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 July 20th to 27th, 2025. In July 2026, the 37th IBO will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania.

IBO: Unveiling the Challenge

The competition will be held in the chosen host country.
Participants have to participate in Theoretical and Practical Exams.
The theoretical exam features two sets of questions, with 3 hours given to answer each set.
The practical exam consists of 3-4 sets of experiments, each allocated 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Competitor Duties and Rights

(1) 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 International Biology Olympiad (IBO) does not permit participants who are enrolled in university programs to compete.
Therefore, we select students who have not yet been admitted to any foundation or university programs, typically those who are 18 years old or younger and have not entered a foundation program.
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 January 1st of the competition year are not eligible.
Students who served as observers or jury members in prior IBO competitions cannot participate.
(2) All competitors must submit a completed and signed "Declaration Form for Competitors" before participating in the IBO.
(3) Competitors are expected to complete the competition independently and any unauthorized assistance is strictly prohibited.
(4) To ensure all awardees are recognized and celebrated equally, large objects, such as national flags, are not permitted on stage during the ceremony.
(5) 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.
(6) Failure to comply with these regulations and restrictions may result in disqualification from the IBO Competition.