Registrations are now closed.

The 35th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan but this has yet to be confirmed.  New Zealand’s International Biology Olympiad (NZIBO) committee intend to enter a team but will be travelling only if safe. We will advise you of the international governing bodies decision about where this competition will be hosted as soon as we can. Meanwhile ....

The national entrance examination to select students to participate in the NZIBO training programme will be held on the fifth Wednesday of Term 3, the 16th August 2023. The examination will test thinking skills not curriculum specific knowledge (similar to the ICAS Australian Science exam).

A group of about 200 students who have shown outstanding ability in this exam will be awarded a Bronze certificate and then take part in our tutorial programme. Online support will be provided to these students using Education Perfect and MasteringBiology resources. The tutorial programme runs from September until April of the following year. The tutorials are designed to foster academic excellence in Biology and to help the students prepare for the Camp Selection Exam. This exam is held on the fifth Wednesday of Term 1. In 2024, this will be the 28th of February.

A group of 20-25 students will then be chosen to attend the Practical Training Camp in the holidays at the end of Term 1, 2024. These students will receive a Silver certificate. Those who are chosen for the training camp will have e-mentors to guide them through the preparation that is needed for the Olympiad. Students will have the opportunity to meet and study with leading NZ biologists and companies at the camp. At the end of this camp a team of 4 students will be selected to represent NZ at the 35th IBO.

Participation in the NZIBO training programme is recognized by universities in New Zealand and overseas as a sign of academic excellence. NZIBO alumni hold a wide variety of scholarships at universities, both here in New Zealand and overseas.

All students are encouraged to register for this competition. Students attending the IBO in July 2024 must meet specific criteria:
(1) are born on the 1st of July or later of the actual IBO year minus twenty.
(2) be in full-time attendance at a secondary school in NZ.
(3) have attended school in NZ for at least 2 years.
(4) have not already participated twice in the IBO.
(5) have not obtained a diploma allowing study at a university or equivalent institution before the 1st of January of the actual competition year.
(6) have not yet started study at a university or equivalent institution as regular or full time students.

***To represent New Zealand at the IBO all students must be permanent residents or citizens of New Zealand

In addition, candidates should have a strong interest in Biology and the perseverance necessary to carry out the extra study required for the IBO during the period September 2023 to July 2024. They will also need to gain a thorough knowledge of the textbook “Campbell Biology” (Reece et al.) and will have access to a digital copy of this through the tutorial programme.

There is a registration fee of $40 per student.

However, in the first year that a school enrols students in the NZIBO, all students that year are eligible for half price registration. If your school has previously entered the NZIBO it will be listed here.

Last day for registration is Wednesday 9 August and NO LATE ENTRIES can be accepted.

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Email contact for questions regarding registrations: registration@nzibo.org