plumiDrug testing and antimicrobial plants: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions
Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on Drug testing and antimicrobial plants (specification points 4.13–4.14), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q8(b)
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Q8(a)(ii)
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Q8(b)
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Q8(c)
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Q3(a)
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Q3(b)
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Q2(a)
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Q2(b)
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Q2(c)
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Q5(b)(i)
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Q5(b)(ii)
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Q6(a)(i)
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Q6(a)(ii)
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Q6(b)(i)
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Q6(b)(ii)
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Q6(b)(iii)
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Q4(a)
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Q4(b)(i)
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Q4(b)(ii)
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Q8(h)
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All 49 questions on Drug testing and antimicrobial plants, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q8(b) (1 mark): Most cancers are treated with surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, often in combination. New treatments are constantly developed and have to undergo clinical
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q8(a)(ii) (3 marks): The seeds of many plants are stored at very low temperatures. Explain the effect of temperature on bacterial growth. (3)
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q8(b) (3 marks): Coffee beans are the seeds of the coffee plant. The photograph shows seeds, leaves and fruits of the coffee plant. (Source: © Subbotina Anna/Shutterstock) In an
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q8(c) (6 marks): It has been suggested that the antimicrobial properties of seeds are reduced during long periods of time in storage. Devise an investigation to determine the ef
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(a) (1 mark): Give the name of the drug he tested. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(b) (2 marks): Complete the table with a (ü) or a (X) to show which of the stages that take place in contemporary drug trials were carried out by William Withering. (2) Type o
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q2(a) (2 marks): Complete the table using information from the diagram. (2) Mass of Diameter of Area of licochalcone A clear zone clear zone / μg / mm / mm2 10 14.5 165 20 16.5
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q2(b) (3 marks): The bacteria used in this investigation are pathogenic. Describe how filter paper discs containing licochalcone A can be safely placed on the bacterial lawn. (3
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q2(c) (2 marks): Explain how an anomalous result could be identified for this investigation. (2)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following methods are used before the three-phased testing of clinical trials? (1) A testing on animals and humans B testing on animals, isolated c
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Describe the stages of a three-phased clinical trial. (3)
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): The area of the zone of inhibition for lemongrass extract made with water was 50.3 mm2. Calculate the difference in the areas of the zones of inhibition for the
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (4 marks): Describe how valid results could have been obtained for this investigation. (4)
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain the pre-clinical trials that will be carried out when testing a new drug. (2)
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): A double-blind trial was used to determine the effectiveness of an antimicrobial drug. Explain what is meant by the term double‑blind trial. (2)
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q6(b)(iii) (3 marks): The table shows the percentage of trials that progress to the next stage. Percentage of trials that progress from one stage to the next (%) Stage I to Stage II
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q4(a) (2 marks): The mass of dried and powdered lantana leaves is 10.5% of the mass of fresh leaves. Calculate the mass of fresh leaves needed to produce 1 mg of extract using s
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Deduce the effect of using different solvents on the effectiveness of the extracts against these two bacteria. (2)
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q4(b)(ii) (4 marks): Devise a method that could be used to collect the data in the table. (4)
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q8(h) (4 marks): Describe how the effects of ‘competitive release’ could be demonstrated (paragraphs 18 and 19). (4)
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): In modern drug testing protocols, the first stage that patients with an illness are involved is (1) A preclinical trials B phase 1 C phase 2 D phase 3
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): In modern drug testing protocols, side effects such as nausea will first be identified in healthy volunteers during (1) A preclinical trials B phase 1 C phase 2
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q3(b) (4 marks): Modern drug testing protocols must ensure that new drugs are effective at treating patients. Explain the role that a placebo and a double blind trial have in pr
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q3(c) (3 marks): Drug trials may last 15 years before the drug is licensed. The results of each stage are analysed before the drug trial can progress. The results of a trial of
- October 2020, Paper 1, Q9(c)(i) (3 marks): Describe how clinical trials of a vaccine would be conducted. (3)
- October 2020, Paper 1, Q9(c)(ii) (4 marks): The Ebola vaccine was given to health workers and immediate family of those with the disease. Justify the use of this vaccine, even though the clinical trials h
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q6(c)(ii) (3 marks): A three-phase protocol will be used when developing the phospholipase inhibitor as a new drug. Explain the purpose of each phase of this protocol for a phosphol
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q7(b) (4 marks): The effects of these plant extracts were tested on pathogenic bacteria. It was found that each extract had an effect on its own, but the effect was greater when
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q7(a) (3 marks): Describe how aseptic techniques are used when handling bacterial cultures. (3)
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain how the appearance of the plate shows that the aseptic technique was not successful. (2)
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the agar plate was incubated at 25 °C. (2)
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q7(c)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the area of the largest zone of inhibition for extract S. (3) mm2
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q7(c)(ii) (3 marks): Comment on the antimicrobial properties of these four plant extracts. (3)
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q3(a) (3 marks): Open wounds can become infected by bacteria, leading to sepsis. Explain why bacteria are able to multiply in the bloodstream when they enter the body. (3)
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): The purpose of the placebo is to (1) A increase the accuracy of the measurements B increase the reproducibility of the data C show that exercise has an effect D
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe the antimicrobial properties of these three types of wood. (2)
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): It was concluded from this investigation that spruce caused bacterial growth to decrease at a constant rate after the first day. Criticise this conclusion. (2)
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q7(a)(iii) (4 marks): Explain how this investigation could be improved to provide additional data to determine whether pine or larch have greater antimicrobial properties. (4)
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q7(b) (4 marks): Temperature and the moisture content of wood from pine trees can affect bacterial growth. Graph 1 shows the effect of temperature on bacterial growth. 10 – Key
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q2(a) (2 marks): Describe how the 34 women were selected in stage 1 to ensure that this investigation was valid. (2)
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q2(b) (2 marks): Explain why group C was included in this investigation. (2)
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q2(c) (4 marks): The results and range of data for the investigation are shown in the graph. 8 – 7 – 6 – Key before TENS 5 – attached 4 – after TENS removed 3 – 2 – 1 – 0 – Grou
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q8(a) (3 marks): Albuterol is a drug used to reduce the symptoms of asthma. In a clinical trial, people with asthma were given either Albuterol, a placebo or no treatment. Measu
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why healthy volunteers were given different doses of the drug or a placebo. (2)
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (1 mark): The trial tested increasing the dose of the drug. The six people who fell ill were the first to receive higher doses over the course of several days. Which of t
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(iii) (3 marks): Compare and contrast this drug testing protocol with that used by William Withering when he tested digitalis soup. (3)
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q4(a) (2 marks): Describe two aseptic techniques that should be used when working safely with bacteria. (2)
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain why some bacteria can grow rapidly in skin wounds. (3)
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (4 marks): S. aureus can cause infections which are difficult to treat in humans. Describe how scientists, after testing the salve on mice, could test whether the salve is
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