Round 1: USABO Open Exam (Online)
The Open Exam is a 50-minute nationwide online multiple-choice test, available to all high school biology students (grades 9–12) registered at their school or at a designated USABO testing center.
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Eligibility: No U.S. citizenship or green card required for the Open Exam (but required to advance to the Semifinals).
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Administration: Conducted under supervision at the registered school or an authorized USABO testing center during the designated date and time set by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE).
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Format: Multiple-choice questions only.
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Scoring: No penalty for guessing.
Round 2: USABO Semifinals (Online)
The Semifinals is a 120-minute online exam consisting of three sections. It is only open to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents (green card holders) in grades 9–12 who rank in the top 10% of the Open Exam.
Sections:
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Section A: Standard multiple-choice questions
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Section B: Complex sequence multiple-choice questions, possibly multiple correct answers; may require calculations or extensive interpretation of graphs and data
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Section C: Short-answer questions, essay questions, and multiple true/false (MTF) questions
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Administration: Conducted on the USABO calendar dates specified by CEE.
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Scoring:
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No penalty for guessing.
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Section B: All correct = 2 points; 3 correct = 0.6; 2 correct = 0.2; 1 or 0 correct = 0
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Section C: MTF questions scored as above.
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Round 3: USABO National Finals
The National Finals is a 12-day in-person event held at the host university, including 10 days of instruction and 2 days of testing.
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Eligibility: Top 20 students from the Semifinals.
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Schedule & Supervision: CEE recognizes that Finals may conflict with high school graduation; special arrangements (up to 24 hours off-campus) can be made.
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Focus: Laboratory and conceptual understanding for all finalists.
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Instruction: Led by university professors and experts with undergraduate and graduate teaching experience, assisted by previous USABO finalists.
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Field Trips: Conducted in-person or virtually; e.g., virtual field trips at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
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Evening Tutoring: Optional sessions led by former USABO/IBO medalists or finalists.
Exams:
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Practical Exam: ~6 hours; tests lab skills, techniques, data interpretation, and conceptual problem-solving.
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Theoretical Exam: ~3–4 hours; includes true/false, multiple-choice questions, graph interpretation, data analysis, and information integration.
Logistics:
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Meals and accommodations are provided.
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Students are responsible for transportation to and from the National Finals. Financial aid is available through CEE if needed.
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All finalists and guardians must sign agreements to fully participate and not compete in other national academic Olympiads or summer programs simultaneously.
National Finals Tentative Schedule: (Lab order may vary)
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival – Orientation |
| 2 | Laboratory Equipment & Skills; Opening Ceremony |
| 3 | Cell & Molecular Biology |
| 4 | Plant Anatomy & Physiology |
| 5 | Animal Anatomy & Physiology |
| 6 | Ecology |
| 7 | Genetics & Evolution I |
| 8 | Biological Systems |
| 9 | Genetics & Evolution II |
| 10 | Statistics, Modeling, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics |
| 11 | Practical Exam (~6 hours) |
| 12 | Theoretical Exam (~4 hours); Evening Awards Ceremony |
| 13–15 | Team Days – Individual tutoring, review, lab exercises; Departure on Day 15 |
Guest Speakers:
CEE offers USABO students opportunities to meet and interact with national leaders.
View 2022 USABO Finals Guest Speakers
Round 4: International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
Students advancing from the USABO National Finals represent the U.S. at the IBO, receiving additional training and mentorship during a 2–3 day preparatory period focused on lab skills and conceptual understanding.