Top 4 in UK Biology Olympiad

Aryan has just made Bancroft’s history, becoming the first student to earn a place on the UK team for the International Biology Olympiad.

This prestigious global competition brings together the brightest young biologists from around the world. Aryan, who also holds an offer to study Medicine at Trinity College, Cambridge, will represent the UK this summer in the Philippines. We caught up with him to find out how he reached this remarkable milestone.

First of all, huge congratulations, Aryan! Can you tell us about the Biology Olympiad and how you got involved?

Thank you! So the Olympiad is a national competition for students in Senior School and it’s designed to challenge you beyond the usual A-level syllabus. You start by sitting a written paper, and based on your score, you’re awarded either Commended, Highly Commended, Bronze, Silver or Gold. I got Gold in Year 12, which was already exciting as it’s mainly aimed at Year 13s.

What happens after achieving Gold?

All Gold students are invited to sit a second paper, which is a lot more intense. You have to read a proper academic research article and answer questions based on it. They then select students for the UK team selection camp. A few days after I sat the second paper, I found out I’d been invited to the camp at the University of Warwick. At that point I was in the top sixteen which was such a big deal.

Wow! What was the camp like?

It was full-on but a great experience! Over the Easter holidays, we spent a day learning lab techniques from experts, then sat seven hours of practical exams the next day.

It was real hands-on biology, but one of the most rewarding things I’ve done so far.

And then you found out you will be competing in the International Biology Olympiad. This must have been an incredible moment for you.

Yes, I found out on the last day of camp. I was honestly shocked but so excited at the same time. Suddenly, I was going to be competing for the country and it’s something I still can’t fully believe.

What’s next?

In July, we’ll have a training camp at Imperial College London for a few days and then we fly to the Philippines to get used to the time zone and prepare before the competition starts. The Olympiad itself runs from the 20th to the 28th and we’ll have two exam days, one theory and one practical. The rest of the time is filled with things like opening ceremonies, cultural activities and gala dinners. It will be a once in a lifetime experience.

That sounds amazing. What’s been your biggest takeaway from this whole experience?

Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone can open doors you didn’t even know existed. I never imagined getting this far when I first signed up. It’s taught me a lot, not just about biology, but about resilience and what’s possible when you give something your all.

We’ll be cheering Aryan on every step of the way as he heads to the Philippines this summer. A massive well done to you again, it was lovely to hear more about your journey so far.