USABO Biology Olympiad Coaching Program

Taught by Elite Coaches from the Global & U.S. Divisions — Choose Hanlin for Double Gold Results

The USABO Biology Olympiad is widely recognized for its exceptional academic value. However, when it comes to how to prepare effectively for USABO, many students find themselves without a clear roadmap. In this article, we provide a step-by-step guide to help students build a systematic and efficient USABO preparation strategy.

USABO Biology Olympiad Preparation Guide

As one of the most prestigious biology competitions in the world, earning an award in USABO can significantly strengthen a student’s application to top universities—especially for life science–related majors in the United States. With the 2026 competition approaching, now is the time to begin focused preparation.

1. Competition Timeline

• Competition Date: April 4, 2026

• Registration Deadline: March 24, 2026 (registration assistance available)

• Format: Individual competition, online written exam

2. Competition Format

• Question Type: 50 multiple-choice questions (English only)

• Duration: 50 minutes

• Scoring:

  • 1 point for each correct answer

  • No penalty for incorrect or unanswered questions

  • Total score: 50 points

3. Exam Content Breakdown

• 25% Animal Anatomy and Physiology

• 20% Cell Biology

• 20% Genetics and Evolution

• 15% Plant Anatomy and Physiology

• 10% Ecology

• 5% Ethology (Behavior)

• 5% Systematics

The official 2026 USABO exam date has been announced. Students planning to participate should accelerate their preparation. If you aim to leverage USABO awards to strengthen your Ivy League or top-tier university applications, our program is designed to support you every step of the way.

USABO Core Knowledge Trial Class

What Will You Gain from the Trial Class?

• In-depth Concept Mastery: Comprehensive explanations of high-frequency USABO topics to build a solid foundation

• Problem-Solving Frameworks: Learn how to transform complex biological knowledge into structured solution strategies

• Efficiency-Focused Learning: Replace unfocused studying with targeted, score-oriented preparation

Course Schedule

Course Instructor

Instructor Yu (Biology)

• Chief Editor of USABO & BBO Teaching Materials

• Senior USABO/BBO Coach

• M.S. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Texas at Dallas

• 6 years of overseas academic experience

• Extensive research background

• AP Biology Officially Certified Teacher by the College Board

Competition Results Under Instructor Yu

• 2024–2025 USABO:

  • U.S. Division: 4 Semifinalists, 1 Finalist

  • China Division: 5 Super Gold, 12 Gold, 13 Silver, 15 Bronze

• 2025 BBO:

  • 18 Gold, 16 Silver, 8 Bronze

• 2023–2024 USABO:

  • U.S. Division: 1 Semifinalist

  • China Division: 9 Gold, 11 Silver, 7 Bronze, 2 Regional Merit Awards

Program Advantages

• Elite Coaching Team
  Instruction delivered by the same coaches teaching in the Global and U.S. divisions, including the chief editors of official USABO/BBO materials. Courses are available in bilingual or fully English formats, replicating an authentic American classroom environment.

• Exclusive Study Materials
  Internally developed course notes strictly aligned with the official USABO syllabus, organized by high-frequency exam topics. Students also gain access to original textbooks such as Molecular Biology of the Cell (PDF editions), ensuring comprehensive exposure to competition-level content.

• Comprehensive Academic Support
  Pre-course one-on-one diagnostic assessments, personalized study plans, guided practice on high-frequency topics by master’s and PhD-level mentors, and regular performance reviews. While others rely on unfocused practice, our students prepare with precision and purpose.