Biology Study Resources
Free study resources for Leaving Cert Biology.
Reaction to 2026 Biology Paper
Each year, our exceptional teachers give their take on the Leaving Certificate Higher Level exam papers.
See what Róisín Doyle, biology teacher at The Institute of Education, had to say about the 2026 Higher Level exam paper in this short video.
10 Week Revision Plan 2026
Learn how to study for your Leaving Certificate Biology exam with this 10 Week Revision Plan from expert Biology teacher Róisín Doyle.
This 10 week revision plan will help you to set out a clear goal for your Biology study to make sure you are as prepared and confident as possible for your exam.
Róisín’s Recommendation 2026
Get exam-ready for Higher Level Leaving Certificate Biology with recommendations on what to study from expert teacher Róisín Doyle.
This downloadable resource breaks down all the key concepts to revise right before the exam, helping to boost revision and exam confidence!
Free Webinar: Understanding the new 5th Year Biology Syllabus
In this recorded workshop, Roisin Doyle breaks down the key changes to the revised 5th Year Biology syllabus and what they mean in practice for students beginning the Leaving Certificate cycle.
The session covered how the updated syllabus is structured, how assessments will be approached, and the most effective study strategies students should be building from the start of 5th Year. It also provided clear guidance on how early habits and subject understanding now link directly to success in the Leaving Certificate 2027.
Leaving Certificate Biology Mock Masterclass
Last year, expert Biology teach Róisín Doyle hosted a Mock Biology Masterclass designed to help 6th Year students prepare with confidence for the Leaving Certificate exam.
Click the button below to re-watch the class recording an access exam-solutions.
Deficiency Disorders Revision Summary 2025
Get exam-ready with our Deficiency Disorders summary for Higher Level Leaving Certificate Biology students, created by our expert Biology teacher Róisín Doyle.
This downloadable resource breaks down all the key concepts students need to know, helping to boost revision and exam confidence!
What does it take to get a H1 in Higher Level Biology?
Alison Bell, a past pupil from The Institute of Education who achieved a H1 in Leaving Cert higher level biology, shares her top revision tips.
Alison Bell | How I Achieved My H1
Make a study timetable
A well-structured timetable is a must. It’s important not to overload your timetable for each evening. Taking 3 subjects, for an hour each is plenty. I found studying the subjects I struggled with first helped, and then the ones I enjoyed at the end. Setting these routines is so useful and you’ll be surprised how easy it comes after a week or two of commitment.
Use flashcards
Flashcards were my thing. I used them for definitions, cycles, experiments, and anything I was struggling to remember. Test yourself by reading them in your free time. It doesn’t have to count as ‘intense study’, but the repetition helps a lot.
Use exam papers and the marking scheme
Both of these are very important as they contain the answers to questions that WILL be on your exam in June. The exams are repetitive from year to year. If you can tighten up your answers in accordance with the marking schemes, all those marks that you could have missed out on add up. It’s the attention to detail that makes the higher grade.
Sample Notes
Students who attend The Institute of Education are provided with exclusive, exam-focused study notes to support their home study and revision. Below are a sample of the high-quality biology notes they receive.
Reaction to 2024 Biology Paper
Each year, our exceptional teachers give their take on the Leaving Certificate Higher Level exam papers.
See what Róisín Doyle, biology teacher at The Institute of Education, had to say about the 2024 Higher Level exam paper in this short video.
Top Tips
Mona Murray, former biology teacher at The Institute of Education, shares her secrets to exam success.
Top Tips for the Exam
Preparing for the exam
- Revise all the Practicals.
- There are 3 major topics that everyone should cover: 1. Scientific Method. 2. Biomolecules. 3. Ecology. If you study these topics well you are guaranteed 2 questions from Section A and 1 question from Section C.
- Look over the following individual topics, as they are examined almost every year: 1. Respiration. 2. Photosynthesis. 3. Genetics & DNA. 4. Human Reproduction
During the exam
- Answer the paper in the order it is presented, i.e. Section A first, then Section B and finally Section C.
- Re-read Section A answers at the very end of the exam. You may find one or two silly mistakes due to anxiety at the start.
- If you are asked for a definition of a word or idea, always give an example after your explanation.
- Underline the items required when reading a question. Stick to these in your answer.
- Use clear handwriting.
- Use simple, clear, labelled diagrams. Begin an answer with a suitable diagram and then refer the examiner to it in the course of your answer.
- Use examples as often as possible.