Selection contest for the International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

The IBO is open to all school students attending Years 10 to 13 of a secondary school in the German education system.

Secondary school students born in or after 1989 and who reach the third round are also qualified to take part in the European Science Olympiad (EUSO).

Participants must solve problems which are selected and posed by an Examination Committee. These include both theoretical and practical problems relating to all fields of school biology. The level of difficulty is higher than that of general school biology.

How is the contest conducted?

In the first round, which is always held in early summer, candidates must work on a topic independently at home. In the second round - at Land level - they have to take written examinations. Up to 45 secondary school students qualify for the third round, which is held at the end of February of the following year, the year in which the International Biology Olympiad also takes place. The ten best candidates are then selected for the fourth round in May. The third and fourth rounds take place at national level.

What prizes and awards do participants receive?

Prizes include medals, certificates and research practicals in Germany and abroad. Participants in the Olympiad are nominated for the selection procedure of the German National Academic Foundation and thus have an opportunity to win a study scholarship.

What are the next steps at international level?

The four best candidates from the fourth round take part as the German team in the International Biology Olympiad, which is hosted by a different country every year.

Contact:

Leibniz-Institut für die Pädagogik der Naturwissenschaften (IPN) an der Universität Kiel
BiologieOlympiade
Olshausenstr. 62
24098 Kiel
Tel: 0431/880-3137
Fax: 0431/880-2717

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