USABO – United States Division
The USABO U.S. Division consists of three rounds, ultimately selecting four students to represent the United States at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). Below is a detailed breakdown of each round:
Round 1 – USABO Online Open Exam
Date: February 6, 2025
Eligibility: Open to all high school students worldwide; U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is not required.
Format: 50 multiple-choice questions, 1 point each; no penalty for guessing.
Awards:
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Honors Award: Top 20%
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High Distinction Award: Top 30%
Round 2 – Semi-Finals
Date: April 18, 2025
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (Green Card holder).
Format: 120 minutes, divided into three sections:
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Multiple-choice questions
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Multiple-answer questions (may require calculations or graph interpretation)
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Short-answer, essay, or multiple true/false questions
Awards: Certificates will be mailed to schools:
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Academic Excellence Award: Top 50 scores
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Honors Award: Next 75 scores
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High Distinction Award: Next 75 scores
Round 3 – National Finals
Date: To be announced
Eligibility: Top 20 Semi-Finalists (U.S. citizens or Green Card holders only)
Format: 12-day intensive camp including:
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10 days of instruction
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2 days of exams:
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Practical Exam: ~6 hours, assessing laboratory skills, experimental techniques, data interpretation, and problem-solving
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Theoretical Exam: ~3 hours, including multiple true/false questions, data analysis, and information integration
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Outcome: The top 4 students are selected to represent the U.S. at the IBO.
Provisional Practical Themes:
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Biomedical Sciences
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Cell and Molecular Biology
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Ecology and Systems Biology
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Microbiology
Round 4 – International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
Date: July 13–20, 2025
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
USABO – China Division
Round 1 – Open Exam Only
Date: April 4, 2026, 10:30–11:20
Language: English
Eligibility: High school students of any grade in China
Location: Participating schools nationwide (online testing options available upon request)
Format: 50 multiple-choice questions, 1 point each; no penalty for incorrect answers
Awards:
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Gold Medal: Top 10% overall
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Silver Medal: Top 25% overall
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Bronze Medal: Top 35% overall
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Regional Excellence Award: Top 20% in each region not receiving a national award
Registration Deadline: March 24, 2026