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Key Facts: Biology Exam

Biology is a current separately selectable YTL Matriculation Examination humanities/natural sciences test.

Candidates answer up to 7 of 11 tasks; maximum score is 120 points.

Each test day lasts six hours in the digital Abitti environment.

2026 fees are €38 (spring) or €41 (autumn) per test.

Maximum two humanities/natural-science tests per examination period (one per day).

Official papers are taken in Finnish or Swedish; this bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation.

Assessment uses modular task types and Bloom/Krathwohl–Anderson cognitive levels per YTL guidance.

Practice Finland Ylioppilastutkinto Biology with 100 original study MCQs covering core lukio knowledge, application, and exam strategy. Official test is a 6-hour digital paper (up to 7/11 tasks, max 120 points).

Sample Biology Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Biology exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which organelle is the primary site of ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation in eukaryotic cells?
A.Chloroplast
B.Golgi apparatus
C.Mitochondrion
D.Rough endoplasmic reticulum
Explanation: Mitochondria carry out the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain that drive oxidative phosphorylation, producing most of a respiring cell's ATP.
2Which macromolecule stores hereditary information in most cellular organisms?
A.Polysaccharide
B.DNA
C.Triglyceride
D.Steroid hormone
Explanation: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) encodes genetic information in the sequence of nucleotide bases and is the hereditary material of bacteria, archaea, plants, animals and most other cellular life.
3Which structure is present in plant cells but absent from animal cells?
A.Mitochondrion
B.Plasma membrane
C.Ribosome
D.Cell wall made largely of cellulose
Explanation: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall rich in cellulose outside the plasma membrane. Animal cells lack this wall and rely on the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix for support.
4Enzymes increase reaction rates mainly by
A.raising the temperature of the reaction mixture
B.lowering the activation energy of the reaction
C.providing activation energy to the substrate
D.changing the equilibrium constant toward products
Explanation: Enzymes are biological catalysts that stabilize the transition state and thereby lower activation energy, speeding both forward and reverse reactions without shifting the equilibrium position.
5In aerobic respiration, which molecule is the final electron acceptor of the electron transport chain?
A.NAD+
B.Oxygen
C.Pyruvate
D.Carbon dioxide
Explanation: Molecular oxygen accepts electrons (and protons) at the end of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, forming water. This continuous acceptance allows the chain to keep oxidizing NADH and FADH2.
6Which process builds polymers from monomers by removing water?
A.Hydrolysis
B.Facilitated diffusion
C.Dehydration synthesis (condensation)
D.Osmosis
Explanation: Dehydration (condensation) reactions join monomers—such as amino acids or monosaccharides—by removing a water molecule, forming peptide or glycosidic bonds.
7Where does the light-dependent stage of photosynthesis occur in a chloroplast?
A.Stroma only
B.Thylakoid membrane
C.Outer chloroplast envelope only
D.Mitochondrial matrix
Explanation: Photosystems, electron carriers and ATP synthase of the light reactions are embedded in the thylakoid membrane, where light energy drives electron flow and a proton gradient.
8A phospholipid bilayer is amphipathic because each phospholipid molecule has
A.two hydrophobic heads and one hydrophilic tail
B.only hydrophobic regions
C.a hydrophilic phosphate head and hydrophobic fatty-acid tails
D.only hydrophilic regions
Explanation: Phospholipids have a polar (hydrophilic) head group containing phosphate and nonpolar (hydrophobic) fatty-acid tails. In water they spontaneously form bilayers with heads outward and tails inward.
9During glycolysis, one molecule of glucose is converted into
A.two molecules of acetyl-CoA
B.six molecules of CO2
C.one molecule of lactate only
D.two molecules of pyruvate
Explanation: Glycolysis in the cytosol splits glucose (6C) into two pyruvate molecules (3C each), with a net yield of 2 ATP and 2 NADH under standard aerobic teaching models.
10Which statement best describes facilitated diffusion?
A.It moves solutes against their concentration gradient using ATP
B.It requires vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane
C.It is passive movement of solutes down their gradient via membrane proteins
D.It only transports water through aquaporins
Explanation: Facilitated diffusion is passive: channel or carrier proteins allow specific solutes to cross the membrane down their electrochemical gradient without direct ATP use.

About the Biology Exam

The Finnish Matriculation Examination Biology is a current national Matriculation Examination subject test administered by YTL. It assesses knowledge and maturity based on Finland's general upper secondary (lukio) curriculum in Biology. Official digital paper: answer up to 7 of 11 tasks (max 120 points) in six hours. Scope emphasis: cell biology, genetics, physiology, ecology, evolution, and scientific inquiry from the lukio biology syllabus. This OpenExamPrep bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation for concepts, judgment, and analysis. It is not an official translation or a full simulation of essay/data/constructed-response production.

Exam sponsor: Matriculation Examination Board (Ylioppilastutkintolautakunta, YTL). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Digital humanities and natural sciences test in Biology. YTL publishes 9–11 tasks depending on subject; candidates answer a prescribed subset (physics/chemistry/biology: up to 7 of 11; other humanities/natural-science subjects: up to 5 of 9). For Biology: answer a maximum of 7 questions out of 11. Maximum score 120. Item types may include essays, multiple-choice modules, drawing/data analysis, and mixed materials (text, images, video, maps, statistics). Two test days per examination period; maximum two humanities/natural-science tests per period (one per day).

Time Limit

6 hours

Passing Score

Relative grades L (laudatur), E (eximia cum laude approbatur), M (magna cum laude approbatur), C (cum laude approbatur), B (lubenter approbatur), A (approbatur), or I (improbatur). Score-to-grade thresholds are set after each examination period by the Matriculation Examination Board; there is no fixed national percentage cut-score published in advance.

Exam / Certification Fees

€38 per test (spring 2026); €41 per test (autumn 2026). Fee for a request for administrative review: €56 (spring 2026) / €60 (autumn 2026). Candidates subject to extended compulsory education may take some tests free of charge. (Official YTL examination fees page.)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

High

Cell, genetics, and molecular biology

Core cellular and genetic knowledge.

High

Physiology and organismal biology

Structure–function relationships.

High

Ecology and environmental biology

Systems thinking and sustainability.

Medium

Data analysis and scientific reasoning

Graphs, experiments, and claims evaluation.

Preparing for the Biology Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Relative grades L (laudatur), E (eximia cum laude approbatur), M (magna cum laude approbatur), C (cum laude approbatur), B (lubenter approbatur), A (approbatur), or I (improbatur). Score-to-grade thresholds are set after each examination period by the Matriculation Examination Board; there is no fixed national percentage cut-score published in advance.
  • Assessment: Digital humanities and natural sciences test in Biology. YTL publishes 9–11 tasks depending on subject; candidates answer a prescribed subset (physics/chemistry/biology: up to 7 of 11; other humanities/natural-science subjects: up to 5 of 9). For Biology: answer a maximum of 7 questions out of 11. Maximum score 120. Item types may include essays, multiple-choice modules, drawing/data analysis, and mixed materials (text, images, video, maps, statistics). Two test days per examination period; maximum two humanities/natural-science tests per period (one per day).
  • Time limit: 6 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: €38 per test (spring 2026); €41 per test (autumn 2026). Fee for a request for administrative review: €56 (spring 2026) / €60 (autumn 2026). Candidates subject to extended compulsory education may take some tests free of charge. (Official YTL examination fees page.) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Biology: Suggested Study Strategy

1Map every MCQ topic back to lukio curriculum modules in Biology.
2Practise timed material-based tasks with graphs, tables, and short sources—not only pure recall.
3Write short justifications even when practising MCQs to prepare for constructed-response scoring.
4Review prior YTL published sample tasks and scoring comments when available.
5Plan a six-hour pacing strategy: select the strongest tasks first under the official choice rules.
6Use English MCQs for rapid feedback, then practise full Finnish/Swedish digital papers for production skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Finnish Matriculation Examination Biology test?

It is a current national subject test administered by the Matriculation Examination Board (YTL), assessing lukio-curriculum knowledge and maturity in Biology.

What is the official format?

A six-hour digital Abitti examination. Candidates answer up to 7 of 11 tasks for a maximum of 120 points. Tasks may include materials, multiple-choice modules, essays, and data analysis.

What is the 2026 fee?

€38 per test in spring 2026 and €41 per test in autumn 2026 according to the official YTL examination fees page.

Are OpenExamPrep questions official past papers?

No. They are original English-language MCQ study questions. They reinforce concepts and judgment but do not replace official constructed-response practice in Finnish or Swedish.

How are grades assigned?

Grades are L, E, M, C, B, A, or I. Thresholds are set by YTL after each examination period using standardised scoring procedures.

How many humanities/natural science tests can I take per period?

A maximum of two: one on each of the two designated humanities/natural-science test days in an examination period.