Biology Challenge 2026 (UKBC)
An international biology competition where students complete two online multiple-choice papers covering school biology, problem-solving and natural history. Open to students aged approximately 13–15 through recognised schools worldwide. Rated Intermediate Level, with difficulty mainly coming from broad biological knowledge, unfamiliar applications and scientific reasoning.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Intermediate Level
5 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
13–16
School level
Y9/Y10 (England & Wales), Y10/Y11 (Northern Ireland), S2/S3 (Scotland), and equivalent year groups worldwide
Registration method
School Only
Competition stages
Two 25-minute online multiple-choice papers taken under direct staff supervision
Fee
Not yet announced by the organiser
Online / in-person
Online
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
23 Feb 2026
Registration closes
11 May 2026
Competition starts
27 Apr 2026
Competition ends
11 May 2026
Editorial perspective
Our Take
Biology Challenge is the entry point to the UK Biology Competitions pathway. UKBC began in 1995 with the British Biology Olympiad and is now a registered charity whose volunteer teams run three biology competitions for secondary students. Its work is closely connected with the University of Warwick School of Life Sciences, and the overall aim is not simply to rank pupils but to make wider biological reading and problem-solving part of ordinary school education. That makes Biology Challenge particularly useful for younger students. It is aimed broadly at Years 9–10 in England and Wales, with equivalent year groups elsewhere, and is entered through a recognised school rather than by a parent or student independently. The two short papers cover school-level biology, but the questions also reward students who read beyond the textbook, notice natural history and can apply ideas to unfamiliar situations. The format is deliberately manageable: it gives a first experience of timed academic competition without pretending that every student must already be an Olympiad specialist. The competition also has a clear place in a longer progression. Biology Challenge is followed in the UKBC family by the Intermediate Biology Olympiad and then the British Biology Olympiad for older students. The BBO, in turn, provides the first stage of the UK selection route for the International Biology Olympiad. Biology Challenge does not itself qualify a student for the international team, but it can help a student discover whether they enjoy the style of thinking that later biology competitions demand. We rate Biology Challenge at Intermediate Level. School entry and broad eligibility make it accessible, while the unfamiliar questions and wider-reading element give it more substance than a routine classroom quiz. It is a strong first choice for students considering medicine, biology, veterinary science, environmental science or simply wanting to test whether their interest extends beyond memorising definitions.
Read full guide →Preparation support
Recommended resources
Biology Challenge: Format and What to Prepare
Open resource ↗Official format and preparation guidance covering school biology and wider reading.
Official · Free · Competition preparation guide · Essential
AQA GCSE Biology Assessment Resources
Open resource ↗Papers, mark schemes and specimens for consolidating rapid application of core biology.
Third-party · Free · Past-paper archive · Essential
Natural History Museum Quizzes
Open resource ↗Short quizzes on wildlife, plants, adaptations and natural history.
Third-party · Free · Interactive quizzes · Recommended
Naked Scientists: Biology News
Open resource ↗Accessible current stories supporting the competition's advice to follow biological news.
Third-party · Free · Current-affairs reading · Recommended