Learn the brain. Enter the Bee.
Understand the rounds, study the official syllabus, and follow the competition pathway from a local Brain Bee to a national title and the World Championship.
Independent English-language guidance for Brain Bee students and families. This website is not the official Brain Bee site.
The 2026 world stage
The 2026 IBB World Championship is tentatively scheduled for 6–11 November as a virtual event connected with Neuroscience 2026 in Washington, D.C. Entry is not direct: each competitor must first win the highest Brain Bee level in their country.
A global test of what teenagers know about the brain.
Founded in 1998 by Dr. Norbert Myslinski, the Brain Bee is an international neuroscience competition for secondary students. It asks them to master neuroanatomy, brain function, and the science of brain disorders — and it does so to inspire the next generation of researchers and physicians.
Competition runs across three tiers: local and regional rounds feed national championships, and each nation’s champion advances to the annual World Championship, held alongside a major international neuroscience conference.
By the numbers
Divisions & how you enter
The Brain Bee groups competitors by school level. Age brackets and exact eligibility vary by country and region — the two broad divisions below are the pattern used across most chapters, including China.
Junior Division
An entry track for younger students, testing core brain science through written questions and building toward the standard division in later years.
Standard Division
The main competition track. Top scorers advance from local and national rounds toward the World Championship stage.
Written Exam
The foundation of every round: closed-book written questions drawn from the official syllabus on brain structure, function, and disorders.
Practical & Diagnosis
Higher rounds add hands-on components — specimen and neuroanatomy identification, patient-diagnosis reasoning, and live question rounds.
What you’ll be tested on
Questions are built on a defined body of neuroscience. The official study source (the “Brain Facts” material) anchors most of the syllabus; the tiles below group the main areas.
Neuroanatomy
The structure of the brain and nervous system — regions, pathways, and how they connect.
Brain Function
How the brain drives sensation, movement, memory, emotion, sleep, and learning.
Neurons & Signaling
Cells, synapses, and the electrical and chemical signals that carry information.
Brain Disorders
Conditions from Alzheimer’s to depression — causes, effects, and current research.
Development & Plasticity
How the brain grows, adapts, and changes across a lifetime.
Research & Treatment
How neuroscience is studied and how findings translate into treatment.
The competition season
The Brain Bee runs on an annual cycle. Exact dates differ by country — the flow below shows the standard progression from a local round to the World Championship.
Competing from China
China runs its own full Brain Bee pathway — regional rounds, a national final, and a route to the international stage. This section brings the dates, divisions, and registration details for Chinese competitors together in one place.
ENTER THE CHINA REGION →Latest from the season
Brain Bee,
answered.
Start with the essentials, then follow the links for registration, preparation, and regional details.
Q-01What is the Brain Bee?+
The Brain Bee is an international neuroscience competition for school students, founded in 1998 by Dr. Norbert Myslinski. It runs in more than 50 countries and progresses from local rounds to an annual World Championship. Read the story.
Q-02Who can enter?+
Students in grades 5–12 can usually enter through Junior and Standard divisions. Exact age and grade rules vary by national organiser, so confirm the current criteria before registering.
Q-03What does the competition test?+
The syllabus covers neuroanatomy, brain function, neurons and signalling, brain disorders, development, and research. Higher tiers may add specimen identification and patient-diagnosis rounds. Explore the syllabus.
Q-04When is the World Championship?+
The World Championship is held annually alongside a major neuroscience meeting. Dates and host arrangements can change, so use the official International Brain Bee announcement as the final authority.
Q-05Is this the official Brain Bee website?+
No. This is an independent English-language guidance and tutoring resource. Official competition policy and World Championship information should be confirmed with the International Brain Bee.
Choose the Brain Bee support you need
We provide competition registration service and the entry form, periodic RMB 9.9 trial classes, complete Brain Bee tutoring, and a free level assessment.