IB Biology HL · 2025
1.3 Origins of cells
8 past paper questions from 6 papers across 4 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
Original Exam Vault questions with AI markscheme feedback for this topic.
HL archive · 2025 to 2026
1.3 Origins of cells
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Micro-topics in 1.3 Origins of cells
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 4 of them have no matching questions in this archive.
1.3.1
Conditions on early Earth and the pre-biotic formation of carbon compounds
1 question · in 6% of papers
Less commonlast May 26 P2 TZ3
1.3.2
Cells as the smallest units of self-sustaining life
No question tagged to this topic in the 18 Biology HL papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it1.3.3
The challenge of explaining the spontaneous origin of cells
No question tagged to this topic in the 18 Biology HL papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it1.3.4
Evidence for the origin of carbon compounds: the Miller–Urey experiment
3 questions · in 17% of papers
Regularlast May 26 P1 TZ2
1.3.5
Spontaneous formation of vesicles from fatty acids
No question tagged to this topic in the 18 Biology HL papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it- Occasional
last May 26 P1 TZ2
- Less common
last Spec 25 P1
1.3.8
Estimating the dates of the first cells and of LUCA
No question tagged to this topic in the 18 Biology HL papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it- Less common
last May 26 P1 TZ3
Exam pattern
How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.
Does it repeat?
Top 4 of 5 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 2Evidence for the origin of carbon compounds: the Miller–Urey experiment, 2025: 2 questions | 1Evidence for the origin of carbon compounds: the Miller–Urey experiment, 2026: 1 question | |
| 1RNA as a presumed first genetic material, 2025: 1 question | 1RNA as a presumed first genetic material, 2026: 1 question | |
| ·Evidence that LUCA evolved near hydrothermal vents, 2025: 0 questions | 1Evidence that LUCA evolved near hydrothermal vents, 2026: 1 question | |
| ·Conditions on early Earth and the pre-biotic formation of carbon compounds, 2025: 0 questions | 1Conditions on early Earth and the pre-biotic formation of carbon compounds, 2026: 1 question |
1 more micro-topics with a free account
- Regularin roughly one paper in six or more
- Occasionalin about one paper in ten
- Less commonin fewer than one paper in fifteen
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Questions on 1.3 Origins of cells, by exam session
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Biology HL exam sessions are covered for 1.3 Origins of cells?
4 exam sessions from 2025 to 2026, the latest May 2026. Every Paper 1 and 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 6 papers in this archive.
Which 1.3 Origins of cells topic comes up most?
Evidence for the origin of carbon compounds: the Miller–Urey experiment (1.3.4): in 17% of papers, last seen May 26 P1 TZ2. Usually "Identify", worth about 1 marks in a paper that includes it.
Can I see the original question and mark scheme?
No. The wording belongs to the IB. You get the citation, the marks, the command term and the skill tested, plus our own matched practice questions with worked answers and AI marking.
What do "banker", "due" and "rising" mean?
Banker: examined in at least one sitting in four and still appearing. Due: regular before, but absent for the last two exam sessions. Rising: clearly more common in the last two years. Our classification of real papers, not an IB statistic.
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