Ceist Eile

Ceist Eile is in development. Features, questions and prices may change while we refine it.

Subjects · Leaving Cert Agricultural Science

Leaving Cert Agricultural Science: Soil formation & soil types

How often Soil formation & soil types comes up on the Agricultural Science papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 2 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.

OL Asked on 4 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Soil formation & soil types, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Soil formation & soil types.

(a)Which soil type has a bleached grey A horizon and an iron pan?
  1. Brown earth
  2. Podzol
  3. Gley
(b)Which soil forms where waterlogging keeps it anaerobic, giving grey mottled colours?
  1. Brown earth
  2. Podzol
  3. Gley
(c)Freeze-thaw action breaking up rock is an example of...
  1. Physical weathering
  2. Biological weathering
  3. Chemical weathering
Show the answers

(a) Podzol

(b) Gley

(c) Physical weathering

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Soil formation & soil types.

Higher Level

Asked on 2 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q13
2023Q13
2022Not asked
2021Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 4 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q3
2023Q15b, Q15c
2022Q12
2021Q4

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Soil formation & soil types questions

Soil formation & soil types, 2 marks

Which Irish soil type is well drained, even in colour and very fertile?

  1. Gley
  2. Podzol
  3. Brown earth
Show the answer

Brown earth

Brown earths formed under deciduous forest and are well mixed by earthworms. They drain well and suit both tillage and grassland.

Soil formation & soil types, 2 marks

A soil with a grey leached layer and a hard iron pan is a?

  1. Peat
  2. Podzol
  3. Brown earth
Show the answer

Podzol

Heavy rain leaches minerals down from the A horizon, leaving it grey. Iron builds up lower down as a pan that blocks drainage and roots.

Soil formation & soil types, 2 marks

A grey, mottled soil that is often waterlogged is a?

  1. Gley
  2. Podzol
  3. Brown earth
Show the answer

Gley

Poor drainage cuts off air, so the soil turns grey-blue with rusty mottles. Gleys are common on heavy clay land and need drainage.

Other Agricultural Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Agricultural Science