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Subjects · Leaving Cert Biology

Leaving Cert Biology: Cells

How often Cells comes up on the Biology papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

OL Asked on 9 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Biology course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Cells, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Cells.

(a)Organelle where aerobic respiration (stage 2) occurs?
  1. Ribosome
  2. Mitochondrion
  3. Chloroplast
(b)Organelle where photosynthesis occurs?
  1. Nucleus
  2. Mitochondrion
  3. Chloroplast
(c)Site of protein synthesis?
  1. Ribosome
  2. Vacuole
  3. Nucleolus
Show the answers

(a) Mitochondrion

(b) Chloroplast

(c) Ribosome

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Cells.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q2, Q8
2025Q4
2024Q5
2023Not asked
2022Q4, Q5, Q8
2021Q6, Q17
2019Q3, Q7
2018Q7
2017Q3
2016Q7, Q14

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

More Cells questions

Cells, 2 marks

Microscope needed to see ribosomes?

  1. Light microscope
  2. Hand lens
  3. Electron microscope
Show the answer

Electron microscope

Ribosomes are too small for a light microscope to resolve. The electron microscope uses a beam of electrons, giving much higher magnification and resolution.

Cells, 2 marks

A group of similar cells with the same function?

  1. Organ system
  2. Tissue
  3. Organ
Show the answer

Tissue

Cells → tissues → organs → organ systems. E.g. xylem is a plant tissue; muscle is an animal tissue.

Cells, 2 marks

Fluid filling a plant cell's large vacuole?

  1. Cell sap
  2. Plasma
  3. Lymph
Show the answer

Cell sap

A solution of water, sugars and salts. When the vacuole is full it pushes the cytoplasm against the wall, keeping the cell turgid and the plant upright.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 9 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q3, Q8
2025Q4
2024Q6
2023Q5, Q12
2022Not asked
2021Q2, Q8
2019Q6
2018Q6
2017Q14
2016Q7

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

More Cells questions

Cells, 2 marks

Which part of the cell controls all its activities?

  1. The cytoplasm
  2. The cell wall
  3. The nucleus
Show the answer

The nucleus

The nucleus holds the DNA, which carries the instructions for making the proteins that run the cell.

Cells, 2 marks

Which structure is found in a plant cell but never in an animal cell?

  1. The cell membrane
  2. The cell wall
  3. The nucleus
Show the answer

The cell wall

Plant cells have a wall, a large vacuole and chloroplasts. Animal cells have only a membrane, which is why they have no fixed shape.

Cells, 2 marks

The jelly-like liquid where most cell reactions happen is called?

  1. The cytoplasm
  2. The nucleus
  3. The cell wall
Show the answer

The cytoplasm

Cytoplasm fills the cell and holds the organelles in place. Most of the chemical reactions of the cell happen in it.

Other Biology topics

All of Leaving Cert Biology