Registration opens
17 April 2026
Schools register through the UKBC exam portal.
Competition
Upcoming
Intermediate Biology Olympiad
A school-run biology competition that tests curriculum knowledge, unfamiliar ideas and problem-solving under exam conditions.
Last verified: 31 Aug 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
Competition
Upcoming
Intermediate Biology Olympiad
A school-run biology competition that tests curriculum knowledge, unfamiliar ideas and problem-solving under exam conditions.
Last verified: 31 Aug 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
What Succeed checks
We review public competition details such as eligibility, cost, entry format, deadlines, recognition and submission requirements.
What Last verified means
Last verified is the latest date Succeed checked the public details shown on this page. Competition details can still change.
How official sources are used
Succeed uses official provider information where available, then rewrites it into a student-facing summary for comparison and planning.
Why some dates are reference dates
If the current cycle is not available, Succeed may show the latest verified cycle dates so you can understand typical timing.
Succeed is independent from this provider unless a partnership is clearly stated.
Intermediate Biology Olympiad at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
First-year post-16 students
Age range / Year group
Ages 16-17
Location / Region
Global
Cost
£30 per school
Prize highlight
Gold to Participation e-certificates
Entry format
Two 35-minute online papers
Latest deadline
19 June 2026 · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Get next-cycle reminderIntermediate Biology Olympiad summary
This is a school-administered biology competition designed to extend students beyond routine classroom questions.
Students tackle two timed online papers combining GCSE and first-year A Level biology with unfamiliar ideas and problem-solving.
It suits confident biology students who enjoy applying core principles under exam conditions, rather than relying only on memorized content.
What is Intermediate Biology Olympiad?
The Intermediate Biology Olympiad is an academic competition run by United Kingdom Biology Competitions. It tests biology content students are likely to have encountered at GCSE and during their first year of A Level study.
Participants complete two timed online papers through the UKBC exam portal while supervised at school. One paper focuses on A Level topics, while the other emphasizes problem-solving through both familiar content and ideas students may not normally encounter in class.
Why Succeed highlights Intermediate Biology Olympiad
It connects established biology knowledge with unfamiliar problems instead of testing recall alone.
The two-paper structure separates course-based questions from a stronger problem-solving emphasis.
Past papers are freely available as inspiration for deeper research, even though answers are withheld.
The competition reached 15,113 students across 735 schools in the previous reported year.
Six e-certificate categories recognize achievement and participation at different levels.
Who is Intermediate Biology Olympiad for?
Best for
Students who enjoy applying biology knowledge to unfamiliar questions and want a structured academic challenge.
Not ideal if
Your school cannot register you, provide an exam room or arrange in-person teacher supervision.
Is Intermediate Biology Olympiad worth it?
For a student who already enjoys biology, this is a worthwhile way to test subject understanding beyond routine school assessments. Its unfamiliar questions can produce useful evidence of academic curiosity and disciplined problem-solving.
The main limitation is access: entry depends on a recognized institution being willing to register and supervise students. Participation can support reflection in a higher education application, but the certificate alone will not substitute for strong grades or genuine subject engagement.
How much preparation does Intermediate Biology Olympiad need?
Effort level
Moderate
Best started
Four to six weeks before the competition window.
Main challenge
Applying core principles to unfamiliar biological ideas under time pressure.
Typical preparation
Review GCSE and first-year A Level biology topics to strengthen your foundations.
Use past papers to explore question styles, then research unfamiliar ideas independently.
Practice two separate 35-minute sets so your pacing matches the actual format.
Rehearse using scrap paper and a basic calculator without relying on extensive notes.
Useful if
You want an objective stretch beyond standard school questions.
What do students do on Intermediate Biology Olympiad?
Your teacher creates an exam account and activates each paper when your supervised session begins. You answer online questions one at a time, with your work saved automatically.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Log in using the account supplied by your teacher and set a personal password.
- 2
Enter your details, including your school year group.
- 3
Open a paper only after your teacher activates it.
- 4
Work through the questions, moving between them and flagging any to revisit.
- 5
Submit your final answers, or allow the system to submit automatically when time expires.
- 6
Complete the second paper separately or back-to-back within the competition window.
Intermediate Biology Olympiad dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Competition window
5-19 June 2026
Both papers must be completed during this period.
Results available
Usually within one week
After organizer verification.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Registration opens | 17 April 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Competition window | 5-19 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Results available | Usually within one week | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
First year of post-16 education
Year 12 in England and Wales
Year 13 in Northern Ireland
S5 in Scotland
Equivalent year groups worldwide
Full-time enrollment at the registering institution
Entry through a recognized school or college
In-person supervision on the institution's premises
No independent, third-party or tutoring-center entries
How much does Intermediate Biology Olympiad cost?
School entry fee
£30 per school — No limit on student entries.
What's included
Free BioNet membership for participants aged 14-19
How to enter Intermediate Biology Olympiad
- 1
Ask a biology teacher or exams coordinator whether your school can arrange entry.
- 2
The teacher logs into the UKBC portal or requests teacher access for a new school.
- 3
The school enrolls in the competition and pays the school entry fee.
- 4
The teacher creates the required student accounts and distributes login details.
- 5
Students complete both papers at school under direct in-person supervision.
Submission requirements
Both papers are completed through the UKBC exam portal under school examination conditions.
Two 35-minute online papers
Completion within the competition window
Continuous internet-connected device
In-person supervision by school staff
Participation on school or college premises
Scrap paper and pen or pencil
Basic calculator
Prizes and recognition
Gold
Recipients receive a Gold e-certificate.
Silver
Recipients receive a Silver e-certificate.
Bronze
Recipients receive a Bronze e-certificate.
Highly Commended
Recipients receive a Highly Commended e-certificate.
Commended
Recipients receive a Commended e-certificate.
Participation
Participants receive a Participation e-certificate.
What this may help with
Demonstrating biology enrichment and reflecting on academic challenge.
What it does not guarantee
University admission or selection for another olympiad stage.
How to stand out
- Secure your core GCSE and first-year A Level biology before chasing obscure detail.
- Use past papers to identify unfamiliar ideas worth researching independently.
- Practice applying biological principles when a question uses an unfamiliar context.
- Complete timed 35-minute sets to improve pacing across both papers.
- Use the flagging tool strategically and return to difficult questions with remaining time.
- Rehearse calculations with the basic calculator permitted during the papers.
Intermediate Biology Olympiad FAQs
Questions draw on GCSE and first-year A Level biology. The papers also introduce ideas that students may not normally cover at school, requiring them to apply core principles.
It consists of two 35-minute online papers. They may be taken on separate occasions or back-to-back.
No. Only a recognized educational institution can register its own full-time students, and all communication should normally go through teachers.
No. Students must complete it on their own school or college premises under direct in-person supervision by staff.
Students need an internet-connected device, scrap paper, a pen or pencil and something capable of basic calculations. A laptop is recommended.
Yes. Teachers can allocate an appropriate proportion of extra time to students who normally receive it in public examinations.
Past papers are available, but answers and mark schemes are not provided. Students are encouraged to use the papers as inspiration and research unfamiliar material independently.
E-certificates are awarded in Gold, Silver, Bronze, Highly Commended, Commended and Participation categories. Participants aged 14-19 also receive free BioNet membership from the Royal Society of Biology.
Alternatives to Intermediate Biology Olympiad
Compare these related science competitions if you want a different age level, subject or entry format.
Alternatives to Intermediate Biology Olympiad
Hybrid biology challenge for younger secondary students
Biology
Deadline: Not announced
£30
13-15
Best for
Students aged 13-15 seeking an earlier biology challenge.
UK Chemistry Olympiad
Open now
National chemistry olympiad completed at school
International Relations
11 Jan 2027
Free
16-19
Best for
Older students who prefer chemistry to biology.
Breakthrough Junior Challenge
Open now
Online science video challenge spanning biology and physics
Biology
15 Sep 2026
Free
13-18
Best for
Students who prefer explaining science creatively on video.
Save this competition in Succeed to compare it with other essay prizes, deadlines and entry formats in one place.
Compare with other competitionsContent reviewed by
Sean Stevens
Co-founder, Succeed | Founder, Immerse Education (2012–2026)
Sean works at the intersection of academic enrichment, program quality and university preparation, with expertise in evaluating pre-university experiences for ambitious secondary school students.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- UKBC Exam App
- Intermediate Biology Olympiad 2026 Poster
- Intermediate Biology Olympiad 2026 Instructions for Teachers
- UKBC registration guide
- Intermediate Biology Olympiad – UKBC
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 31 Aug 2026)
Official page checked
Teacher instructions reviewed
Eligibility cross-checked
Cost verified
Paper format confirmed
Registration process reviewed
Awards checked
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current submission instructions before entering.
Keep this competition organised in Succeed
Compare it with current competitions
Save it if you want to revisit it later
Get a next-cycle reminder if it returns
Keep related recommendations organised
Not ready to enter yet? Keep it for later.
Get a next-cycle reminder
Compare similar options
Save it for later
Keep recommendations organised