Related Competitions
The BBO and related biology competitions
Where the British Biology Olympiad sits among other biology competitions — from earlier-year challenges to the international stage.
UK Biology Competitions
UKBC’s ladder of competitions
UK Biology Competitions runs a progression of events for different year groups. The BBO is the flagship for sixth-formers.
| Competition | Who it’s for | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Challenge | Younger secondary students (around Years 9–10) | An accessible introduction to competition biology |
| Intermediate Biology Olympiad | Lower sixth / Year 12 | A step up that bridges toward the BBO |
| British Biology Olympiad (BBO) | Year 12–13 & international equivalents | The flagship — the route to UK team selection |
Beyond the UK
The international picture
International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
The global championship. Top BBO performers can earn a place on the UK team that competes against 60+ nations.
USABO (United States)
The USA Biology Olympiad is the American equivalent — a national route to the same international stage.
Other national olympiads
Many countries run their own selection olympiads feeding into the IBO — the BBO is the UK’s.
Not sure which competition fits your year group or goals? Ask us — we’ll point you to the right starting point.