WHAT IS MYBO?
Malaysian Biology Olympiad (MyBO) is an esteemed annual competition organized centrally, wherein students achieving the highest marks in the Biology Explorer Competition earn invitations to participate in the MyBO competition day. This national olympiad, dedicated to biology and life sciences, serves as a prestigious platform for showcasing academic excellence and fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world. MyBO will select the top-scoring students from the National Selection Camp. These students will then train at the National Training Camp, competing for a place on the four-member Malaysian team for the International Biology Olympiad (IBO).
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
All top scorers of the Biology Explorer Competition who meet the criteria below will be invited to join MyBO:
- You must not be older than 20 years of age (as of July 1 of the competition year).
- You may only participate in the IBO twice.
- You must not have started university (or its equivalent) as a full-time/regular student.
- You must be a student at a regular secondary school for general education (e.g., not specialized in STEM or biology).
- Note: Home-schooled students are not eligible to participate due to this rule.
- Additionally, most countries do not consider international schools (e.g., those offering the International Baccalaureate) as regular secondary schools. Therefore, these students are also ineligible to participate.
*These criteria are based on IBO’s official guidelines.
COMPETITION DATE
The winner of the Biology Explorer Competition 2024 will be invited to participate in the Malaysian Biology Olympiad (MyBO) 2025, alongside the winner from Biology Explorer Competition from the current year. The competition will be held in February 2025.
VENUE AND COMPETITION FORMAT
- The confirmed venue will be announced at a later date.
- Students will answer two types of papers: Paper 1 (Theory) and Paper 2 (Practical).
- Paper 1 consists of 40 true or false questions with a 2-hour time limit.
- Paper 2 comprises 4 sets of questions. The time limit for Paper 2 is 3 hours.
- The questions will be provided in English only.
SYLLABUS
The syllabus for MyBO 2025 is based on the IBO 2025 syllabus. Refer to the topics covered in the theoretical and practical exams here: https://www.ibo2025.org/
THE INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD (IBO) 2025
In 2024, the inaugural Biology Explorer Competition was held on April 27, 2024, participated by 564 students from across Malaysia. Both the winners of this competition and Biology Explorer Competition 2025 will be invited to the Malaysian Biology Olympiad (MyBO) 2025. Students participating in MyBO will compete for a spot in the MyBO selection camp, scheduled to take place between March and May 2025. The top performers in the selection tests during the camp will be chosen to represent Malaysia at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2025. The IBO 2025 is scheduled to take place from July 20 to 27, 2025, in Quezon City, Philippines.
In July 7 to 14, 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 programs 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 program.
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 experienced the vibrant culture of the Kazakh people.
In 2025, Malaysia will send a delegation of four students, accompanied by team leaders, to compete against participants from other countries at the IBO. We hope this opportunity will attract brilliant students in Biology Explorer Competition and allow Malaysia to achieve outstanding results while gaining invaluable experiences.
