Latvia

The State Education Development Agency

www.viaa.gov.lv/en

Latvian National Biology Olympiad is organised by the State Education Development Agency a subordinate institution of Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Latvia. The tasks for Regional and State rounds are prepared by Jury committee of National Biology Olympiad, which is formed by Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia and Association of Biology teachers of Latvia involving members of different biology and medicine related institutes and universities as well as participants of past IBOs. Olympiad is organised for pupils of last four years of school education - 9, 10, 11 and 12. Pupils of all schools/ gymnasiums can take part in the olympiad.

Latvian National Biology Olympiad is organised into 3 rounds: School, Regional and State Olympiad. Additional two competition rounds are organised to select participants for the International Biology Olympiad of respective year.

Regional Biology Olympiad. Takes place in the end of November/ first week of December. It is organised online.

State Olympiad. Takes place in the end of January. It is organized in the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia and lasts for 3 days - two task days and a day dedicated for.

School Biology Olympiad. It takes place in November in each school. We estimate more than 5000 of pupils to participate in this round. Teachers of biology are responsible for theoretical and/or practical tasks of school round.

Regional round of Biology Olympiad is held online. Pupils gather in certain schools (regional centres), log into the Olympiad’s webpage and solve the tasks; all answers are filled into online system, answers are evaluated automatically. 2500 - 3000 pupils from years 9-12 participate in regional round of Biology Olympiad.

The Jury of National Biology Olympiad selects top 150 pupils of regional olympiad - proportions determined by the number of participants from each study year - and invites them to State Biology Olympiad (3rd round).

State Biology Olympiad is held in the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia, it contains both theoretical and practical tasks. On the first day students solve theoretical tasks - both multiple choice and longer tasks answered with extended explanations, calculations and drawings. Second day is devoted to 4 practical tasks from varied biology subsections. Students are divided randomly into 5 groups which visit and do all four practical tasks one by one. No meeting with students from other groups or teachers are allowed between the tasks.

Even though students work in mixed groups - class 9 and 10 students do different tasks from pupils of class 11 and 12. 

Participant's works are evaluated by students from the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia and other universities – previous participants of biology olympiads, as well as faculty members involved in the task preparation.

There is no organised training for NBO - students are prepared by their biology teachers and prepare at home. Duration of this stage depends on the individual teacher and student. After selecting 4 students for the IBO team - a 10 day training "camp" is organised in June. It is carried out in laboratories of University of Latvia, under the supervision of University lecturers and researchers or participants of previous IBOs. The training involves lectures and practical lessons covering frequently used laboratory skills.

For NBO preparation students use state approved school books. To prepare for team selection rounds after State Olympiad the latest edition of Cambpell’s Biology is suggested. In addition several task compendiums from past NBOs have been published to facilitate better preparation.

Medals and certificates are awarded in the State Biology Olympiad. Additional prizes like books, boardgames and gift certificates from local museums are sometimes provided by sponsors. The winners of years 11 and 12 get an advantage to enroll in the biology study programs of Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia.

Students from years 9, 10, 11, and 12 from any school or gymnasium.

1st of september - 1st of June

1.2-2.2 h

1.2-2.2 h

The State Education Development Agency is the official organiser of all education olympiads in Latvia. It disseminates information about current year's olympiad’s rules and times.

renate.fernava@viaa.gov.lv

• 2025: 2917 students from 0 schools (0% of eligible schools)
• 2024: 2859 students from 0 schools (0% of eligible schools)
• 2023: 2641 students from 0 schools (0% of eligible schools)
• 2022: 2377 students from 0 schools (0% of eligible schools)
• 2021: 2186 students from 0 schools (0% of eligible schools)
• 2020: 2359 students from 0 schools (0% of eligible schools)
• 2019: 2434 students from 0 schools (0% of eligible schools)
• 2018: 2945 students from 0 schools (0% of eligible schools)
• 2017: 2800 students from 0 schools (0% of eligible schools)

Number of students given are those participating in the Regional round, years correspond to the timing of the Regional round. We don't have exact statistics for what proportion of schools participate in the Regional round of NBO. But since Regional rounds are held online and potential logistics expenses for participating are low, we estimate it is close to all schools.

All information about Biology Olympiad is posted in the State Education Development Agency webpage, as well as in webpage of Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia. Usually, a press release is prepared about the State Olympiad and Latvian team in IBO. These press releases are disseminated through the State Education Development Agency and press centre of University of Latvia. Regional media are keen to expose achievements of their pupils in Regional, State and International Biology Olympiads.