written papers spanning college-level biology — cell biology, genetics, plant and animal physiology, ethology, ecology, and evolution.
Hands-on laboratory tasks that test real experimental technique, data analysis and problem-solving — a defining feature of the IBO.
Each participating country sends a team of up to four pre-university students, chosen through its own national biology olympiad.
Students compete individually for gold, silver and bronze medals based on their combined theory and practical scores.
There is no direct entry to the IBO — every competitor first wins a place on their national team. Each country runs its own biology olympiad and sends its top four. For United States students that pathway is the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO); other students prepare through their own national olympiad while building the same college-level foundation, often alongside IB Biology or AP Biology.
Tell us your country, grade and biology background and we’ll map an honest route toward olympiad selection.
Share your country, grade and biology background — we’ll suggest a realistic route toward national-team selection and reply within a day in your time zone.