Leaving Cert Biology 2023

The 2023 Leaving Cert Biology exam paper and official marking scheme, free below as direct PDF links from the State Examinations Commission archive.

Higher Level

Exam PaperMarking Scheme
What's in the 2023 Higher Level paper?
  • Q1 carbohydrates, biochemistry · 20 marks
  • Q2 scientific method, germination, ecology · 20 marks
  • Q3 skeletal system, human biology · 20 marks
  • Q4 dna, molecular biology, nucleotides · 20 marks
  • Q5 microbiology, bacteria, population growth · 20 marks
  • Q6 ecology, cell biology, human biology · 20 marks
  • Q7 photosynthesis, chlorophyll · 20 marks
  • Q8 ecology, ecosystem study, fieldwork · 30 marks
  • Q9 respiration, anaerobic respiration, fermentation · 30 marks
  • Q10 microbiology, practical activities, microscopy · 30 marks
  • Q11 ecology, food chains, nutrient cycling · 60 marks
  • Q12 metabolism, respiration, enzymes · 60 marks
  • Q13 genetics, heredity, sex-linked inheritance · 60 marks
  • Q14 plant biology, reproduction, vegetative propagation · 60 marks
  • Q15 reproduction, menstrual cycle, human biology · 60 marks
  • Q16 osmosis, genetic engineering, fungi · 60 marks
  • Q17 endocrine system, nervous system, plant tissue · 60 marks

Ordinary Level

Exam PaperMarking Scheme
What's in the 2023 Ordinary Level paper?
  • Q1 carbohydrates, biochemistry · 20 marks
  • Q2 scientific method, experimental design · 20 marks
  • Q3 digestive system, nutrition · 20 marks
  • Q4 respiration, aerobic respiration · 20 marks
  • Q5 microscopy, cell biology · 20 marks
  • Q6 dna, molecular biology · 20 marks
  • Q7 nervous system, neuron structure · 20 marks
  • Q8 ecology, percentage frequency · 30 marks
  • Q9 osmosis, experimental biology · 30 marks
  • Q10 microbiology, sterilisation · 30 marks
  • Q11 ecology, pollution, soil · 60 marks
  • Q12 genetics, cell division, tissue culture · 60 marks
  • Q13 photosynthesis, enzymes · 60 marks
  • Q14 reproduction, pregnancy · 60 marks
  • Q15 circulatory system, respiratory system · 60 marks
  • Q16 excretion, senses, plant biology · 60 marks
  • Q17 skeletal system, endocrine system, microbiology · 60 marks
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All PDFs open on the State Examinations Commission archive (examinations.ie). ExamAI links to them; we don't host or alter them.