British Biology Olympiad (BBO)

UK Biology Competitions (UKBC) registered as a charity in England and Wales number 1191037 in 2020, after operating as independent group for 26 years with extensive experience in writing biology exams for all ages of secondary school students. Every year, they deliver 3 high quality exams for over 60,000 students.

The British Biology Olympiad was created in 1995, stimulating students with an interest in Biology to expand and extend their talents. It is one of the largest science competitions in the UK with more than 7,200 high school students participating in 2016. Each year an outstanding team of high school students is then selected to represent the UK in the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). It enables students to demonstrate their knowledge and to be suitably rewarded and publicly recognized through the award of medals, certificates and other prizes. It is hoped that by competing in this Olympiad, students who are already interested in this valuable, wide-ranging and rewarding subject will be encouraged to continue their studies beyond A-level.

Official Website: https://ukbiologycompetitions.org/index.html

Contest questions

Multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes

Awards

Global awards:

Gold
Silver
Bronze
Highly Commended
Commended

(For judging the global awards, British competitors will be ranked first by their overall scores creating boundaries for the gold, silver and bronze awards. Competitors from other countries are not ranked together with their British competitors but are compared by boundary. Chinese competitors with good results will therefore have an increased chance of receiving an award.)

Outcomes

1.Students who attend at least 90% of the classes, write their essay and give their presentation will receive a certificate of completion by Fitzwiliam College.
2.Each student will write an academic research essay and presentation and receive detailed individual feedback from the academic course instructor.
3.Top 2 best performing students will receive an award certificate.
4.The authors of the best 2 essays will receive a top essay certificate and their essays will be published in the FitzEd summer school journal and displayed on Fitzwilliam College's website. More details>

Certificate of Completion issued by Fitzwilliam College,Cambridge

Award Certificate issued by Fitzwilliam College,Cambridge

Fitzwilliam Summer School Journal
The top 2 essays in each class will be published on the Fitzwilliam official website

Sample Schedule

Date	Morning	Afternoon	Evening	Night
Day1	Arrival
Day2	Opening Ceremony: hosted by Cambridge professors and college managers. Academic Course: taught by Cambridge Tutors (about 50% of them have Oxbridge interview experience)		Academic Workshop or Campus Tour	Punting
Day 3	Academic Course: taught by Cambridge Tutors (about 50% of them had Oxbridge interview experience)			Welcome Reception and Formal Dinner
Day 4				Social events, sports night, Cambridge walking tour, and free time activities.
Day5
Day6	Supervision 01: the hallmark of Oxbridge teaching （ in group of 3-4)
Day7	London Excursion
Day8	College Culture and Social Activities
Day9	Academic Course: taught by Cambridge Tutors (about 50% of them have Oxbridge interview experience)		Academic Workshop or Free Study
Day10
Day11	Presentation and Writing Guidance: The top 2 essays in each class will be published on the Fitzwilliam official website.
Day12	Supervision 02: the hallmark of Oxbridge teaching （ in group of 3-4)
Day13	Final Presentation		Closing Ceremony	Formal Dinner
Day14	Departure

*The schedule may be subject to change.

Scholoarship：The Cambridge and ASEEDER scholarships can be used in combination.

1. Fitzwilliam College Scholarship (UK Summer School only, Up to 6,500RMB):
Directly awarded by Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge. Selected students will receive an exclusive scholarship offer letter via email before the programme begins. The scholarship amounts available to BBO award winners are as follows:
Gold Award: £ 700 (= RMB 6,500)
Silver Award: £ 600 (= RMB 5,500)
Bronze Award: £ 400 (= RMB 3,700)
For more criteria and award details, please visit the programme website: https://www.seedasdan.com/en/css/uk-en/

2. ASEEDER Scholarship (Up to 1,000 RMB )
lt is given by ASEEDER. You may getit if you join certain ASEEDER programmes or challenges and win awards. Checkthe ASEEDER bursary website (https://www.seedasdan.org/scholarship/) or yourASEEDER mini program for details.

1、Can the students bring a calculator to BBO?

Students can bring simple calculators without any programming function.

2、Can the students bring a dictionary to BBO?

The students can bring a printed version dictionary.

3、Refund policy

If, for some reason, the student is unable to attend after paying the fee, please contact us. If you apply before the registration deadline, 25% of the registration fee will be deducted as academic materials and service fees. If you apply after the registration deadline, no refund will be given.

4、How to prepare for this competition?

We offer some Biology references.

Campbell Biology (International Edition)

Authors: Jane B. Reece, Lisa A. Urry, Michael L. Cain, Steven A. Wasserman, Peter V. Minorsky, Robert B. Jackson
Publisher: Pearson Education;
Copyright: 2011
Published: 1/6/2011
Print: ISBN-10: 0321739752 | ISBN-13: 978-0321739759
Pages: 1464

Understanding Biology for Advanced Level

Authors: Glenn Toole, Susan Toole
Publisher: Nelson Thornes
Copyright: 1999
Print: ISBN-10: 0748739572 | ISBN-13: 978-0748739578
Pages: 704

Biological Science 1 and 2: v. 1&2 by Taylor, D. J., Green, N. P. O., Stout, G. W. 3rd (third) Edition (1997)

Authors: D. J., Green, N. P. O., Stout, G. W. Taylor
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ASIN: B00CF683H4