Introduction
What is NBTC?
National Biology Talent Contest (NBTC) is one of the contests of National Science Talent Contest (NSTC). NSTC is held every year under the umbrella of 'STEM Careers Programme' which is a joint venture of 'Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS)' and 'Higher Education Commission (HEC)'.
You can represent your country Pakistan in International Biology Olympiad (IBO) through this contest.
What is IBO?
Also see: All about IBO 2022
The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is an annual biology competition for high school students. More than 75 countries are part of IBO. Each national delegation is made up of at most four student competitors usually accompanied by two adults who are members of the international jury for the duration of the competition. For their efforts, about 70% of the participants are awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals or an honorable mention.
For more information, visit our dedicated page for IBO.
You may visit the official website of IBO for more details.
How can I represent Pakistan in IBO?
To represent Pakistan in International Biology Olympiad (IBO), you have to pass the Screening Test of NSTC (Biology). Then, the students who qualified in Screening Test will participate in Training/Selection Camps held at the Home Institute (HI) of NBTC. 5 students will be selected, on the basis of their performance in these camps, for participation in the IBO.
Home Institution (HI)
The home institute of NBTC is 'National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE)' in Faislabad. NIBGE is one of the main biotechnology institutes of the four bioscience centers of PAEC. The institute is a focal point of modern biotechnology and provides a technology-receiving unit to help the development of the country through applications of modern biotechnology and genetic engineering.
The host institute harbors the National Library of Biological Sciences where a large collection of books, online material, etc. is available to the students for preparing themselves for the IBO. Past IBO papers are also used in addition to the indigenously developed tests.
Are you curious to know more about NIBGE? Click below to visit the official website of the institute.
Phases of NBTC
Phase-I
In this phase, educational institutions throughout the country are invited to nominate their brilliant Intermediate Part-I/ As Level students who have secured 75% or more marks in Matric/O Levels. Individual students may also apply on their own.
Phase-II (Screening Test)
Screening Test is held in major cities of the country every year. Students of different academic levels (such as 9th/10/11th/O Levels/As Level) take this test. Among these students, the top 50 are selected, on basis of their performance in the Screening Test, for the next phase (i.e. Training/Selection Camp).
Also see: NBTC Preparation Guide
Phase-III (1st Training Camp)
These 50 students are invited to the first training camp at NIBGE. Among these top 50, 12-15 are selected for the second training camp. This selection is based on the basis of their performance in the exam on the last day of this camp.
Also see: NBTC Test Series
Phase-IV (2nd Training Camp)
These 12-15 students are then invited to a second training camp at NIBGE. The experimental and theoretical training during this camp is more focused. Again, the top 7-8 students are selected from these, on the basis of their performance in the exam on the last day of this camp.
Phase-V (Selection of Team Pakistan)
These 7-8 students are invited to another training camp at NIBGE. It is also identical to previous camps. At the end of this camp, four winners of NBTC are announced. These four students actually constitute 'Team Pakistan' for participation in the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) of the respective year.
Prizes
The students receive the following cash prizes from STEM/HEC according to their achievements in IBO:
- Gold Medal: Rs. 120,000
- Silver Medal: Rs. 80,000
- Bronze Medal: Rs. 60,000
- Honorable Mention: Rs. 50,000
- International Participation: Rs. 20,000
See more: NSTC Scholarships
Registration for NBTC
Eligibility
- Students of 9th, 10th, & 11th (Matric/O-Levels & Intermediate-I/A-Level-I)
- Aggregate marks of 60% or more core subjects i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics in the last exam
- Age less than 20 years on 30th June 2023
- Students who are currently studying in Intermediate (Part-II)/ A Levels (Part-II) & university students are NOT eligible to apply.
- Students of Sindh Board/Technical Boards/O-Level Part-1/A Level Part-1 to complete the online registration form, may first enter the marks of optional Science subjects and then enter the marks% of any other subjects (if required).
Note: For O/A Levels Students, equivalent percentages for Grades are as follows : A*= 90, A= 85, B= 75, D = 55 , E= 45
Apply Now
Registration for NBTC is open. Click below to apply for NBTC.
During the registration for the Screening Test of NSTC, you will select Biology as your principal subject as you are participating in NBTC.
Past Papers
Past Papers (provided by STEM Career Programme-Organizer of NBTC) are outdated but may be helpful.
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