How the British Biology Olympiad works
A short online exam that rewards biological intuition over rote learning — with a dedicated China-region sitting, the same global medals, and a pathway from the classroom to the International Biology Olympiad.
How the exam runs — UK & China region
UK 2027 dates are now published; China entries below describe the closed 2026 season. Do not use the UK window as a China sitting date.
| UK (home competition) | China region (ASDAN) | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam date | 15–25 January 2027 | 17 January 2026, 10:00–11:30 |
| Paper(s) | Two papers, 45 minutes each | One paper, 90 minutes |
| Question types | Multiple choice | Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank & sequencing |
| Language | English | Chinese & English |
| Where | At your registered school, online | Partner schools nationwide (online on request) |
| Who can enter | Year 12–13 | Any high-school year* |
Intuition over recall. Either way, the questions assume a solid biology foundation and reward logic and imagination applied to cutting-edge, topical biology — not memorisation.
*UK residents cannot register for the China-region exam.
Across the breadth of biology
Questions range across the major areas of the subject:
- Cell biology & biochemistry
- Plant and animal anatomy & physiology
- Animal behaviour
- Genetics & evolution
- Ecology & taxonomy
Students are entered through their school or a recognised institution — see how to register.
Awards designed to be reachable
Performance is recognised across several award tiers. Award thresholds are set by UK student performance, and international students are assessed against those fixed cut-offs rather than ranked against each other — so strong work is reliably rewarded.
| Award | What it recognises |
|---|---|
| Gold | The top band — the route toward UK team selection and the Cambridge summer school |
| Silver | Excellent performance, well above the cohort average (qualifies for the China summer camp) |
| Bronze | Strong performance across the exam |
| Highly Commended / Commended | Solid achievement worth celebrating |
| Participation | An e-certificate for every student who takes part |
From the BBO to the International Biology Olympiad
Sit the BBO exam
UK 2027: sit within 15–25 January. China 2026 is archived; await the next regional notice for a current China date.
UK Team Selection
Top performers are invited to a selection round (typically a couple of weeks after the BBO, over the Easter holiday).
Represent your country at the IBO
The final team goes on to the International Biology Olympiad, where more than sixty countries compete.
Dates by region — UK 2027 / China 2026 archive
- China-region exam: 17 January 2026, 10:00–11:30 (90-minute paper).
- China-region registration deadline: 6 January 2026.
- UK home competition:15–25 January 2027.
- Beyond the exam: a BBO summer camp in China and a Cambridge summer school for top performers — see resources.