Germany

Leibniz-Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) in Kiel, authorized by the German Government through the BMBF, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Berlin.

www.scienceolympiaden.de/ibo

Leibniz-Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) in Kiel

The selection consists of four rounds:

Round 1: April - September in the year prior to the IBO in the schools of the federal countries. Currently, 1.400 - 1.800 students are participating.

Round 2: Oktober - November in the year prior to the IBO in the schools of the federal countries. Up to 650 students selected from round 1 are participating.

Round 3: Five days in the end of February in the year of the IBO. 45 students selected from round 2 are participating in this national round at the IPN in Kiel.

Round 4: Five days in the end of May in the year of the IBO. Up to 12 students selected from round 3 are participating in this national round at the IPN in Kiel. The four best students are selected as the "German Team of IBO".

c. 1400-1800

Round 1: Four complex tasks, including experimental and literature research tasks from different subjects in biology, open to every school student, published on flyers, posters and on the internet. The students can solve the tasks at home as homework. The school teachers are marking the tests.

Round 2: Theoretical test of 120 min duration at the local school consisting of 30 multiple choice questions (A-Type) and 8 complex questions (B-Type) from all subjects in biology. The deputies of the federal states are marking the tests.

Round 3: One theoretical exam day of 240 min duration consisting of 80 multiple choice questions (A-Type) and 20 complex questions (B-Type) as well as a practical test day (3 laboratory exams of 75 min duration). The exams take place at the IPN in Kiel and the coordinators are marking them together with former competitors.

Round 4: One theoretical exam (240 min duration) similar to round 3. Three practical laboratory exams. Two of them of 90 min duration. One exam (physiology) of 240 min duration.

A training is organized from the coordinators and former competitors immediately or shortly before the IBO. The training camp takes place in different locations i.e. in Zürich (ETH Zürich, 2014), Kiel (IPN, 2015), Singapur (CSI Singapur, 2016), Mainz (IMB Mainz, 2017), Bern (2018), Dresden (2019), Bern (2022). The duration is not longer then 5 days.

Theoretical and practical tests are available through the website of German IBO.

Round 1: Certificates.

Round 2: Certificates and prizes in some federal countries.

Round 3: Certificates, Book coupons. Internships at German and foreign universities.

Round 4: Certificates, Prizes.

The four best (German National Team) are receiving the support of the German Merit foundation "Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes", so that they have all supports for their university studies later on, free entrance and all the costs covered.

Those who didn't reach the final aim were given university summerships or practical courses at universities and famous institutes. 

Standard school year - From 1st August to 31st July

Biology hours/week - Minimum: 2 hrs./week

Biology hours/week - Maximum: 4 hrs./week

30 hours/week

Distribution of flyers and posters in April before the year of the IBO to the 16 deputies of the federal countries of Germany. Publication of the tasks of the first round on the internet. Distribution of leaflets. Local articles in newspapers about gifted participators or winners of the national competitions.

NBO Office, Country Ministries of Education

to be added

Television and Newspaper are mostly involved on local or regional level. Reports are published through the IPN website and VBIO newsletter.