Hanlin students achieved outstanding results in the BrainBee Neuroscience National Round, winning multiple high national rankings, including 2nd, 8th, 11th and 13th place.
Introduction to the BrainBee Neuroscience Competition
The BrainBee Neuroscience Competition, officially known as the International Brain Bee Championship, originated in the United States. It is an extracurricular academic challenge for young students around the world.
The competition is jointly supported by organizations including the American Psychological Association, the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, the Society for Neuroscience, the Dana Foundation, the International Brain Research Organization and the Alzheimer’s Association.
BrainBee aims to encourage students to learn about and study the human brain. It also inspires students to pursue future work in basic brain research, prevention and treatment of brain and mental disorders, brain-inspired research and related fields.
The competition is suitable for students interested in biology, medicine, psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, chemistry, computer science, artificial intelligence and other related majors. Currently, students from more than 50 countries and regions participate in BrainBee.
Suitable Students
| Division | Suitable Grades |
|---|---|
| BrainBee Junior | Grades 5–8 |
| BrainBee | Grades 9–12 |
Competition Timeline
The following timeline is based on the 2026 season.
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Regional Round | Late March |
| National Round | Mid-April |
| International Round | August |
Competition Format
Regional Round
The Regional Round is held at designated competition sites.
It is a closed-book written test consisting of multiple-choice questions and fill-in-the-blank questions. The test is written in Chinese, and professional terms are marked in both Chinese and English.
| Division | Suitable Grades | Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| BrainBee Junior | Grades 5–8 | 60 questions |
| BrainBee | Grades 9–12 | 80 questions |
National Round
BrainBee Junior Division
The BrainBee Junior National Round includes two sections: a written test and scientific poster production.
| Section | Format | Score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written Test | Individual | 40 points | Fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice questions. There are 40 questions in total, with 1 point per question. The test is closed-book and written in Chinese, with professional terms marked in both Chinese and English. Fill-in-the-blank answers may be written in Chinese or English, and English abbreviations are accepted for professional terms. |
| Scientific Poster | Team-based | 40 points | Students form teams of 4–5 members. Teams create a poster on a given topic on site and give a presentation. Reference materials may be used. The team score is counted toward each member’s final score. Posters may be written in Chinese or English. |
BrainBee Division
The BrainBee National Round for grades 9–12 is an individual closed-book competition with three sections.
| Section | Format | Score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written Test | Individual | 50 points | Fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice questions. There are 50 questions in total, with 1 point per question. |
| Image and Specimen Identification | Individual | 26 points | Students identify brain structures, CT images and MRI images. There are 13 questions, with 2 points per question. |
| Case Diagnosis | Individual | 24 points | Students analyze cases and determine possible diseases. There are 8 major questions, with 3 points each. |
For non-multiple-choice questions, answers may be written in Chinese or English, and professional terms may be written using English abbreviations.
International Round
Each country or region may send one student to participate in the International Round.
The highest-scoring First Prize winner in the BrainBee National Round for grades 9–12 earns the qualification to represent China and is invited to attend the organizer’s academic conference.
Award Structure
Regional Round
Awards are ranked within each province. Both the Junior Division and the regular BrainBee Division offer First, Second and Third Prizes. The overall award rate is around 40%.
National Round
Around 500 students in total advance to the National Round across both divisions. Among them, about 350 places are allocated through regional quotas, while about 150 places are selected through overall ranking.
Based on total scores, both divisions offer National First, Second and Third Prizes. The overall award rate is around 40%. Organizational awards are also available.
Frequently Asked Questions About BrainBee
I have never studied neuroscience before. Can I still participate in BrainBee?
Yes. Almost all participants begin preparing for BrainBee with little or no prior neuroscience background.
How should I prepare? Are there specific textbooks?
BrainBee mainly focuses on exploration and application of neuroscience knowledge. Students should fully understand relevant concepts and learn how to apply them flexibly.
The competition provides a knowledge outline but does not require one specific textbook. Students may choose suitable learning materials according to their own background and needs.
Does BrainBee overlap with subjects I am currently studying? How long does preparation take?
Neuroscience overlaps with biology, psychology and other subjects in the middle and high school curriculum.
Preparation time varies from student to student. Students can plan their study schedule based on their own academic foundation and learning goals.
Sample Questions
In recent years, scientists in the field of artificial intelligence have proposed the concept of an Artificial Neural Network. This concept refers to a computational model that simulates the human neural network. Through connections among a large number of “nodes,” the network can exchange data and develop functions similar to human memory, thinking and decision-making.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| In the human nervous system, what plays the role of these “nodes”? | Neurons |
| In the human nervous system, what connects these “nodes”? | Synapses |
| In an artificial neural network, each “node” has both input and output functions. It receives information from the previous “node” and sends information to the next “node.” In the “nodes” of the human nervous system, which structure is responsible for input, or receiving information? A. Axon B. Dendrites | B. Dendrites |
