Intermediate Biology Olympiad (IBO)
A challenging international biology competition for New Zealand Years 11–12, combining core biological knowledge with data interpretation, scientific reasoning and unfamiliar problem-solving.
BIOLOGY
Intermediate Biology Olympiad (IBO)
Competition Overview
Academic Value / Why Participate
iBO gives students the opportunity to:
extend their biology beyond routine classroom assessment;
develop scientific reasoning and biological problem-solving skills;
practise interpreting graphs, diagrams, experimental results and unfamiliar information;
apply biological knowledge rather than relying solely on memorisation;
explore topics and contexts beyond their normal school programme;
benchmark themselves against a challenging international standard;
gain recognised academic achievement through Gold, Silver, Bronze and commendation awards;
build confidence before attempting more advanced biology competitions; and
demonstrate sustained interest in biology when considering future science and university pathways.
A major strength of iBO is that students are not expected to know every biological idea appearing in the competition. Some questions deliberately introduce unfamiliar material and assess whether students can use core principles, logic and evidence to work towards an answer.
Who It Suits
iBO is suitable for New Zealand Years 11–12 students who:
perform strongly in Biology or Science;
enjoy understanding why biological processes occur;
are comfortable interpreting scientific data;
enjoy challenging and unfamiliar questions;
can connect knowledge from different areas of biology;
are interested in biology beyond what is required for school assessments;
are considering Medicine, Biomedical Science, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Veterinary Science, Biotechnology, Environmental Science or related fields; or
would like to experience an Olympiad-style academic challenge before progressing to more advanced competitions.
Students do not need to be established Biology Olympiad competitors. Curiosity, secure core knowledge and strong reasoning skills are more important than having previously studied highly specialised material.
Prerequisites and Readiness
There is no separate qualifying competition required before entering the Intermediate Biology Olympiad.
Students should have a solid foundation in upper-secondary biology and be comfortable applying knowledge rather than simply recalling definitions.
Recommended prior skills include:
understanding fundamental cell biology;
familiarity with biological molecules and enzymes;
basic genetics and inheritance;
understanding major physiological and ecological principles;
reading graphs, tables and scientific diagrams;
interpreting experimental results;
performing straightforward biological calculations; and
drawing conclusions from evidence.
The official iBO syllabus is based on core material common to major UK AS/A-level Biology courses, while competition questions may introduce additional information that students must interpret during the examination.
ROUND 1
Open Round
Exam Date & Time
16:30-17:30, Sun 8 Nov 2026
Registration Deadline
Friday, 23 October 2026
FURTHER ROUNDS & PROGRESSION
Explore the later stages of the competition. Progression is subject to the organiser's current qualification requirements.
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
Semifinal Round
The Semifinal Round builds on the earlier stage with more advanced questions and deeper application.
Exam Date & Time
Saturday, 16 May 2026 · 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (NZT)
Registration Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026 · 11:59 pm (NZT)
All resources
Past Papers
Guide
Rules and
Exam Instructions
A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN
RESOURCES & PAST PAPERS
Find available practice, curriculum guidance and competition rules.
Practice
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THE RIGHT SUPPORT. AT YOUR STAGE
PREPARATION COURSES
Explore the programme, choose a teaching format and review the full tuition before enrolling.
CLASS
Placement for Advanced Class is confirmed after consultation.
STAGE
REGULAR CLASS · OPEN ROUND PREPARATION
Open Round Preparation
Build neuroscience knowledge, then apply it to research figures, experimental evidence and unfamiliar questions.
16 hours total
8 x 2-hour lessons
· Connect neural structures with function and disease.
· Intepret graphs, experiments and research extracts.
· Complete an Open Round-style mock with an individual error review.
Session 1 — Foundations
……Session 2 — Core concepts
……Session 3 — Problem solving
……
Choose your teaching format
Small-group preparation with up to 3 students, offering structured teaching, guided practice and personalised feedback.
16 hours · 8 × 2-hour sessions
NZ$1,060
per student · full programme
Focused preparation for two students learning together, with guided teaching, targeted practice and personalised feedback.
16 hours · 8 × 2-hour sessions
NZ$1,280
per student · full programme
Fully personalised one-to-one preparation with teaching, practice and feedback tailored to the student's needs.
16 hours · 8 × 2-hour sessions
NZ$1,840
per student · full programme
Select a teaching format to view tuition, lesson format and enrolment details.
Competition Gallery
Submission and Confirmation
Please check your email address carefully before submitting the registration form.
Once you submit the form, you will receive a confirmation email automatically.
All other important communications (including the Exam Instructions, Results and Certificates, etc) will be sent to the email address you submitted to us. Please check your email inbox and junk mail / spam folder regularly!
What Happens Next?
1
2
3
4
Registration Received
We will send you a confirmation email
We may review your registration if required
Eligibility Review
You will receive the Exam Instructions closer to the date
Exam Instructions
Participate and do your best!
Competition Day
Competition Overview
Intermediate Biology Olympiad (IBO)
The Intermediate Biology Olympiad (iBO) is an international biology competition organised by UK Biology Competitions (UKBC), a registered UK charity with a long-standing focus on enriching biology education for secondary-school students.
Designed as a bridge between classroom biology and more advanced Olympiad-style problem solving, iBO challenges students to go beyond recalling facts. Questions require participants to interpret biological information, analyse data, connect concepts and apply familiar principles to situations they may not have encountered before.
The competition draws on core upper-secondary biology while deliberately introducing unfamiliar organisms, experiments and scientific contexts. This makes iBO particularly valuable for students who want to develop the kind of flexible biological reasoning required for further study in biology, medicine, biomedical science and related fields.
UKBC also encourages students to reference participation and achievement in the Intermediate Biology Olympiad when preparing future higher-education applications.
iBO gives students the opportunity to:
extend their biology beyond routine classroom assessment;
develop scientific reasoning and biological problem-solving skills;
practise interpreting graphs, diagrams, experimental results and unfamiliar information;
apply biological knowledge rather than relying solely on memorisation;
explore topics and contexts beyond their normal school programme;
benchmark themselves against a challenging international standard;
gain recognised academic achievement through Gold, Silver, Bronze and commendation awards;
build confidence before attempting more advanced biology competitions; and
demonstrate sustained interest in biology when considering future science and university pathways.
A major strength of iBO is that students are not expected to know every biological idea appearing in the competition. Some questions deliberately introduce unfamiliar material and assess whether students can use core principles, logic and evidence to work towards an answer.
iBO is suitable for New Zealand Years 11–12 students who:
perform strongly in Biology or Science;
enjoy understanding why biological processes occur;
are comfortable interpreting scientific data;
enjoy challenging and unfamiliar questions;
can connect knowledge from different areas of biology;
are interested in biology beyond what is required for school assessments;
are considering Medicine, Biomedical Science, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Veterinary Science, Biotechnology, Environmental Science or related fields; or
would like to experience an Olympiad-style academic challenge before progressing to more advanced competitions.
Students do not need to be established Biology Olympiad competitors. Curiosity, secure core knowledge and strong reasoning skills are more important than having previously studied highly specialised material.
iBO provides five principal levels of international recognition:
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Highly Commended
Commended
Award boundaries are established using the performance of British participants.
The international competition information indicates that British results are used to establish cumulative boundaries at approximately:
Top 5% — Gold boundary
Top 15% — Silver boundary
Top 30% — Bronze boundary
Top 45% — Highly Commended boundary
Top 60% — Commended boundary
International participants are then assessed against these established score boundaries rather than being directly ranked together with British competitors.
This means awards reflect achievement against a benchmark derived from the UK competition cohort rather than a fixed percentage of students within each participating country.
UKBC currently recognises Gold, Silver, Bronze, Highly Commended, Commended and Participation certificate categories.
The Intermediate Biology Olympiad is primarily an enrichment and development competition, rather than a formal qualifying round for another Olympiad.
It provides a natural stepping stone for students who later wish to attempt more advanced biology competitions, including the British Biology Olympiad (BBO).
However:
iBO participation or achievement does not automatically qualify a student for the British Biology Olympiad or the International Biology Olympiad.
The British Biology Olympiad is a separate, more advanced competition with its own eligibility requirements. For eligible UK students, it is the BBO—not iBO—that forms the formal starting point for selection towards the UK International Biology Olympiad team.
For New Zealand students, iBO should therefore be viewed as an opportunity to:
build advanced biological problem-solving experience;
gain international academic recognition;
prepare for higher-level biology competitions;
strengthen readiness for senior secondary and university-level biology; and
demonstrate genuine academic engagement with the biosciences.