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Q: What is the SJBO (Singapore Junior Biology Olympiad)? A: The Singapore Junior Biology Olympiad (SJBO) is a national biology competition for secondary school students (Sec 2--4, ages 14--16). It is co-organised by the Singapore Institute of Biology (SiBiol) and the Science Centre Singapore, with support from the Ministry of Education. SJBO was started in 2016 as a complement to the long-running Singapore Biology Olympiad (SBO). The 2026 edition is the 11th SJBO.
TL;DR SJBO is now a theory-only competition (the practical round has been discontinued). The 2-hour online theory paper contains 80 questions at three difficulty levels: 35% O-Level, 35% A-Level, and 30% IBO standard. It is the junior entry point to Singapore's biology olympiad pathway (SJBO then SBO then IBO). Registration for 2026 was open 13 Feb -- 13 Mar 2026. Theory Round: 6 May 2026.
The Singapore Junior Biology Olympiad (SJBO) is a national biology competition for upper secondary students. It was started in 2016 as a complement to the Singapore Biology Olympiad (SBO), which targets JC-level students. The 2026 edition is the 11th SJBO.
SJBO is co-organised by the Singapore Institute of Biology (SiBiol) and the Science Centre Singapore, with support from the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The stated aim of SJBO is to foster critical thinking skills among secondary school students and to offer an early taste of the SBO/IBO experience. It provides a platform for students to challenge themselves in biology beyond the school syllabus.
Singapore has consistently ranked in the top 3 at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in recent years, and SJBO is part of the pipeline that develops this talent early.
students (ages 14--16), equivalent to UK Years 9--11 or US Grades 8--10
School registration
Schools register by completing the SJBO Registration Form (Excel) and NDA Form (PDF), emailed to sjbo2026@iameetings.sg
Individual registration
Students whose schools do not participate may register through SEASG at seasg.org.sg. Individual participants may not be eligible to represent their school in any team-based component.
Registration period (2026)
13 Feb 2026 -- 13 Mar 2026
Fee
Check the registration briefing or contact sjbo.sibiol@gmail.com for current fees. Payment by Vendors@Gov or electronic bank transfer only.
Internal selection
SJBO discourages schools from conducting internal selection tests, as this is contrary to the inclusive spirit of the competition.
Important policy notes
Registration fees are charged for all registered students, including absentees.
Replacing absent students with substitutes on the day of the test is not allowed.
Home testing is not permitted; no provisions for students unable to attend in person at school.
3 Competition format
3.1 Theory Round (all candidates)
Date (2026): 6 May 2026 (Wednesday)
Duration: 2 hours
Platform: Online, taken at the candidate's own school
Timing flexibility: Schools can choose when to hold the test within a 9 am -- 6 pm window on the test day.
Venue: Must be held at school (computer lab, classroom, or hall). Batches are allowed with no inter-batch communication.
Invigilation: Follows standard school exam conditions.
Questions: 80 questions in a mix of formats --- multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blanks.
Difficulty distribution
According to publicly available information, the SJBO paper is a mix of:
35% O-Level standard questions
35% A-Level standard questions
30% IBO standard questions
This means the paper is significantly harder than a typical O-Level biology exam and rewards students who have read beyond the school syllabus.
3.2 Practical round --- discontinued
SJBO previously included a practical round at Science Centre Singapore for the top 7 schools. The practical round has been discontinued moving forward. SJBO is now a theory-only competition.
Awards
Gold: Top 5% of participants
Silver: Next 10%
Bronze: Next 15%
Honourable Mention: Next 10%
4 Topics covered
SJBO questions are based on the IBO syllabus, adapted for the secondary school level. The specific topics to be tested each year are detailed in the SJBO registration briefing slides, which are available for download from the SJBO website.
Based on publicly available information, the broad topic areas include:
Cell and molecular biology: cell structure, organelles, membrane transport, cell division (mitosis and meiosis), cellular respiration
Plant biology: photosynthesis, transport in plants, plant anatomy
Animal anatomy and physiology: nutrition, transport (circulatory system), respiration, excretion, coordination and response
Genetics and heredity: inheritance patterns, DNA structure, gene expression, molecular genetics
Evolution and biosystematics: natural selection, adaptation, classification, biodiversity
Ecology and ethology: ecosystems, food webs, nutrient cycling, human impact on the environment, animal behaviour
Biostatistics: basic data analysis and interpretation (at an introductory level)
Because 30% of questions are at IBO standard, students who only know the O-Level syllabus will find the upper tier of questions challenging. Reading ahead into A-Level biology topics is strongly recommended.
Past papers
SJBO does not release past papers. The organisers recommend using past IBO papers (available at ibo-info.org) as a reference for the style and difficulty of the harder questions. The registration briefing slides provide topic lists and sample question formats.
5 How SJBO connects to the national team pathway
The Singapore biology olympiad pathway is:
SJBO (Sec 2--4) -> SBO (JC / equivalent) -> IBO training team -> IBO
Here is how the senior pipeline works:
SBO (Singapore Biology Olympiad): Co-organised by SiBiol and MOE. Approximately 250--350 JC students (Year 11, age 17) are invited each year. About 10--12% of the Biology cohort participates.
SBO has two rounds: A theory test (all participants), followed by a practical test for the top 10% of theory scorers.
Training selection: Top SBO scorers are shortlisted for an interview to assess potential and attitude. Usually 6--10 students are selected for Team Singapore training.
Final team: The training programme is led by NUS and NIE academics. A final 4 students plus 1 reserve are chosen to represent Singapore at the IBO.
SJBO does not directly select the IBO team, but it gives secondary school students early exposure to olympiad-style biology at a level well beyond school exams. Strong SJBO performers develop the skills and confidence needed for SBO in JC.
The SJBO registration briefing (online, held before the registration period) provides the topic list and question format for the current year. This is the most reliable preparation guide. For 2026, the briefing was on 13 Feb 2026.
Master the O-Level biology syllabus first
35% of the paper is at O-Level standard. Make sure cell biology, genetics, human physiology, and ecology are solid before reaching for harder material.
Read ahead into A-Level topics
Another 35% of the paper is at A-Level standard. Key areas to explore include molecular biology, biochemistry (protein structure, enzymes, metabolic pathways), advanced genetics (gene expression, molecular genetics), and plant/animal physiology at a deeper level.
Familiarise yourself with IBO-style questions
The hardest 30% of the paper draws on the IBO syllabus. Past IBO papers are available at ibo-info.org and are the best proxy for the top tier of SJBO questions. Focus on understanding the reasoning behind answers, not just memorising facts.
Develop breadth
Biology olympiads cover a wide range of topics. Do not neglect plant biology, ecology, evolution, or biostatistics --- these are common blind spots for students who focus only on human biology and genetics.
Practise under timed conditions
The paper has 80 questions in 2 hours, which is 1.5 minutes per question. Practise working at this pace, especially for data interpretation questions.
Textbooks and resources
Your school's O-Level or IP biology textbook for the foundation
Campbell Biology (or equivalent A-Level textbook) for extension topics
Olympiad biology --- even at the junior level --- rewards students who have fully internalised the core curriculum before reaching for extensions. Students who are still building confidence in fundamental biology concepts benefit from structured support.
Eclat does not offer olympiad-specific tuition, but our tuition programmes focus on building deep conceptual understanding:
What is the Singapore Junior Biology Olympiad (SJBO)?
The SJBO is Singapore's national junior biology competition, co-organised by the Singapore Institute of Biology (SiBiol) and Science Centre Singapore, with MOE support. It started in 2016 and targets Sec 2--4 students (ages 14--16). It serves as the junior entry point to the biology olympiad pathway leading to SBO and IBO.
Who organises SJBO?
The Singapore Institute of Biology (SiBiol) co-organises SJBO with Science Centre Singapore. MOE provides support. Contact: sjbo.sibiol@gmail.com.
Who is eligible for SJBO?
Secondary 2--4 students (ages 14--16). This is equivalent to UK Years 9--11 or US Grades 8--10.
How do I register for SJBO?
Schools register by completing the registration form and NDA agreement, emailed to sjbo2026@iameetings.sg. Students whose schools do not participate may register individually through SEASG, but individual participants may not be eligible for any team-based components.
What is the SJBO exam format?
A 2-hour online theory paper with 80 questions (MCQ, true/false, fill-in-the-blanks). Taken at the candidate's own school within a 9 am -- 6 pm window. The practical round has been discontinued.
What topics does SJBO cover?
Topics are based on the IBO syllabus, adapted for secondary school level. They include cell biology, plant biology, animal physiology, genetics, evolution, ecology, biochemistry, and biostatistics. Specific topics are listed in the SJBO briefing slides each year.
How hard is the SJBO paper?
The paper has three difficulty tiers: 35% O-Level, 35% A-Level, and 30% IBO standard. Students who only know the O-Level syllabus will find the upper tiers challenging.
Are there past papers available?
No. SJBO does not release past papers. The organisers recommend using past IBO papers (available at ibo-info.org) as preparation for the harder questions. The SJBO briefing slides provide topic lists.
The pathway is SJBO (Sec 2--4) then SBO (JC) then IBO training team then IBO. SJBO gives secondary school students early exposure to olympiad-style biology, preparing them for SBO in JC. See our SBO guide and IBO guide for more details.
Is SJBO useful for DSA or scholarship applications?
A strong SJBO result (especially Gold or Silver) can support DSA, scholarship, or special programme applications, particularly for students aiming at JC science programmes. Confirm with your target institution's admissions criteria.
Is there still a practical round?
No. The SJBO practical round has been discontinued. SJBO is now a theory-only competition.
Can I register individually if my school does not participate?
Yes, through SEASG. However, individual participants may not be eligible to represent their school in any team-based component.
Does Eclat offer SJBO preparation?
Eclat does not offer olympiad-specific tuition. However, our IP Biology tuition and O-Level Biology tuition build the strong foundations that are essential for any advanced biology work, including olympiad preparation.
