NOVELTY - A biomass conversion catalyst precursor (A1) comprising a non-zeolitic inorganic support, a binder, a zeolite and a combustible organic material, is new.    USE - For the conversion of biomass (claimed) into fuel or specialty chemical products, or for upgrading bio-oils.    ADVANTAGE - The catalyst precursor is cost-effective; reduces the contact times between the oil feed and catalyst particles; improve product yield and product selectivity; and reduces the availability and accessibility of the catalytic active sites within the zeolite crystals, when using short contact times and heavier feedstocks containing larger size molecules. The methods allow for the formation of catalyst particles having an architecture designed to maximize diffusion and mass transport, and allow for maximum yield and selectivity, with minimum coke and gas formations.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a catalyst system (S1) comprising a zeolite, a non-zeolitic support with a hierarchical pore structure of 3000 to 104 Angstrom pore size, and a binder;    (2) a catalyst system (S2) comprising IM-5 zeolite, non-zeolitic matrix with a hierarchical pore structure of 100-5000 Angstrom pore size, and a binder;    (3) preparing (M1) a biomass catalyst system, involving preparing a slurry precursor mixture by mixing zeolite, non-zeolitic inorganic support, binder, combustible organic compound in water, shaping the mixture forming shaped bodies, and thermally treating the shaped bodies to remove the combustible organic compound, to form the biomass catalyst system having a structured porosity with pore sizes of 300 to 104 Angstrom and zeolite throughout the support;    (4) a composition (C1) for the conversion of biomass either comprising a catalyst system comprising a zeolite, a non-zeolitic support with a hierarchical pore structure of 3000 to 104 Angstrom pore size, and a feedstock having a carbon 14C isotope content of 107 pMC; or a catalyst system comprising IM-5 zeolite, non-zeolitic matrix with macroporosity of 100-5000 Angstrom pore size range, and a binder, and a feedstock having a carbon 14C isotope content of 107 pMC;    (5) preparing (M2) a catalyst system, involving preparing a slurry precursor mixture by mixing IM-5 zeolite, a non-zeolitic inorganic matrix, a binder, a combustible organic compound in water, shaping the mixture to form shaped bodies, and thermally treating the shaped bodies to remove the combustible organic compound, where the catalyst system has a matrix phase having a hierarchical mesoporous- macroporous structure.