If you are serious about biology olympiads, the smartest plan in 2026 is usually not to choose between the British Biology Olympiad (BBO) and the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) — it is to sit both. The two exams overlap by roughly 90% of their content, and the BBO falls in January, about ten weeks before the USABO in late March. That sequence makes the BBO a perfect graded warm-up, and means a single preparation cycle can realistically aim for a medal in each. This page shows how to run the “double-gold” plan.
Why BBO first, then USABO
Both exams test the same core biology — cell biology, genetics and evolution, animal and plant anatomy and physiology, and ecology — at a similar level. Because the knowledge transfers almost completely, the marginal effort of adding the second exam is small. The order matters, though: sitting the BBO in January gives you a real, timed exam and a score to calibrate against, roughly ten weeks before the USABO. You then spend those weeks closing the exact gaps the BBO exposed.
This is not theoretical. In the 2026 season, Hanlin's biology cohort earned 26 BBO golds, 21 silvers and 5 bronzes, and five students reached the USABO US-region Semifinal (per Hanlin's own records). The pattern behind those results is exactly the sequence above: one shared knowledge base, the BBO as a January checkpoint, then a sharper USABO run.
How the two papers differ
The biology is shared; the paper format is not, so you drill each one differently in the weeks before it:
| BBO | USABO (Open Exam) | |
|---|---|---|
| Organiser | UK Biology Competitions (UKBC) / Royal Society of Biology | Center for Excellence in Education (CEE), USA |
| 2026 timing | January (China-region sitting 17 January; UK 19–28 January) | Late March |
| Format | A short online exam — multiple-choice, fill-in and ordering questions, no lab | 50 minutes, 50 multiple-choice questions, no penalty for wrong answers |
| Best practised by | Precise written answers and ordering logic | Speed and accurate recall under time |
For the USABO side of this plan in full — its format, China-region pathway and prep — see our sister guide, USABO vs BBO: which to sit first. For the BBO past papers you will drill, see our BBO past-papers pack.
The double-gold plan in four steps
- Build the shared biology once (now–December). Work a college-level text such as Campbell Biology through the core topics both exams share. This is the bulk of the work and it serves both papers.
- Sit the BBO in January. Treat it as a real, graded checkpoint, not just a contest. Your score and the questions you missed become your USABO to-do list.
- Close the gaps (January–March). Spend the ten weeks between the two exams drilling exactly what the BBO exposed, using past papers from both competitions under time.
- Sit the USABO in late March. You arrive having already sat one olympiad-level paper that season — far better placed than a student walking in cold.
Choosing the right starting level and reading your past-paper errors is where a tutor adds the most over self-study — but the plan above works for a disciplined self-studier too.
Frequently asked questions
Should I sit the BBO or the USABO first?
The BBO first. It falls in January, about ten weeks before the USABO Open Exam in late March, so it works as a graded warm-up that shows you exactly what to fix.
How much do the BBO and USABO overlap?
Roughly 90% of the content — cell biology, genetics and evolution, animal and plant anatomy and physiology, and ecology. The main differences are paper format and timing, not the biology.
Can one prep cycle really win both?
Strong students do it. Because the knowledge transfers, one study plan serves both papers; you then drill each format in the weeks before it. Results vary by student — confirm current rules and dates with each organiser.
When exactly are the 2026 exams?
The BBO sits in January (the China-region sitting is 17 January; the UK home competition runs 19–28 January), and the USABO Open Exam is in late March. Dates change each year — confirm on the official channels.
This is an independent English-language guide to the British Biology Olympiad for international and China-region students, operated by Hanlin Education. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by UK Biology Competitions (UKBC), the Royal Society of Biology, or the Center for Excellence in Education. Cohort results are per Hanlin's own records and vary by student. Dates and formats change each year — confirm current details through the official BBO and USABO channels.