Biology Olympiad

The Biology Olympiad is a series of highly competitive, multi-stage examinations for high school students that tests advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in biological sciences, ultimately selecting the brightest students to represent their country at the international level. In the US (the USA Biolympiad or USABO), the competition begins with a nationwide Open Exam, followed by a Semifinal Exam, which narrows the field to the top 20 students who are invited to an intensive, two-week National Finals training camp focusing on topics far beyond the standard curriculum, such as molecular biology, neurobiology, and biochemistry, along with rigorous laboratory skills training. The four highest-scoring students from the National Finals then form the official team to compete for medals at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO), a prestigious annual world championship that pits students from over 75 countries against each other in challenging theoretical and laboratory-based exams.