100+ Free HAVO Biologie Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: HAVO Biologie Exam

13:30–16:30

CE duration window 2026 (3 hours)

Examenblad biologie havo 2026 rooster

20 May 2026

1e tijdvak CE date

Examenblad.nl

23 June 2026

2e tijdvak CE date

Examenblad.nl

10 CE subdomains

B2, B3, B4, B5, B8, C1, D4, E4, F1, F2 (+ Domain A)

Examenprogramma / Syllabus biologie havo 2026

≥5.5

Typical subject pass on 1–10 scale

Dutch VO grading practice

N-term

CE points → grade conversion

Examenblad omzettingstabel normering

Binas 7 / ScienceData

Allowed biology reference aids with basic toolkit

Vakspecifieke informatie biologie havo 2026

100

Free English MCQ study items on this page

OpenExamPrep study adaptation

Official HAVO Biologie 2026 is CE (3-hour written open/short answers + N-term) plus school SE — not pure MCQ. These 100 English MCQs are a study adaptation aligned to the CvTE/Examenblad 2026 CE subdomains (cell and organism metabolism, homeostasis, immunity, cell self-organisation, heredity, selection, speciation, ecosystem regulation and interactions).

Sample HAVO Biologie Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your HAVO Biologie exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In a eukaryotic cell, which organelle is the main site of aerobic dissimilatie (cellular respiration) that produces most ATP?

A.Chloroplast

B.Mitochondrion

C.Ribosome

D.Golgi apparatus

Explanation: Aerobic dissimilatie of glucose occurs mainly in mitochondria, where the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation generate most ATP. Chloroplasts perform photosynthesis; ribosomes synthesise proteins; the Golgi modifies and packages proteins.

2Which process best matches assimilatie in a plant leaf cell on a sunny day?

A.Breakdown of glucose to CO2 and water releasing energy

B.Building glucose from CO2 and H2O using light energy

C.Diffusion of O2 into the mitochondrion only

D.Active pumping of Na+ out of the cell with no energy use

Explanation: Assimilatie builds complex molecules from simpler ones and stores energy; photosynthesis forming glucose is the classic plant example. Dissimilatie breaks fuels down. Na+ pumping requires ATP (active transport), and O2 diffusion into mitochondria supports respiration, not assimilation.

3A molecule crosses a membrane from high to low concentration through a protein channel without ATP. Which transport type is this?

A.Primary active transport

B.Facilitated diffusion (passive transport)

C.Endocytosis

D.Osmosis of a solute against its gradient

Explanation: Movement down a concentration gradient via a channel or carrier without ATP is facilitated diffusion, a form of passive transport. Active transport uses ATP against gradients; endocytosis engulfs material in vesicles; osmosis refers to water movement.

4Why does a cell in a strongly hypertonic extracellular solution tend to shrink?

A.Water enters by osmosis because solute concentration outside is lower

B.Water leaves by osmosis because solute concentration outside is higher

C.ATP pumps force water out regardless of solute gradients

D.Ribosomes export water through nuclear pores

Explanation: In a hypertonic exterior, water potential outside is lower, so water leaves the cell by osmosis and the cell shrinks (plasmolysis in plant cells). The reverse would occur in hypotonic media.

5Which statement correctly contrasts prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells regarding stofwisseling?

A.Only prokaryotes have mitochondria for aerobic respiration

B.Eukaryotes compartmentalise respiration in mitochondria; prokaryotes run membrane-based respiration without mitochondria

C.Prokaryotes never perform glycolysis

D.Eukaryotes lack plasma membranes

Explanation: Eukaryotes house aerobic respiration largely in mitochondria. Prokaryotes lack mitochondria but can still respire using enzymes in/at the plasma membrane. Both cell types can perform glycolysis; all cells have plasma membranes.

6During anaerobic dissimilatie in human muscle, pyruvate is converted mainly to which product?

A.Ethanol and CO2

B.Lactate

C.Acetyl-CoA only without further chemistry

D.Oxygen gas

Explanation: In anaerobic human muscle, pyruvate is reduced to lactate (lactic acid fermentation), regenerating NAD+ for glycolysis. Yeast produces ethanol and CO2; acetyl-CoA formation needs aerobic processing; oxygen is a reactant of aerobic respiration, not a fermentation product.

7A membrane protein moves glucose into a cell against its concentration gradient using the Na+ electrochemical gradient (secondary active transport). What must be true?

A.No ATP is ever used anywhere in maintaining this system

B.The Na+/K+ ATPase ultimately maintains the Na+ gradient that drives glucose uptake

C.Glucose can only enter by simple diffusion through the bilayer

D.Channels always move glucose against its gradient without carriers

Explanation: Secondary active transport couples glucose uptake to Na+ influx. The Na+ gradient is restored by the Na+/K+ ATPase, so ATP is used indirectly. Glucose does not freely diffuse through the bilayer at high rates.

8Which change would most directly impair oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria?

A.Blocking the electron transport chain so protons cannot be pumped

B.Increasing NADH supply from the Krebs cycle

C.Adding more ADP available for ATP synthase

D.Increasing O2 delivery to tissues

Explanation: Oxidative phosphorylation depends on electron transport to create a proton gradient that drives ATP synthase. Blocking the chain stops proton pumping and ATP formation. More NADH, ADP or O2 would normally support, not impair, the pathway.

9Homeostase at cell level primarily means the cell:

A.Keeps internal conditions within a viable range despite external change

B.Never exchanges any matter or energy with its surroundings

C.Always increases entropy inside without regulation

D.Eliminates all enzymes to stop reactions

Explanation: Cellular homeostase maintains relatively stable internal conditions (pH, ion levels, metabolite balance) through regulated transport and metabolism while still exchanging materials with the environment.

10If a plant cell’s photosynthesis rate exceeds its respiration rate over a day, net carbon gain is positive. Which statement fits assimilatie/dissimilatie best?

A.Net assimilatie of carbon into organic molecules exceeds carbon loss by dissimilatie

B.Dissimilatie creates glucose while assimilatie destroys it

C.No carbon dioxide is ever used

D.Mitochondria perform the light reactions

Explanation: When photosynthetic carbon fixation exceeds respiratory carbon loss, the plant shows net assimilatie of carbon into biomass. Dissimilatie oxidises organic carbon; light reactions occur in chloroplasts, not mitochondria.

About the HAVO Biologie Exam

HAVO Biologie is a Dutch upper-secondary biology exam administered under CvTE rules and catalogued on Examenblad.nl. The 2026 Syllabus biologie havo (Versie 2; no content changes vs 2025) specifies the CE subdomains B2, B3, B4, B5, B8, C1, D4, E4, F1 and F2 together with Domain A skills. The official CE is a 3-hour written paper (open/short answers), not an MCQ-only test. This practice bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation covering those CE concepts for revision.

Assessment

Eindexamen = CE + SE. Centraal Examen: one national written sitting with open and short-answer questions scored via correctievoorschrift; raw points converted to a 1–10 grade with the series N-term omzettingstabel. Schoolexamen: school PTA covers Domain A plus non-CE subdomains (and optionally CE subdomains). Official assessment is not pure multiple-choice.

Time Limit

CE: 3 hours (Examenblad 2026: 1e tijdvak Wednesday 20 May 2026 13:30–16:30; 2e tijdvak Tuesday 23 June 2026 13:30–16:30). SE duration and forms follow each school’s PTA.

Passing Score

Dutch grading scale 1–10; a subject is typically passed at ≥5.5. When both apply, the final subject grade is the average of CE and SE. CE points are converted via the published N-term table for that series.

Exam Fee

No separate published per-subject fee for regular secondary-school HAVO candidates (publicly funded). Do not treat DUO Staatsexamen subject fees as the school CE fee; those fees apply only to independent DUO Staatsexamen candidates. (College voor Toetsen en Examens (CvTE); catalogue and documents on Examenblad.nl)

HAVO Biologie Exam Content Outline

CE integrated

Domein A — Vaardigheden

Investigation, modelling, ecological/evolutionary reasoning and context skills applied together with content on the Centraal Examen.

CE B2

Stofwisseling van de cel

Cellular homeostase, membrane transport, assimilatie and dissimilatie in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

CE B3

Stofwisseling van het organisme

Organ systems supporting fotosynthese, ademhaling, vertering, uitscheiding and transport.

CE B4

Zelfregulatie van het organisme

Homeostase with hormonale and neurale regulatie.

CE B5

Afweer van het organisme

Innate and adaptive defence responses against pathogens.

CE B8

Regulatie van ecosystemen

Energiestroom through trophic levels, biogeochemical kringlopen, and ecosystem dynamiek/evenwicht.

CE C1

Zelforganisatie van cellen

Genexpressie and celdifferentiatie as bases of cellular organisation.

CE D4

Interactie in ecosystemen

Voedselrelaties (food webs/chains) and duurzame ontwikkeling.

CE E4

Erfelijke eigenschap

How hereditary traits are stored, expressed and transmitted at molecule/cell level for CE.

CE F1–F2

Selectie and Soortvorming

DNA variation via mutatie and recombinatie; natural selection and speciation processes in populations.

How to Pass the HAVO Biologie Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Dutch grading scale 1–10; a subject is typically passed at ≥5.5. When both apply, the final subject grade is the average of CE and SE. CE points are converted via the published N-term table for that series.
Assessment: Eindexamen = CE + SE. Centraal Examen: one national written sitting with open and short-answer questions scored via correctievoorschrift; raw points converted to a 1–10 grade with the series N-term omzettingstabel. Schoolexamen: school PTA covers Domain A plus non-CE subdomains (and optionally CE subdomains). Official assessment is not pure multiple-choice.
Time limit: CE: 3 hours (Examenblad 2026: 1e tijdvak Wednesday 20 May 2026 13:30–16:30; 2e tijdvak Tuesday 23 June 2026 13:30–16:30). SE duration and forms follow each school’s PTA.
Exam fee: No separate published per-subject fee for regular secondary-school HAVO candidates (publicly funded). Do not treat DUO Staatsexamen subject fees as the school CE fee; those fees apply only to independent DUO Staatsexamen candidates.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

HAVO Biologie Study Tips from Top Performers

1Map every practice topic to CE subdomains B2–B5, B8, C1, D4, E4, F1 and F2 so SE-only topics do not crowd out CE revision.

2Train graph reading, energy-flow calculations and heredity ratios — CE often embeds quantitative reasoning in contexts.

3Practise explaining homeostase with both hormonale and neurale feedback loops, not only naming glands or nerves.

4For ecosystems, connect energiestroom (pyramids), kringlopen (C/N) and voedselrelaties to sustainability (duurzame ontwikkeling).

5Use these English MCQs for concept drill, then switch to Dutch past CE papers on Examenblad for authentic open-answer timing and wording.

6Check the Septembermededeling and vakspecifieke informatie each year for aids (Binas/ScienceData) and any announcement changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Netherlands HAVO Biologie?

It is the HAVO biology eindexamen subject under CvTE, with documents and rooster on Examenblad.nl. The examenprogramma domains are A (Vaardigheden), B (Zelfregulatie), C (Zelforganisatie), D (Interactie), E (Reproductie) and F (Evolutie). The 2026 CE focuses on subdomains B2, B3, B4, B5, B8, C1, D4, E4, F1 and F2 plus Domain A skills.

Is the official Centraal Examen multiple-choice?

No. The official CE is a written paper with open and short-answer items scored with a correctievoorschrift and converted to a grade using the N-term omzettingstabel. This page’s 100 questions are an English-language MCQ study adaptation for concept practice, not an official CE simulation.

How long is the 2026 HAVO Biologie CE?

Examenblad lists both 1e tijdvak (20 May 2026) and 2e tijdvak (23 June 2026) as 13:30–16:30, i.e. 3 hours. Schoolexamen timing is set in each school’s PTA.

What score do I need to pass?

Dutch secondary grades use a 1–10 scale; a subject is typically passed at 5.5 or higher. When both CE and SE apply, the final subject grade is normally their average. CE raw scores are converted via the series N-term table published on Examenblad.

How much does HAVO Biologie cost for school candidates?

Regular secondary-school HAVO candidates do not pay a separate published per-subject CE fee; schooling is publicly funded. DUO Staatsexamen subject fees apply only to independent Staatsexamen candidates and should not be cited as the school exam fee.

Which syllabus should I use for 2026?

Use the Syllabus biologie havo 2026 (CvTE) and the examenprogramma biologie havo linked from the Examenblad subject page. Vakspecifieke informatie states there are no content changes in the 2026 syllabus versus 2025. Allowed reference works include Binas 7e editie or ScienceData.

100+ Free HAVO Biologie Practice Questions

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