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Past Papers

BBO past papers & answer keys

Practising real papers is the single best way to prepare for the British Biology Olympiad. Pick any year below and scan a code to receive it — the full pack is free.

Free to claim. Click any year and scan a code — we’ll send you that paper plus the full preparation pack (papers, answer keys, topic notes and a vocabulary list).

The archive

Claim a paper by year (2010–2026)

Click a year to get the paper and answer key — free, sent to you on WeChat.

How to use them
Specimen layout of a compiled BBO paper page: two 45-minute multiple-choice papers with no practical, bilingual in the China region, showing a sample question written in the style of the exam with later problems fading out.
How the compiled papers are laid out (specimen with our own sample question). The real papers are in the free pack — scan the WeChat code on this page.

Getting the most out of past papers

01

Time yourself

Sit each paper to the clock (45 minutes) under quiet, exam-like conditions to build pace and stamina.

02

Mark & analyse

Use the answer keys to find recurring weak topics — then read around those areas before the next paper.

03

Track the trend

Score boundaries have risen in recent years. Compare your marks across papers to gauge readiness.

Free · scan to claim
Inside the free BBO pack: shelves of PDF files for past papers organised by year, answer keys, topic notes and a vocabulary list, plus the closely overlapping USABO material. The exact papers follow what the teacher sends.
What the free pack contains. Compiled and organised by Hanlin’s teachers; the exact papers and solutions follow what they send you — scan the WeChat code on this page, free.

Want the full past-paper pack?

Scan the WeChat QR code below and message us — we send the pack for free. Papers, answer keys, topic notes and the vocabulary list; the exact set follows what our teachers send.

WeChat code
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