Leaving Cert Biology 2026

The 2026 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 2026 Higher Level paper?
  • Q1 food, lipids, vitamins, biomolecules · 20 marks
  • Q2 cell structure, prokaryotes, tissue culture · 20 marks
  • Q3 breathing system, gas exchange, breathing · 20 marks
  • Q4 stomata, gas exchange, plant tissues, leaf structure · 20 marks
  • Q5 protein synthesis, rna, dna · 20 marks
  • Q6 nitrogen cycle, nitrogen fixation, nutrient cycles · 20 marks
  • Q7 eye, heart, digestive system, endocrine system · 20 marks
  • Q8 food tests, microscopy, dna isolation, laboratory activity · 30 marks
  • Q9 enzymes, ph, denaturation, laboratory activity · 30 marks
  • Q10 plant growth regulators, iaa, tropisms, laboratory activity · 30 marks
  • Q11 metabolism, atp, aerobic respiration, photosynthesis · 60 marks
  • Q12 competition, predator-prey, conservation, pollution · 60 marks
  • Q13 dna structure, sex linkage, natural selection, mutation · 60 marks
  • Q14 monocots and dicots, seed germination, seed dispersal, transport in plants · 60 marks
  • Q15 contraception, menstrual cycle, embryo development, fertility · 60 marks
  • Q16 cell division, viruses, osmosis, yeast · 60 marks
  • Q17 circulation, thermoregulation, excretion, nervous system · 60 marks

Ordinary Level

Section A&BSection CMarking Scheme
What's in the 2026 Ordinary Level paper?
  • Q1 biomolecules, food, vitamins, minerals · 20 marks
  • Q2 scientific method, experimentation, hypothesis, controls · 20 marks
  • Q3 cell structure, organelles, osmosis, mitosis · 20 marks
  • Q4 evolution, natural selection, fossils · 20 marks
  • Q5 food webs, food chains, trophic levels, energy flow · 20 marks
  • Q6 bacteria, microbiology, bacterial growth · 20 marks
  • Q7 breathing system, gas exchange, alveoli, respiratory system · 20 marks
  • Q8 microscope, plant cells, microscopy, experimental · 30 marks
  • Q9 enzymes, enzyme immobilisation, experimental · 30 marks
  • Q10 heart, dissection, plant tissues, vascular tissue · 30 marks
  • Q11 ecology, invasive species, nutrient cycles, waste management · 60 marks
  • Q12 genetics, incomplete dominance, punnett square, dna structure · 60 marks
  • Q13 photosynthesis, respiration, metabolism, enzymes · 60 marks
  • Q14 human nutrition, digestive system, villus, digestive enzymes · 60 marks
  • Q15 human reproduction, contraception, pregnancy, fertility · 60 marks
  • Q16 joints, immune system, heart, transport in plants · 60 marks
  • Q17 ear, endocrine system, pollination, fungi · 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.