Harvard Crimson Global Quiz Bowl - Biology | High School (Grades 9-12)
Global Harvard Crimson biology recognition
Harvard Crimson Global Quiz Bowl - Biology | High School (Grades 9-12) is a competition by The Harvard Crimson for students in Grade 9 to 12, open to students across India. Registration closes 24 Sept 2026.
Mode
Online
Eligibility
Grade 9 to 12
Fee
$55
Duration
Preliminary round is a 60-minute online test; semi-final and final are live Zoom rapid-fire rounds.
Format
Team · Teams of 5
Time needed
Several hours of preparation per week leading up to the September preliminary, plus the live rounds in October for qualifying teams.
Key dates
- Registration closes
- 24 Sept 2026
- Competition
- 26 Sept 2026 to 18 Oct 2026
Online · AlgoEd online test platform and Zoom
About this opportunity
The Harvard Crimson Global Quiz Bowl - Biology is an international team competition for High School students in Grades 9-12, administered by AlgoEd under The Harvard Crimson brand. It combines an online preliminary round with live Zoom semi-final and final rounds.
Teams of 2 to 5 students from the same school compete across three rounds covering cell biology including mitosis and meiosis, Mendelian and non-Mendelian genetics, evolution and natural selection, ecosystems and population dynamics, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and the impact of biotechnology including CRISPR and genetic engineering.
Participants earn certificates, Honor and Merit designations, team awards including Global Champion, runner-up and finalist positions, and multidisciplinary STEM awards for competing across several quiz bowl subjects. A strong result under the Harvard Crimson brand strengthens applications to selective universities in India and abroad.
Eligibility
- Grade level
- Grade 9 to 12
- Location
- Nationwide
Academic requirement
Students must be currently enrolled in a school and form a team of 2 to 5 members from the same school.
Prerequisites
- High school level cell biology, genetics, evolution and human physiology.
- Comfort with timed multiple-choice and short-answer problems.
Open globally to High School students in Grades 9-12. Teams of 2 to 5 students from the same school compete online in the preliminary round, then live via Zoom if shortlisted. Indian students are eligible to participate.
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Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
Covers the scientific method and experimental design, cell structure and function including mitosis and meiosis, biochemical processes such as photosynthesis and cellular respiration, Mendelian and non-Mendelian genetics with DNA replication, transcription and translation, evolution and natural selection, classification of life including domains, kingdoms and phylogenetic trees, ecosystems and population dynamics, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and the impact of biotechnology including CRISPR, genetic engineering, cloning and bioethics.
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Championship, finalist & STEM awards
Top teams receive Global Champion, Second and Third place, and Finalist (positions 4-8) recognition. Individual top scorers receive Honor (top 25 percent) and Merit (top 50 percent) designations, plus multidisciplinary Science Scholar and Einstein Circle awards for students who compete in 3 or more Harvard Crimson quiz categories.
Certificate
Quiz Bowl participation certificate
All participants receive a certificate of participation and an individual score report. Honor and Merit certificates go to top preliminary scorers, and ranking certificates go to semi-finalists, finalists and championship teams.
Opens doors to
A strong result in an internationally recognized competition under The Harvard Crimson brand strengthens applications to selective universities in India and abroad.
Recognition
International biology recognition
Skills your child builds
Highlights
- Team-based biology quiz under The Harvard Crimson brand for High School students
- Three-round structure combining a written prelim with live Zoom rounds
- Syllabus scoped to Grades 9-12, including molecular genetics and biotechnology
Exam format
- Duration
- 60 minutes
- Format
- Multiple choice and short answer in the preliminary round; live rapid-fire questions in the semi-final and final rounds.
- Language
- English
Rounds & format
Round 1, Preliminary: a 60-minute online test of multiple-choice and short-answer questions, taken individually by each team member, with only the top two scores counted toward the team total. Round 2, Semi-Final: live rapid-fire questions over Zoom for the top 15 teams per category. Round 3, Final: live rapid-fire questions over Zoom for the top 5 teams per category, determining the global champion.
How entries are judged
Accuracy and speed of answers across the preliminary online test and the live rapid-fire semi-final and final rounds. Team totals use only the top two individual scores per round.
Selection process
The top 15 teams per category advance from the Preliminary Round to the Semi-Final round. The top 5 teams per category advance from the Semi-Final to the Global Final round.
How to apply
- 1Form a team of 2 to 5 students from the same school.
- 2Register online through the AlgoEd Harvard Crimson Quiz Bowl portal.
- 3Pay the registration fee per student before the chosen deadline.
- 4Take the online Preliminary Round on the scheduled date.
- 5If shortlisted, join the live Semi-Final and Final rounds on Zoom.
Fees & financial support
Fee details
Registration fee per student per category: $35 Priority, $45 Regular, $55 Late.
Financial support
Fee waivers are available for low-income students; a school principal (or a school counselor for US schools only) must email a Fee Waiver Request to waivers@algoed.co before the regular deadline.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to register for Harvard Crimson Global Quiz Bowl - Biology | High School (Grades 9-12)?
The registration deadline is 24 Sept 2026.
Is Harvard Crimson Global Quiz Bowl - Biology | High School (Grades 9-12) free?
No. The registration fee is $55.
Who can participate in Harvard Crimson Global Quiz Bowl - Biology | High School (Grades 9-12)?
Students in Grade 9 to 12.
What will my child gain from Harvard Crimson Global Quiz Bowl - Biology | High School (Grades 9-12)?
Global recognition under The Harvard Crimson brand. Certificates of participation, Honor and Merit designations. Global Champion, runner-up and finalist team awards. Multidisciplinary STEM awards for competing across 3 or more subjects. Strengthens applications to selective universities. Exposure to internationally benchmarked high school biology content.
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