International Biology Olympiad (IBO) — IP-Friendly Guide
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)05 Aug 2025, 00:00 Z
TL;DR
The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is the life-sciences cousin of the IPhO and IMO.
Since 1990 it has grown to \(~80\space countries\), tests students through two 3-hour theory papers and three to four 90-120-min practical labs, and medals the top 60 % (gold \(~10\%\), silver \(~20\%\), bronze \(~30\%\)).
For Singapore IP students, a strong IBO portfolio boosts DSA and university scholarships, while the lab-design and data-handling overlap with A-Level Physics Paper 4 skills.
1 What is the IBO?
The IBO is a yearly biology competition for secondary-school students aged 14-19 as of 31 December in the competition year.
Founded in 1990 in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia, it aims to promote biology education, foster international friendships, and identify young research talent.
2 Competition format
| Segment | Duration | Weight | Typical tasks |
| Theory A & B | 2 x 3 h | 50 % | Genetics, evolution, cell-biology data analysis |
| Practical labs (3-4) | 90-120 min each | 50 % | Molecular biology, biochemistry, plant anatomy, ethology |
Questions target application far beyond recall: interpreting enzyme-kinetics graphs, mapping phylogenetic trees, or designing a field experiment.
Practical domains are announced 6-12 months ahead, letting teams train with similar kits.
3 Scoring and medals
Scores are normalised to the highest aggregate.
Medals then follow the IBO statutes cut-offs:
- Gold: top \(\approx 10\%\)
- Silver: next \(\approx 20\%\)
- Bronze: next \(\approx 30\%\)
- Honourable mention: next \(\approx 10\%\)
No country may win >4 medals because each delegation is capped at four students.
4 Why IP Maths & Physics families should care
4.1 Cross-pollination with Physics & Math
- Experimental design mimics A-Level Physics Paper 4: uncertainty budgets, LINEST gradient \(\pm\) SE, hypothesis tests.
- Population-genetics models use differential equations and probability distributions, reinforcing IP Math statistics.
- Data-logger skills (spectrophotometers, PCR curves) echo sensors in electric-field mapping experiments.
4.2 Portfolio & DSA leverage
- National Biology Olympiad medals are accepted evidence for DSA-JC applications into schools such as RI and VJC.
- Universities shortlist IBO alumni for life-science scholarships, and some U.K. schools award up to 2 A-level grade offsets.
5 Singapore pathway to the IBO
- Singapore Biology Olympiad (SBO) — open MCQ + structured paper (Nov).
- Training Camp — \(\approx 7-10\)-day residential with \(~60 \space contact h\) of labs and lectures for the top \(~40\) SBO students.
- Team selection tests — four students + one reserve named by April.
- IBO — usually mid-July (e.g. 2024 Astana, 2025 Perth).
Singapore has ranked top-5 overall more than a dozen times since 2000 and swept 4 gold medals in 2023.
6 12-month prep timeline for IP students
| Month | Milestone | Action for families |
| Aug Y3/Y5 | Decide focus | Compare SBO vs Physics/Math Olympiads |
| Sep-Oct | Theory deep-dive | Finish Campbell 11e Ch. 1-21; drill past SBO MCQs |
| Nov | Sit SBO | Mark and error-journal within 48 h |
| Dec | Practical taster | 3-day lab workshop: DNA extraction, microscopy |
| Jan-Mar | Camp prep | Weekly timed theory sets + lab technique rotations |
| Apr | Team trials | Simulate full IBO practical under 120-min limit |
| May-Jun | Polishing | Biostats exercises, field ecology weekend |
| Jul | IBO | Parents coordinate sleep cycle to host-country time-zone |
7 FAQs
Q: Is prior lab experience compulsory?
A: Helpful but not mandatory; top scorers often start serious wet-lab work only after SBO.
Q: Will IBO clash with IP WAs?
A: The IBO falls in July, so only JC Promo revision overlaps. Plan your WA2 study calendar accordingly.
Q: How does the medal quota compare with IPhO?
A: Both Olympiads award \(~60\%\) of candidates, but IPhO sets fixed score thresholds, whereas the IBO uses percentile bands.
