Registration closes October 7

Saturday, October 17, 2026 · Free · On Zoom

The Junior Neuro Bee Competition: A Free Neuroscience Contest for Grades 6-8

Middle schoolers interested in neuroscience haven't had a competition built for them, until this one.

What It Is

Junior Neuro Bee is a free, virtual neuroscience competition held entirely on Zoom. It's open to students currently in grades 6-8, no matter their school or location. Questions are based on the official Brain Facts study guide, the same foundation used in the prep course.

Students take an auto-graded written round first. About 10 finalists are announced and move on to a live verbal final round the same day. Winners are announced at the awards ceremony before the event closes.

Competition facts

  • Date
    Saturday, October 17, 2026
  • Time
    10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Pacific Time
  • Format
    Virtual, on Zoom, from anywhere
  • Eligibility
    Students currently in grades 6-8
  • Cost
    Free to register, prepare, and compete

How the Competition Works

  1. Register online before October 7

    Open the Registration Form

  2. Study using the free Skool prep course

    Built on the official Brain Facts study guide.

    How the free prep works

  3. Join live on Zoom on Saturday, October 17, at 10:00 AM Pacific Time

    A computer or tablet with Zoom, a stable internet connection, and a quiet space to focus.

  4. Take the auto-graded written round

    About 10 finalists move on to a live verbal final round the same day.

  5. Winners are announced at the awards ceremony before the event closes

    The full event wraps by 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Saturday, October 17 Schedule (Pacific Time)

10:00 AMWelcome and tech check
10:15 AMAuto-graded written round
11:00 AMGuest speaker and Q&A
11:45 AMFinalist announcementAbout 10 finalists
11:50 AMVerbal final round with finalists
12:40 PMAwards and close
1:00 PMWrap

What They Get

Every student who competes gets the experience of a real, live competition and permanent free access to the prep materials.

Who Junior Neuro Bee Is For

  • It's for you if: your student is currently in grades 6-8 and has any level of interest in neuroscience. No prior competition experience needed.
  • It's not for: high school students. There's a separate Brain Bee division built for that age group.

$2,925 in Course Prizes for Top Finishers

Biolympiads is sponsoring this year's Junior Neuro Bee. Top finishers win real study tools to keep going in neuroscience. Entry is still 100% free.

Top 1 to 2 finishers

$900value each

Advanced Brain Bee course credit

$1,800 total in course credit.

Top 3 to 5 finishers

$225value each

A seat in the Brain Bee quizzes camp

3 seats total.

Top 10 finishers

$45value each

Brain Bee question bank

For all top 10 finishers, on top of any higher prize. $450 total.

Pricing

Registration is 100% free. No hidden fees at any stage. Registration, prep materials, and the competition itself all stay free.

If you'd like to support Alzheimer's research alongside your student's participation, you're welcome to donate any amount to our Alzheimer's Association fundraiser. This is entirely optional and has no effect on registration or competition eligibility.

Donate to Our Alzheimer's Association Fundraiser

A Thank-You for Donors

Team NeuroSpark brings real competitive and research experience to Junior Neuro Bee: Navneeth placed 5th nationally in the USA Brain Bee, Saket is a USA Biology Olympiad Semifinalist, and Vishnu is a national HOSA competitor. Navneeth has also personally mentored students preparing for the national Brain Bee. Two went on to compete at Nationals, and one placed in the top 10.

As a thank-you, every donor is invited to a live 60-minute Q&A with Navneeth, Saket, and Vishnu. Hear their stories, ask your questions, and pick up real study tips straight from students who've been there. It's a valuable session for any student serious about neuroscience competition.

Once you've made your donation, email us at support@teamneurospark.com with the subject line "Donor Q&A" and we'll send you the invitation and details.

Email Us to Get the Invitation

Questions About the Competition

How is Junior Neuro Bee different from the official Brain Bee?

The official Brain Bee is built for high school students. Junior Neuro Bee is built specifically for grades 6-8, with content and difficulty matched to that age group. Junior Neuro Bee is not affiliated with or a division of the official Brain Bee.

How does the format work?

Students take an auto-graded written round first. About 10 finalists are announced and move on to a live verbal final round the same day. Winners are announced at the awards ceremony before the event closes.

What do we need on competition day?

A computer or tablet with Zoom, a stable internet connection, and a quiet space to focus. No special equipment is required.

See all questions

Registration Closes October 7

The competition is Saturday, October 17. It's free, it's online, and it's built for your student's grade level. Registration is 100% free. An optional donation to our Alzheimer's Association fundraiser is also available for anyone who'd like to support the cause.