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IBO Syllabus for the Year 2023-24

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Last updated date: 19th Apr 2024
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Olympiads

Syllabus of IBO

The International Biology Olympiad is a competitive exam for secondary class students. The students' skills in handling biological problems, and dealing with biological experiments are tested in these exams. Interests in Biology, creativeness, and perseverance are necessary for attempting the IBO exam.

Candidates preparing for the IBO 2023-24 exam should know the syllabus as it will help them to prepare better for the examination. Here, we are providing an IBO 2023-24 exam syllabus that enables students to prepare effectively for the exam as per the latest syllabus guidelines.

The International Olympiad Qualifier in Biology (IOQB) 2023-24 is a combination of two examinations, NSEB and INOB held on the same day November 26, 2023. Before appearing for the exam, students must check the syllabus of the upcoming IBO exam. The IBO 2023-24 exam syllabus is given in the table below.

Part 1: IBO Theoretical Exam Syllabus

Chapter  Name

Weightage 

Cell Biology

  • Structure and Function of Cells And Their Components

  • Microbiology Technology

20%

Plant Anatomy And Physiology 

(With an emphasis on seed plants)

15%

Animal  Anatomy And Physiology 

(With an emphasis on vertebrates and seed plants)

25%

Ethology

5%

Genetic And Evolution

20%

Ecology

10%

Biosystematics

5%

Part 2: IBO 2023-24 Practical Exam Syllabus

The IBO 2023-24 exams will consist of one single practical exam that will be held on July 2023.  

The practical skills that students should be aware of are discussed below:

Types of Skills

Topics

Science Process Skills

  • Observation

  • Measurement;  

  • Grouping or Classification

  • Relationship Finding

  • Calculation

  • Data organization and presentation include: 

Graphs, Tables, Charts, Diagrams, and Photographs

  • Prediction / Projection;

  • Hypothesis Formulation;

  • Operational definition: Scope, Condition, Assumption;

  • Variable identification and control;

  • Experimentation Includes : 

  • Experimental design

  • Experimenting, 

  • Result / Data recording, 

  • Result Interpretation and

  •  Drawing Conclusions

  •  Representing numerical results with appropriate accuracy (correct number of d

Basic Biological Skills

  • Observation of biological objects using magnifying glasses

  •  Work with a microscope (objective max. 45×)

  • Work with a stereomicroscope

  • Drawing of preparations (from a microscope, etc.); 

  • Precise explanation of biological drawing with the help of the tables of biological terms marked with a numerical code.

Biological Methods

The candidates should know the following biological methods and be able to use them.

  • Cytological Method

  • Method to study plant anatomy and Physiology

  • Method to study animal anatomy and Physiology

  • Ethological Methods

  • Ecological And Environmental Methods

  • Taxonomic Method

Physical And Chemical Methods

  • Separation techniques: chromatography, filtration, centrifugation;

  • Standard tests for different methods such as monosaccharides, polysaccharides, lipids, protein (Fehling, I2 in KI (aq), biuret); 

  • Titration; 

  • Measuring quantities by drip and strip methods; 

  •  Dilution methods; 

  • Pipetting, including use of micropipettes;

  • Microscopy, together with the proper  use of counting chambers; 

  •  Determination of absorption of light; 

  • Gel electrophoresis.

Microbiological Methods

  • Preparing Nutrient Media

  • Aseptic techniques (flaming and heating glass material);

Statistical Methods

  • Probability and probability distributions

  • Application of different statistical methods such as mean, median, percentage, variance, standard deviation, standard error, t-test, chi-square test.

Study with Vedantu

The syllabus discussed above is generally the one used in the IBO examination. There are certain changes every year depending on the requirement. For getting informed about such updates, candidates should keep a track of the Vedantu website, where all important updates related to the examination are posted while keeping in mind the candidate’s feasibility. 

The platform makes it easier for candidates to search for all important updates based on the examination and take all necessary steps in one go. The basic necessity for appearing in these examinations is to have a thorough idea of the theoretical and the practical papers. These can be done by getting hold of the sample papers available online and getting them downloaded. Once downloaded, candidates can access them even in offline mode and do not have to spend a high internet connection for accessing the same. It is made available free of cost so that all the students can equally benefit from it.

One should go through all the diagrams and the illustrations in the book to be able to answer all the diagram related questions without any difficulty. The conceptual answer related to the topics should be clarified right from the beginning so that one does not face any problem at a later stage. Solving sample papers and previous year questions is a great way of going about the process.

FAQs on IBO Syllabus for the Year 2023-24

1. What Does the IBO Theoretical Exam Test?

Ans: The IBO theoretical exam tests the candidate's understanding, processing skills, and applications of the Biology section. Questions require a proper understanding of the topics rather than knowledge. 

2. What are the Important Dates for IBO 2023-24 Theoretical and Practical Exams?

Ans: The IBO practical exam will be held on (3-11) July 2023 (09:00 - Your local time) whereas the theoretical exam will be held on (3-11) July 2023 (09:00 - Your Local Time).

3. What are the Five Stages of the Biology Olympiad Program Scheduled for the Students?

Ans: The five different stages followed by the Biology Olympiad Programme are:

Stage 1: National Standard Examination in Biology (NSEB)

Stage 2: Indian National Biology Olympiad (INBO)

Stage 3: Orientation Cum Selection Camp (OCSC)

Stage 4: Pre- Departure Training Camp For IBO

Stage 5: International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

4. When will the IBO exam of 2023-24 be held?

Ans: The IBO exam is generally conducted in the month of July. The exact dates have not yet been released. Candidates are advised to keep an eye on the website regularly and keep checking for any new updates related to the information. The exact dates of the examination will be posted soon on the website. Candidates are advised to start their preparation well in advance so that by the time the examination arrives and is knocking at the door, they are almost ready to nail it.

5. Where can one get hold of the syllabus of IBO?

Ans: One can come to know about the syllabus of IBO from the Vedantu platform. They can visit the official website and through the drop-down menu select the syllabus of their concern. Once they are aware of the same, they should start their preparation without any delay. There is a lot to cover. The faster one starts, the better outcome one might witness. It also becomes easier to cover the entire syllabus without any difficulty. Planning the strategies well from advance is a good step in the examination process.

6. Where can one find the previous year papers of IBO?

Ans: Previous year papers for all Olympiad related examinations, including the IBO, can be found on the Vedantu website. These papers can be downloaded in pdf mode and used in offline mode as per convenience. Solving these papers for IBO will build up the confidence of candidates. This is not only important from the IBO point of view but also related to any other examination. Getting oneself acquainted with these questions, can help candidates to perform better in any examination related to Biology and practical questions.

7. How much time should one devote to the examination of IBO?

Ans: Candidates while starting their preparation for IBO, are advised to frame a routine and strictly adhere to it. They should dedicate themselves to each chapter per day and solve all the questions related to that chapter. In this way, all the topics related to that chapter will be covered up in no time. Following a particular timetable will also enable candidates to develop a time-management skill which will be required at a later stage in life. Preparing for any examination by setting a particular hour as per one’s convenience always goes a long way in the preparation process.