Biology Merit Exam
The Clemson University Department of Biological Sciences annually conducts the Biology Merit Exam to recognize and promote outstanding achievement in the biological sciences among middle and high school students in South Carolina.
Lots of Opportunity
Students participating in the Biology Merit Exam will have an opportunity to:
- Test their biology knowledge.
- Acquaint themselves with Clemson University.
- Tour the Clemson campus, explore the museums, attend special science exhibits and demonstrations (as part of Bio Science Expo when held in-person).
- Prepare for the Advanced Placement exam.
- Prepare for success on the biology end-of-course exam.
- Explore a college atmosphere (when held in-person) and see what a college freshman exam might look like.
- Compete against students at grade level for awards.
Participants
Any middle school or high school students who have completed or are currently enrolled in a biology or life science course and who have been identified by their teachers as having a strong interest and aptitude in the biological sciences are eligible to participate. Home-school students and students from out of state are welcome to participate.
Exam Structure
The Biology Merit Exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions of varying degrees of difficulty that are distributed among the major areas of biology. Each year the exam has a different theme animal. Examples of previous exam themes include the biology of the yellow jacket, polar bear, wandering albatross, tiger, killer whale, T-rex, frog and octopus. Biology content areas include:
- General principles.
- Molecular biology.
- Cellular biology.
- Genetics.
- Ecology.
- Taxonomy.
- Plant structure and function.
- Animal structure and function.
Three divisions
Students compete only against others in their own division, and awards are given to the top three students as well as honorable mentions in each division.
- Division I: Middle school students having completed or presently enrolled in life sciences or high school students having credit for middle school life science only.
- Division II: High school students having completed or presently enrolled in their first biology course.
- Division III: High school students having completed or presently enrolled in a second year of a high school life science.
Additional Information
The Department of Biological Sciences will again host an online and free edition of the annual Biology Merit Exam on April 18, 2025.
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Quick Overview
Pre-registration is required and due one week out by 10 a.m. April 11. See below for registration information.
- The exam will be offered online, through Canvas at Clemson University, at any time between 8 a.m.–3:45 p.m. — your choice — on April 18.
- Students will have up to 75 minutes to take the exam once they begin. Students must begin the exam no later than 3:45 p.m.
- Award winners in each division will be announced.
- BME T-shirts will be available for students and teachers to purchase individually online and will ship to whoever places the order. The T-shirt ordering site will be open the entire month of April. Price TBD.
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Preregistration
Use the group preregistration form to pre-register students by submitting their names, email addresses and BME divisions by 10 a.m. April 11. Please use a student email address that can receive external email (from Clemson.edu and Notifications@instructure.com). Divisions are defined on the form. Email Ginger Foulk to have the form emailed to you. Otherwise, download the forms (Microsoft Excel files):
Students may register individually if the student is the only representative from a school or class. Use the individual preregistration form.
Once preregistered, and after April 16 students will be registered for a Canvas account and receive an email from Canvas asking them to finish the registration process. More information on this process and instructions on how to log in to Canvas will be provided to all teachers/students. The Canvas registration process is simply asking students to create a password which they will need to remember — and then use to log in to Canvas to take the exam on April 18.
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Fees
Fees are as follows:
- Student registration: No fees for online BME in 2025.
- T-shirt (optional): Price TBD.
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Schedule
The exam will be given between 8 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on April 18. Students will have up to 75 minutes to complete the exam once started. Most students complete the exam in 45 – 55 minutes). The exam must be completed in one sitting.
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Awards
Winners will be announced for the top three places in each division. Other high-scoring students will be announced as honorable-mention winners.
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Souvenir T-Shirts
T-shirts with the Biology Merit Exam year on the front and exam theme on the back will be available. T-shirts are available to purchase individually online and will ship to whoever places the order. One caveat: If we do not reach a minimum order of 50, we will be unable to purchase the shirts from our vendor and will refund all money back to the credit cards used for the purchases. The 2025 T-shirt design will be available in April.- Available sizes: Adult S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL.
- Cost: TBD.
- Order online: This link will open in April.
Click the image of the T-shirt to see a larger version in a new window.
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Sample Exams
Are you ready for the Biology Merit Exam? Find out! Take a practice test!
The Biology Merit Exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions of varying degrees of difficulty that are distributed among the major areas of biology. A number of previous exams — and answer keys — are available.
Additional Questions?
For additional information, or to get answers to any questions not addressed here, contact Ginger Foulk, Biology Merit Exam director, 132 Long Hall, Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634. Email: foulk@clemson.edu.
