Study Hub 2025: Leaving Cert Science Exam Tips - Biology, Chemistry & Physics
Having started out as a RTÉ Radio 1 Podcast, Study Hub has expanded across platforms and is available on YouTube, and there's highlights on TikTok too.
Keep scrolling as we have each of the science subjects broken down, starting with Biology.
Biology is one the most popular Leaving Cert subjects and Andrew Cussen from the Dublin Academy of Education shared his expert advice to help you do your best. Plus, we have some notes to download from our guest.
Enda Dowd from Dublin's Institute of Education has top tips and advice for the Higher Chemistry. He says you have to be careful of the language you use, and make sure it is scientific language. Focus on your strengths throughout the paper.
And finally Kieran Mills, Grinds 360 runs through Higher Level Physics. Kieran has tips for Big Experiments that might come up. He tells us what you need to know going into the exam - re graphs, diagrams and experiments. Kieran explains why we have to learn off the "boring and mundane" bits of the Physics course!
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Does your cat prefer to sleep on their left side? Scientists have investigated why...
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These studies tested a range of flavan-3-ol-rich foods and supplements, including cocoa, tea, grapes, apples and isolated compounds like epicatechin, and measured their effects on two key cardiovascular markers: blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation (FMD): a measure of how well the inner lining of blood vessels functions. The studies ranged from short-term (a single dose) to longer-term interventions lasting weeks or months. On average, participants consumed about 586 mg of flavan-3-ols daily; roughly the amount found in two to three cups of tea, one to two servings of dark chocolate, two tablespoons of cocoa powder, or a couple of apples. Regular consumption of flavan-3-ols led to an average drop in office blood pressure of 2.8 mmHg systolic (the top number) and 2.0 mmHg diastolic (the bottom number). But for people who started with elevated blood pressure or diagnosed hypertension, the benefits were even greater with reductions of up to 6–7 mmHg systolic and 4 mmHg diastolic. 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Some studies tested supplements or isolated flavan-3-ol compounds, but these generally showed smaller effects than whole foods like tea or cocoa. This may be because other beneficial compounds in whole foods work together, enhancing absorption and effectiveness. At present, it appears both safer and more effective to focus on getting flavan-3-ols from foods rather than high-dose supplements, especially for people taking medications, since interactions are not fully understood. The studies we reviewed suggest that 500–600 mg of flavan-3-ols daily may be enough to see benefits. You could reach this by combining two to three cups of green or black tea, one to two servings (about 56g) of dark chocolate or two to three tablespoons of cocoa powder, two to three apples, plus other flavan-3-ol-rich fruits like grapes, pears and berries. Small daily swaps, then, like trading a sugary snack for an apple and a piece of dark chocolate or adding an extra cup of tea, could gradually improve your heart health over time. Because flavan-3-ol content can vary between foods, monitoring your blood pressure at home may help you see if it's making a difference for you. Combined with other healthy habits, flavan-3-ols may offer a meaningful – and delicious – boost to cardiovascular health More research is needed, particularly in people with diabetes, where the results were less consistent. We also need to better understand how flavan-3-ols interact with medications and whether even greater benefits can be achieved when combined with other healthy habits. But the evidence is now strong enough to recommend flavan-3-ol-rich foods as part of a heart-healthy diet. As clinicians seek practical, affordable lifestyle strategies for patients, these findings bring us closer to the idea of using food as medicine. Of course, flavan-3-ols aren't a magic fix and they won't replace medication for everyone. But combined with other healthy habits, they may offer a meaningful – and delicious – boost to cardiovascular health. And unlike many health fads, this isn't about exotic superfoods or expensive powders. It's about foods many of us already enjoy, used a little more intentionally.
