Biology Challenge
Biology Challenge stimulates curiosity for the natural world and encourages students to take an interest in biology outside of school.
Sign up for Biology Challenge 2023
Competition dates: 3rd – 19th May 2023
Biology Challenge is open to students aged 13 to 15
years old in:
- Y9/Y10 in England and Wales
- Y10/Y11 in Northern Ireland
- S2/S3 in Scotland, and
- equivalent year groups worldwide.
The competition consists of two, twenty-five-minute multiple choice papers to be taken online under staff supervised exam conditions.
Questions will be set on the school curriculum, but the competition will also reward those students whose knowledge of the subject has been increased by reading books and magazines, watching natural history programmes, taking notice of the news media for items of biological interest, and are generally aware of our natural flora and fauna.
Schools will be able to conduct Biology Challenge in whatever way best suits their pupils, ensuring that they enjoy participating and have a reasonable expectation of recognition for their achievements.
As well as being able to submit their pupils’ scores to the national competition, schools will be encouraged to award their own prizes and to make use of e-certificates provided for them.
41,327
students competed last year
550
schools took part last year
Frequently Asked Questions
How many students can I enter?
What are the eligibility requirements?
The Biology Challenge is aimed at students aged 13 – 15 years old.
Students who have taken part in the Biology Challenge can take part in the competition in subsequent years.
Students from all types of schools and from anywhere in the world can take part.
How do I register for the competition?
Teachers can register for the competition by clicking the LOGIN link at the top-right of this page.
Full instructions are available on how to register your school for our competitions.
How much does the competition cost?
£30 per school.
How can students access the competition?
The competition papers can be accessed online via the exam portal. Teachers will be sent details in advance of the competition dates on how to set up their students’ accounts.
All students must have access to an internet-connected device – a computer or laptop is likely to be easiest for them.
When can students take part?
Students can take part any time during the competition dates.
Within a school, different groups of students can complete the competition on different days.
They must all be invigilated by a teacher, similar to other examinations.
Can students have additional time?
Students who usually have additional time in public examinations may have the appropriate proportion of extra time to complete the competition.
Teachers will be made aware on the exam portal how much time student has spent on the competition. It is up to the invigilating teacher to facilitate this correctly.
How are students awarded?
E-certificates will be awarded to students in the following categories: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Highly Commended, Commended, and Participation.
All participating students are also eligible to receive free Royal Society of Biology BioNet membership for one year
Format of papers and invigilation
The Biology Challenge compromises of two, twenty-five-minute multiple-choice papers.
Students will need to complete both papers to be considered for an award category.
Both papers are entirely online, so all students must have access to an internet-connected device, e.g. computer, laptop, tablet.
Teachers are responsible for invigilating their students under normal examination conditions. We verify that registering teachers are part of a legitimate school or examination centre.
In advance of the competition dates, teachers will be sent administrator accounts, and instructions on how students can set up accounts.
I am a student/parent/carer
The British Challenge is administered as an exam. Therefore, only teachers can register candidates and invigilate the competition. If you would like to take part, please request your teacher to make the arrangements.
You could kindly explain that the competition sign-up is simple, the vast majority of participating schools receive at least one award, and that invigilation could be as simple as overseeing you during a lunch-break.
All contact between UKBC and students should be made via teachers (except for in-person events, such as the IBO).
Contingencies for COVID-19
Teachers should invigilate the competition in-person, similar to other exams.
If this is not possible, teachers will be allowed to invigilate students remotely. Please get in touch with UKBC regarding this.