Ireland - Leaving Cert Biology

Leaving Cert Biology grinds

Biology changed for students who started fifth year in September 2025. The old three-hour paper with its mandatory experiments has gone: 40% of the marks now come from an investigation, and the written paper is shorter with less choice. Our tutors teach the new course and help plan the investigation.

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What every programme includes

✓ The 2027 written paper: Question 1 and five of six others
✓ Data analysis and experimental design questions
✓ Planning the Biology in Practice investigation
✓ Cell biology, genetics, physiology and ecology
✓ Long-answer technique with marking schemes
✓ Higher and Ordinary Level

Lesson times in your time zone

Weekdays 3pm-9pm after school · Weekends 8am-8pm, your local time. Pick the slot when you book.

The new Biology exam in 2027

Students who began fifth year in September 2025 are the first to take the redeveloped course: a 2 hour 30 minute written paper worth 60% (300 marks) and an additional assessment component worth 40%, completed during sixth year and submitted to the State Examinations Commission.

The SEC's Higher Level sample papers have seven questions: Question 1 is compulsory and students answer any five of the rest. The old structure (three hours, Sections A, B and C, 400 marks) no longer applies, so older past papers are useful for content but not for timing.

The Biology in Practice investigation

The additional assessment component is an investigation done at common level: background research, a hypothesis, an experimental design, data collection and analysis, and an evidence-based report submitted to the SEC. The brief is issued during sixth year.

Tutors can teach the skills (designing a fair test, handling data, writing up) and give feedback on planning, but the investigation must be the student's own work under the SEC's coursework rules.

Where marks are lost

✓ Learning definitions word for word but not applying them to unfamiliar data
✓ Graphs without labelled axes or units
✓ Experimental design answers that never name the variable being controlled
✓ Starting the investigation late and rushing the analysis

Higher or Ordinary Level?

The investigation is common level, so the level choice only affects the written paper. Higher Level asks for longer explanations and more data analysis. Because the investigation now carries 40%, a strong investigation can steady a student who is unsure about the Higher Level paper, which is a good reason to stay at Higher Level and keep options open until the mocks.

Leaving Cert Biology from 2027

Component	Weight	When	Notes
Written examination	60% (300 marks)	June of sixth year	2h30; Question 1 plus five of six others (sample papers)
Biology in Practice investigation	40%	During sixth year	Common level; report submitted to the SEC

First examined June 2027. Higher and Ordinary Level written papers.

Sixth year, 2026-27

1
September to October
Fifth-year gaps, especially genetics and cell biology; practise experimental design questions.
2
When the brief is issued
Investigation planning: research question, method, risk and data plan.
3
January to March
Finish the investigation on time; sample papers under timed conditions.
4
April to June
Timed Question 1 practice and long questions on every strand.