Germany

Leibniz-Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) in Kiel, authorized by the German Government through the BMBFSFJ, the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth 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, 1.200 - 1.400 students are participating.

Round 2: October - 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 (3 days exams and instructions, 2 days networking event) 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 (3 days exams and instructions, 2 days networking event) 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. 1.200-1.400

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), Leipzig (2025). 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, biology books, book coupons. Internships at German and foreign universities.

Round 4: Certificates, prizes.

The four best competitors (German IBOTeam) receive a scholarship from the prestigious German Academic Scholarship Foundation "Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes", supporting them financially and academically during their following university studies .

mostly secondary school students between 15 and 19 years

Standard school year - From August 1 to July 31

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

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

30 hours/week

In spring, posters and leaflets with the tasks of the new first selection round are distributed to schools and to the 16 deputies of the federal countries of Germany. The tasks of the first round are published on the internet and social media. Networking at educational conferences. Local articles in newspapers about gifted participators or winners of the national competitions. Reports about selection and competition rounds on the NBO website and in VBIO newsletter.

NBO Office, Ministries of Education of the federal countries

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