In recent years, biology has grown increasingly popular among high school students, attracting more and more attention. For students aiming to apply to top universities in biology-related fields, participating in high-level biology competitions has become a growing trend. These competitions not only enhance classroom performance but also provide a solid foundation for future university-level courses.
USABO-Related Competitions
1. BBO – British Biology Olympiad
The British Biology Olympiad (BBO) was established in 1995 by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) as a biology competition for high school students. Today, it is independently managed by the UKBC committee and is one of the longest-running and most influential science competitions in UK secondary education.
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Eligibility: Grades 9–12 worldwide
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Format: Individual written exam, 90 minutes, theory only, no lab component
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Question Types: Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, sequencing, etc.
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Awards:
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Gold: Top 5%
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Silver: Top 15%
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Bronze: Top 30%
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High Commended: Top 45%
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Commended: Top 60%
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Award benchmarks are primarily based on UK students’ performance; international students’ awards follow the same score thresholds.
2. iGEM – International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition
The iGEM Competition, founded in 2003 by MIT, is a prestigious international competition in synthetic biology. Research outcomes from iGEM are often published in high-impact journals such as Science, Nature, Scientific American, and The Economist.
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Eligibility: Grades 9–12, all disciplines welcome
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Competition Period: January to early November each year
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Registration: Team formation starts in January; team registration closes in June
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Presentation: Late October to early November
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Format: Team-based, supervised by a faculty advisor; team size recommended at 15–20 students, self-selected research topic
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Participation Components: Laboratory experiments, research paper, poster presentation, oral project defense
Team Structure:
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Dry Lab Team: Handles math modeling, HR, web programming, graphic design, and analysis
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Wet Lab Team: Conducts experiments, designs research, and applies molecular and synthetic biology knowledge
3. HOSA – Future Health Professionals Challenge
HOSA-Future Health Professionals is officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Career Education Development Association. It is one of the most influential student platforms in the biomedical and healthcare field in the U.S.
Since its introduction in China in 2019, thousands of students have benefited, with regional qualification rates exceeding 45%, and winning 20 global awards in international competitions.
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Eligibility: Grades 9–12
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Format: Students can choose 1–3 event categories; each category allows only one project per student
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ATC (Academic Testing Center): Biochemistry and academic study
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BCE (Beneficial Competitive Event): Community service and impact-based research
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CCE (Career-oriented Competitive Event): Health and life science career-focused study
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4. Brain Bee – Neuroscience Competition
Brain Bee has been running for over 20 years in the U.S., co-hosted by the American Psychological Association (APA), Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), Society for Neuroscience (SfN), and the Dana Foundation. Each year, over 100,000 students participate worldwide.
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Eligibility: Grades 5–12
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Grades 9–12 compete in the main Brain Bee
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Grades 5–8 compete in Brain Bee Junior
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Format: Individual competition with three stages: regional, national, and international