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Leaving Cert Biology: Scientific method

How often Scientific method 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 7 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

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

Scientific method, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Scientific method.

(a)An educated guess based on observation?
  1. Theory
  2. Hypothesis
  3. Law
(b)Part of an experiment used for comparison?
  1. Variable
  2. Replicate
  3. Control
(c)Harmless dummy treatment in a drug trial?
  1. Placebo
  2. Antibiotic
  3. Vaccine
Show the answers

(a) Hypothesis

(b) Control

(c) Placebo

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Scientific method.

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
2026Q8
2025Q7
2024Q2
2023Q2
2022Not asked
2021Q8
2019Q2
2018Q7
2017Q9
2016Q7

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

More Scientific method questions

Scientific method, 2 marks

Data taken from a published study or database?

  1. Primary data
  2. A control
  3. Secondary data
Show the answer

Secondary data

Secondary data were collected by someone else. They must be checked for source, bias, accuracy and relevance before use.

Scientific method, 2 marks

Error that shifts every reading by the same amount, such as a balance not set to zero?

  1. Anomalous result
  2. Systematic error
  3. Random error
Show the answer

Systematic error

A systematic error pushes all readings the same way. Repeats do not remove it; you must fix the method or equipment, e.g. zero the balance.

Scientific method, 2 marks

Unpredictable scatter in repeated readings?

  1. Random error
  2. Systematic error
  3. Zero error
Show the answer

Random error

Random errors make readings vary above and below the true value. Taking repeats and finding the mean reduces their effect.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 7 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q2
2025Q3
2024Q7
2023Q2
2022Q7
2021Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Q5
2017Not asked
2016Q5

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

More Scientific method questions

Scientific method, 2 marks

An educated guess that can be tested by experiment is called?

  1. A theory
  2. A conclusion
  3. A hypothesis
Show the answer

A hypothesis

A hypothesis comes first and must be testable. If experiments keep supporting it, it is upgraded to a theory.

Scientific method, 2 marks

A hypothesis supported by many experiments over a long time becomes?

  1. An opinion
  2. A theory
  3. A hypothesis
Show the answer

A theory

Order to remember: observation, hypothesis, experiment, data, conclusion, theory. A theory has survived a lot of testing.

Scientific method, 3 marks

The part of an experiment used for comparison is called?

  1. The control
  2. The variable
  3. The result
Show the answer

The control

The control is treated exactly the same except for the one factor being tested. Without it you cannot say that factor caused the change.

Other Biology topics

All of Leaving Cert Biology