100+ Free CSEC Biology Practice Questions
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Key Facts: CSEC Biology Exam
60 items
CSEC Biology Paper 1 has 60 multiple-choice questions
CXC - CSEC Biology Syllabus
1 hr 15 min
Time allowed for the 60-item Paper 1
CXC - CSEC Biology Syllabus
3 papers
Paper 1 (30%), Paper 2 (50%) and Paper 3 SBA (20%)
CXC - CSEC Biology Syllabus
3 sections
Living Organisms, Life Processes and Disease, and Continuity and Variation
CXC - CSEC Biology Syllabus
Grades I to VI
Overall grade scale; I, II or III is a pass
Caribbean Examinations Council
3 profiles
Knowledge and Comprehension, Use of Knowledge, Experimental Skills
CXC - CSEC Biology Syllabus
Two sittings
CSEC Biology is offered in January and May/June
Caribbean Examinations Council
100
Free original Paper 1-style practice questions here
OpenExamPrep
CSEC Biology is the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) secondary biology examination, organised into three sections: Living Organisms in the Environment, Life Processes and Disease, and Continuity and Variation. The examination has three papers: Paper 1 (60 multiple-choice items, 1 hour 15 minutes, 30%), Paper 2 (structured and extended-response, 2 hours 30 minutes, 50%) and Paper 3, the School-Based Assessment of practical skills (20%). There is no single percentage pass mark; overall grades run from I to VI, and a Grade I, II or III at General Proficiency is widely accepted as a pass. Candidates also receive profile grades in Knowledge and Comprehension, Use of Knowledge and Experimental Skills. This 100-question bank provides original Paper 1-style multiple-choice practice across all three sections.
Sample CSEC Biology Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CSEC Biology exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which list contains only characteristics shown by all living organisms?
2Which structure is found in a plant cell but NOT in an animal cell?
3In which organelle does most photosynthesis occur in a plant cell?
4The part of a cell that controls its activities and contains the genetic material is the:
5Diffusion can best be described as the net movement of particles from a region of:
6Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of:
7A piece of potato is placed in a concentrated salt solution. After one hour the potato has become soft and lighter. This is because water has:
8Active transport differs from diffusion because active transport:
9Which of the following is the correct sequence of levels of organisation in a multicellular organism?
10In the five-kingdom system of classification, bacteria are placed in the kingdom:
About the CSEC Biology Exam
CSEC Biology is the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination in Biology offered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). The syllabus is organised into three sections: Living Organisms in the Environment (characteristics of life, cells, transport of substances, classification and Caribbean ecosystems), Life Processes and Disease (nutrition, respiration, transport, excretion, coordination, support, movement, drugs, disease and pollution), and Continuity and Variation (reproduction, growth, cell division, genetics, variation and natural selection). The examination has three components: Paper 1, a 60-item multiple-choice test worth 30%; Paper 2, structured and extended-response questions worth 50%; and Paper 3, the School-Based Assessment of practical and analytical skills worth 20%. This 100-question bank gives original multiple-choice practice modelled on the Paper 1 style across all three sections.
Assessment
Paper 1: 60 multiple-choice items (30%). Paper 2: structured and extended-response questions (50%). Paper 3: School-Based Assessment of experimental skills (20%). This bank focuses on Paper 1-style multiple-choice practice.
Time Limit
Paper 1 lasts 1 hour 15 minutes; Paper 2 lasts 2 hours 30 minutes. Paper 3 (SBA) is assessed over the course of study rather than in a single timed sitting.
Passing Score
No single percentage pass mark is published. Overall grades run from I (highest) to VI; a Grade I, II or III at General Proficiency is widely treated as a pass. Candidates also receive profile grades in Knowledge and Comprehension, Use of Knowledge and Experimental Skills.
Exam Fee
Fees are set by CXC and local registration bodies and vary by territory and sitting. As an example, Trinidad and Tobago private candidates pay around TT$87 entry plus about TT$90 per subject with an extra TT$5 for science subjects such as Biology. (Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC))
CSEC Biology Exam Content Outline
Living Organisms in the Environment
Characteristics of living things, the cell as the unit of life, plant and animal cell structure and function, movement of substances by diffusion, osmosis and active transport, classification of organisms, food chains, food webs and energy flow, recycling of carbon and nitrogen, and Caribbean ecosystems including coral reefs, mangroves and rainforests.
Life Processes and Disease
Photosynthesis and plant nutrition, balanced diet, human digestion and enzymes, respiration and gas exchange, transport in flowering plants and the human circulatory system, excretion and the kidney, coordination through the nervous and endocrine systems, the eye, support and movement, and the effects of drugs, disease and pollution on health.
Continuity and Variation
Asexual and sexual reproduction in plants and humans, the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, growth, mitosis and meiosis, chromosomes, genes and DNA, monohybrid inheritance and genetic crosses, sex determination, continuous and discontinuous variation, mutation, natural selection and applications of biotechnology.
How to Pass the CSEC Biology Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No single percentage pass mark is published. Overall grades run from I (highest) to VI; a Grade I, II or III at General Proficiency is widely treated as a pass. Candidates also receive profile grades in Knowledge and Comprehension, Use of Knowledge and Experimental Skills.
- Assessment: Paper 1: 60 multiple-choice items (30%). Paper 2: structured and extended-response questions (50%). Paper 3: School-Based Assessment of experimental skills (20%). This bank focuses on Paper 1-style multiple-choice practice.
- Time limit: Paper 1 lasts 1 hour 15 minutes; Paper 2 lasts 2 hours 30 minutes. Paper 3 (SBA) is assessed over the course of study rather than in a single timed sitting.
- Exam fee: Fees are set by CXC and local registration bodies and vary by territory and sitting. As an example, Trinidad and Tobago private candidates pay around TT$87 entry plus about TT$90 per subject with an extra TT$5 for science subjects such as Biology.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CSEC Biology Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on CSEC Biology Paper 1?
Paper 1 has 60 multiple-choice items, each with four options lettered A to D. Candidates have 1 hour and 15 minutes to answer all 60 questions, and Paper 1 is worth 30% of the overall examination.
What topics does CSEC Biology cover?
The syllabus has three sections: Living Organisms in the Environment (cells, transport, classification and ecology), Life Processes and Disease (nutrition, respiration, transport, excretion and coordination), and Continuity and Variation (reproduction, cell division, genetics and natural selection).
Is there a pass mark for CSEC Biology?
There is no single percentage pass mark. Overall grades range from I (highest) to VI, and a Grade I, II or III at General Proficiency is widely accepted as a pass by Caribbean schools and employers.
What is the School-Based Assessment (Paper 3)?
Paper 3 is the School-Based Assessment, worth 20% of the examination. It assesses experimental and analytical skills through practical work carried out during the course rather than in a single timed exam, so it is not multiple choice.
How is CSEC Biology graded?
Candidates receive an overall grade from I to VI and three profile grades: Knowledge and Comprehension, Use of Knowledge, and Experimental Skills. These profiles show strengths and weaknesses across the syllabus objectives.
Are these official CXC past-paper questions?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the CSEC Biology Paper 1 style and syllabus. CXC publishes official past papers, specimen papers and the syllabus separately through its website and store.