Leaving Cert Biology 2020

The 2020 Leaving Cert Biology exam papers and official marking scheme, free below as direct PDF links from the State Examinations Commission archive.

Higher Level

Section A&BSection CMarking Scheme
What's in the 2020 Higher Level paper?
  • Q1 biomolecules, metabolism, human nutrition · 20 marks
  • Q2 scientific method, experimental design, controls · 20 marks
  • Q3 cell biology, mitosis, evolution, genetics · 20 marks
  • Q4 dna structure, nucleic acids, rna · 20 marks
  • Q5 the senses, eye, ear, skeletal system · 20 marks
  • Q6 nervous system, neuron, nerve impulse · 20 marks
  • Q7 enzymes, immobilised enzymes, experiments · 30 marks
  • Q8 germination, seed, digestion, experiments · 30 marks
  • Q9 heart, circulatory system, dissection, experiments · 30 marks
  • Q10 ecology, adaptation, food chains, energy flow · 60 marks
  • Q11 photosynthesis, leaf structure, respiration · 60 marks
  • Q12 genetics, dna profiling, inheritance, incomplete dominance · 60 marks
  • Q13 homeostasis, excretion, kidney, nephron · 60 marks
  • Q14 menstrual cycle, plant reproduction, bacteria, microbiology · 60 marks
  • Q15 plant hormones, tropisms, immunity, plant transport · 60 marks

Ordinary Level

Section A&BSection CMarking Scheme
What's in the 2020 Ordinary Level paper?
  • Q1 nutrition, biomolecules, fibre · 20 marks
  • Q2 true or false, classification, kingdoms · 20 marks
  • Q3 carbon cycle, ecology, decomposition · 20 marks
  • Q4 enzymes, matching, experimentation · 20 marks
  • Q5 cell types, cell biology, identification · 20 marks
  • Q6 blood, transport, transfusion · 20 marks
  • Q7 osmosis, membranes, experimentation · 30 marks
  • Q8 habitat study, ecology, fieldwork, percentage cover · 30 marks
  • Q9 plant responses, growth regulators, tropism, experimentation · 30 marks
  • Q10 ecology, food chains, fieldwork, waste management · 60 marks
  • Q11 genetics, dna, dna profiling, monohybrid cross · 60 marks
  • Q12 breathing system, diffusion, gas exchange, circulatory system · 60 marks
  • Q13 photosynthesis, plant biology, monocots and dicots, plant tissues · 60 marks
  • Q14 fermentation, anaerobic respiration, plant cell, fungi · 60 marks
  • Q15 human eye, flower structure, human reproduction, anatomy · 60 marks

Revise Biology by topic

Scientific Method & the Study of LifeFood & BiomoleculesEcology & the EnvironmentCell Structure & DiversityEnzymes, Metabolism & Membrane TransportPhotosynthesis & RespirationCell Continuity: Cell DivisionGenetics, DNA & EvolutionDiversity of Organisms & MicrobiologyPlant BiologyHuman Nutrition, Digestion, Circulation & DefenceBreathing, Excretion & HomeostasisHuman Responses: Nervous, Senses, Endocrine & MusculoskeletalHuman Reproduction
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Questions come from the official State Examinations Commission papers. Every link opens the original PDF on examinations.ie.