Subjects · Leaving Cert Biology
Leaving Cert Biology: Food tests
How often Food tests comes up on the Biology papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.
HL Asked on 5 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026.
OL Asked on 2 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025.
June 2027 is the first exam on the new Biology course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.
Quick ones on Food tests.
- Blue-black
- Green
- Purple
Show the answers
(a) Green
Higher Level
Asked on 5 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026.
Every paper, year by year
| Year | Where it came up |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Q8 |
| 2025 | Not asked |
| 2024 | Not asked |
| 2023 | Not asked |
| 2022 | Not asked |
| 2021 | Q8 |
| 2019 | Q7 |
| 2018 | Q7 |
| 2017 | Not asked |
| 2016 | Q7 |
Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.
Ordinary Level
Asked on 2 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025.
Every paper, year by year
| Year | Where it came up |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Not asked |
| 2025 | Q8 |
| 2024 | Not asked |
| 2023 | Not asked |
| 2022 | Not asked |
| 2021 | Not asked |
| 2019 | Q8 |
| 2018 | Not asked |
| 2017 | Not asked |
| 2016 | Not asked |
Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.
More Food tests questions
Food tests, 2 marks
Which reagent is used to test a food for starch?
- Benedict's reagent
- Biuret reagent
- Iodine
Show the answer
Iodine
Iodine turns from red-brown to blue-black if starch is present. No heating is needed for this test.
Food tests, 3 marks
Which reagent is heated with a food sample to test for a reducing sugar?
- Biuret reagent
- Benedict's reagent
- Iodine
Show the answer
Benedict's reagent
Benedict's goes from blue to brick-red when heated with a reducing sugar such as glucose. Without heat there is no colour change.
Other Biology topics
- Biomolecules
- Cell continuity
- Ecology
- Fungi
- Genetics
- Human reproduction
- Photosynthesis
- Plant reproduction
- Plant structure
- Respiration
- Cells
- Circulation
- DNA
- Enzymes
- Food
- Movement through membranes
- Plant responses
- Scientific method
- Skeleton & muscles
- Bacteria
- Breathing
- Endocrine system
- Excretion
- Human nutrition
- Ecology field study
- Nervous system
- Senses
- Evolution
- Immune system
- Plant transport
- Viruses
- Genetic engineering
- Blood
- Protista
- Characteristics of life