Ceist Eile

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

Subjects · Leaving Cert Biology

Leaving Cert Biology: Viruses

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

HL Asked on 6 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

OL Asked on 5 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.

Viruses, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Viruses.

(a)Viruses consist of nucleic acid inside a coat of?
  1. Cellulose
  2. Protein
  3. Chitin
(b)Virus that infects bacteria?
  1. Endospore
  2. Plasmid
  3. Bacteriophage
(c)Which of these is a viral disease?
  1. Influenza
  2. Athlete's foot
  3. Tuberculosis
Show the answers

(a) Protein

(b) Bacteriophage

(c) Influenza

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Viruses.

Higher Level

Asked on 6 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q16
2025Not asked
2024Q14
2023Q6, Q16
2022Q7
2021Q16
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Q14
2016Not asked

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

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Not asked
2025Q16
2024Q4
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2021Q5
2019Q14
2018Not asked
2017Not asked
2016Q15

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

More Viruses questions

Viruses, 3 marks

Are viruses made of cells?

  1. Yes, each virus is one cell
  2. Yes, each virus is many cells
  3. No, they are not made of cells
Show the answer

No, they are not made of cells

A virus is just genetic material in a protein coat. Having no cell structure is a key reason it is not fully alive.

Viruses, 3 marks

What is a virus made of?

  1. Chlorophyll and starch in a membrane
  2. Genetic material inside a protein coat
  3. Cytoplasm and a nucleus inside a cell wall
Show the answer

Genetic material inside a protein coat

No cytoplasm, no nucleus and no organelles. That is why a virus cannot do anything until it is inside a host cell.

Viruses, 3 marks

Where can a virus reproduce?

  1. Only inside a living cell
  2. In warm, still pond water
  3. On nutrient agar plates
Show the answer

Only inside a living cell

The virus takes over the host cell machinery to copy itself. Growing a virus in the lab means growing living cells first.

Other Biology topics

All of Leaving Cert Biology