Exam info

During IBO 2028 there will be two theoretical examinations and four practical examinations. Each theoretical exam has a duration of 3 hours. According to IBO guidelines the theoretical topics are distributed as follows:

  • Animal anatomy and physiology (25%) - emphasis on vertebrates and humans
  • Cell biology, microbiology and biotechnology (20%)
  • Genetics and evolution (20%)
  • Plant anatomy and physiology (15%) - emphasis on seed plants
  • Ecology (10%)
  • Biosystematics (5%)
  • Ethology (5%)

Each practical exam will have a duration of 90 minutes. The preliminary themes are:

  • Cancer biology
  • Synthetic biology
  • Plant and soil biology
  • Bioinformatics and systems biology (drylab)

Note: these are thematic descriptions of the practicals. The required practical skills will fall within the syllabus of the IBO or will be announced sufficiently ahead of time.

Practical examinations are an integral part of the Biology Olympiad