Malaysian Journey
Malaysia at the International Biology Olympiad
The full write-up of Malaysia's journey at the IBO — the challenge, the rules, and our medallists — is below.
International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is a yearly competition that sparks a strong love of biology in the brightest high school students worldwide. Since the 1980s, the IBO has been held in a different country each summer, fostering international collaboration and preparing future scientific leaders. Its core mission is to identify, inspire, and empower the next generation of life-science pioneers by providing them with a platform to showcase their skills and build valuable international networks. The 36th IBO competition took place in Quezon City, Philippines, from 20 to 27 July 2025. The 37th IBO was held in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July 2026.
IBO Official WebsiteIBO: Unveiling the Challenge
The competition is held in the chosen host country. Participants have to sit both Theoretical and Practical exams.
Two sets of questions, with 3 hours given to answer each set.
3–4 sets of experiments, each allocated 1 hour 30 minutes.
Competitor Duties & Rights
The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is open to high school students who meet all of the following criteria:
- Only current-year winners of the National Biology Olympiad in their respective countries are eligible.
- Students must be currently enrolled in a regular, general-education secondary school within their country.
- Prior training or instruction within a select group specifically designed for the IBO (including the IBO team itself) cannot exceed two weeks.
- The IBO does not permit participants who are enrolled in university programmes to compete.
- Therefore, we select students who have not yet been admitted to any foundation or university programmes — typically those who are 18 years old or younger and have not entered a foundation programme.
- Although the IBO website specifies that participants should be below 20 years of age, students who have entered university are not eligible to participate.
- Students can compete in the IBO a maximum of two times.
- Students who have obtained a university or equivalent-institution diploma before 1 January of the competition year are not eligible.
- Students who served as observers or jury members in prior IBO competitions cannot participate.
All competitors must submit a completed and signed “Declaration Form for Competitors” before participating in the IBO.
Competitors are expected to complete the competition independently, and any unauthorised assistance is strictly prohibited.
To ensure all awardees are recognised and celebrated equally, large objects such as national flags are not permitted on stage during the ceremony.
Mobile phones, computers, and any other communication devices are not permitted during the competition. Exceptions are only made for contacting a jury member or a parent/guardian in case of a medical emergency.
Failure to comply with these regulations and restrictions may result in disqualification from the IBO competition.
Malaysia at the IBO
IBO 2025: Malaysia Celebrates First-Ever Silver and Bronze Medallists 
The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2025 was held from 20 to 27 July in Quezon City, Philippines, bringing together more than 300 of the world's brightest young biologists from nearly 80 countries. Malaysia once again proudly participated in this prestigious competition, showcasing the nation's growing talent in the life sciences.
25 photos — swipe or use the arrows; tap any photo to open it full size.
Malaysia's journey to IBO 2025 began with the Biology Explorer 2025, an online competition for students in Standards 4 to 6 nationwide. From there, the top 20 students from the Malaysian Biology Olympiad (MyBO) advanced to the National Selection Camp, where the best four were chosen to represent the country:
The team was led by Dr. Tang Swee Seong, Senior Lecturer from the Department of Microbiology and Genetics, Universiti Malaya. Supporting the delegation were Muhammad Zafree Zaharidan and Anis Shahira Hadis from ArdentEdu, together with Dr. Nur Fazidah and Dr. Dalila A'wani, whose combined efforts ensured the students were well-prepared for this global stage.
Throughout the week-long event, participants undertook rigorous theoretical examinations, practical laboratory challenges, and masterclasses spanning biomedical sciences, ecology, microbiology, systematics, and bioinformatics. Beyond academics, the Malaysian team also took part in cultural exchanges, university visits, and workshops — gaining invaluable international exposure and forging new friendships.
Malaysia's representatives made the nation proud with their outstanding performance:
These achievements reflect not only the students' dedication but also the guidance of their coaches and the strength of Malaysia's national training and selection process. More than medals, IBO 2025 served as a platform for learning, growth, and global camaraderie — with Malaysia once again leaving a meaningful mark on the international biology stage.
The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2024: An Observer's Experience
In 2024, the inaugural Biology Explorer Competition was held on 27 April 2024, with 564 students from across Malaysia taking part. The winners of this competition, together with those of Biology Explorer Competition 2025, were invited to the Malaysian Biology Olympiad (MyBO) 2025. Students participating in MyBO competed for a spot in the MyBO selection camp, held between March and May 2025, and the top performers were chosen to represent Malaysia at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2025 in Quezon City, Philippines, from 20 to 27 July 2025.
From 7 to 14 July 2024, Malaysia was invited to attend the IBO as an observer in the vibrant city of Astana, Kazakhstan. This opportunity allowed the Malaysian representatives to gain valuable insights into IBO programmes and activities. On the day of the practical test, our representatives visited the examination hall and observed how the exams were conducted at Nazarbayev University on the third day of the programme.
Participants were divided into four groups during the practical examinations, which systematically alternated between topics such as Anatomy and Physiology of Animals and Humans, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Bioinformatics. On the fifth day, IBO participants undertook two theoretical exam papers — Parts A and B. Beyond the exams, participants also had the chance to visit the beautiful beaches of Burabay and experience the vibrant culture of the Kazakh people.
In 2025, Malaysia sent a delegation of four students, accompanied by team leaders, to compete against participants from other countries at the IBO. We hope this opportunity will continue to attract talented students through the Biology Explorer Competition, allowing Malaysia to achieve outstanding results while gaining invaluable international experience.