The National Biology Competition (NBC) is an annual competition for secondary school students (grades 9 to 12) to test their knowledge and understanding of biology. Register before April 7th.
Quick Facts
2026 Competition Date & Time
Start: April 8, 2026 at 8:30 AM EDT
End: April 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT
2026 Competition Seat Purchase and Registration Period
Cost
$7 CAD per student
A minimum registration of 5 students is required.
Exam Length
The exam is 75 minutes long.
Format
The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions. The exam is offered in English only and is geared toward Grade 11-12 students. Competition materials are available only in English.
Grading
Each multiple-choice question will have five answer choices, with only one correct answer. To discourage random guessing, the exam score is calculated by awarding one point for each correct answer and subtracting one-third of a point for each incorrect answer. No points are deducted or awarded for unanswered questions. Calculators are not permitted.
Eligibility
Any student can participate in the National Biology Competition, even multiple times (e.g., a student can write both the 2019 and 2020 exams). Registered students in attendance at a secondary school (grades 9 to 12) are classified as official contestants and are eligible for individual awards and team competition, including students who complete their studies at the end of the first semester. Students in their first year of CEGEP in Quebec are also eligible.
Please contact Ms. Falsetto in person or laida.falsetto@burnabyschools.ca to sign up.
Visit biocomp.utoronto.ca for more details.