# Leaving Cert Biology 2026

> The 2026 Leaving Cert Biology exam papers and official marking scheme for Higher and Ordinary level. Questions come from the official State Examinations Commission papers; every PDF link opens the original on examinations.ie.

Canonical: https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/2026

## Higher Level

- [Section A&B](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC025ALP038EV.pdf)
- [Section C](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC025ALP040EV.pdf)
- [Marking Scheme](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/markingschemes/2026/LC025ALP000EV.pdf)

### What's in the 2026 Higher Level paper?

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

## Ordinary Level

- [Section A&B](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC025GLP038EV.pdf)
- [Section C](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC025GLP040EV.pdf)
- [Marking Scheme](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/markingschemes/2026/LC025GLP000EV.pdf)

### What's in the 2026 Ordinary Level paper?

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

## Revise Biology by topic

- [Scientific Method & the Study of Life](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/scientific-method-the-study-of-life)
- [Food & Biomolecules](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/food-biomolecules)
- [Ecology & the Environment](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/ecology-the-environment)
- [Cell Structure & Diversity](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/cell-structure-diversity)
- [Enzymes, Metabolism & Membrane Transport](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/enzymes-metabolism-membrane-transport)
- [Photosynthesis & Respiration](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/photosynthesis-respiration)
- [Cell Continuity: Cell Division](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/cell-continuity-cell-division)
- [Genetics, DNA & Evolution](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/genetics-dna-evolution)
- [Diversity of Organisms & Microbiology](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/diversity-of-organisms-microbiology)
- [Plant Biology](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/plant-biology)
- [Human Nutrition, Digestion, Circulation & Defence](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/human-nutrition-digestion-circulation-defence)
- [Breathing, Excretion & Homeostasis](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/breathing-excretion-homeostasis)
- [Human Responses: Nervous, Senses, Endocrine & Musculoskeletal](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/human-responses-nervous-senses-endocrine-musculoskeletal)
- [Human Reproduction](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/topic/human-reproduction)

## Related

- [Biology 2025](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology/2025)
- [All Biology years](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/biology)