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The immune response: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on The immune response (specification points 6.7–6.12), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,749 questions

  1. Q6(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 markThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 6(a): The following are aspects of the non-specific immune response. 1. Acidic conditions on the skin that are the optimum for bacterial enzymes 2. Lysozymes in tears

  2. Q8(c)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    6 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 8(c)(ii): Discuss how these types of immunotherapy can lead to the destruction of cancer cells. Use your own knowledge and the information given in this question. (6)

  3. Q9(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    2 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 9(a)(i): Explain the role of a fever in the immune response. (2)

  4. Q9(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    4 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 9(a)(ii): Individuals infected with hepatitis C produce antibodies. Describe how the activation of T helper cells leads to the production of antibodies. (4)

  5. Q9(c)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    6 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 9(c): Another type of virus that causes liver disease is hepatitis B. Infection with hepatitis B can be treated with drugs and a vaccine is available. Treatment Comme

  6. Q8(d)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    3 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 8(d): Explain how the presence of different antibodies can be used to show that some viruses are specific to sloths and some are incidental (Box 3). (3)

  7. Q5(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 5(c): The gut has barriers to prevent pathogens entering the body. Explain the role of conditions in the gut in preventing infection by microorganisms. (2)

  8. Q7(b)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    4 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 7(b)(iii): Symptoms of bacterial infection include fever and inflammation. Explain the role of the inflammatory response in protecting the body from bacterial infection. (

  9. Q9(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 9(b): Gene expression leads to the synthesis of proteins that give rise to the phenotype. Describe how one gene can give rise to more than one protein. (3)

  10. Q2(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    2 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 2(a): Complete the table to show the volume of each neutrophil. Volume of a sphere V = 4 3 πr3 (2) Information Neutrophil Monocyte Number of cells per mm3 of blood 30

  11. Q2(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 markThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 2(b)(i): State what is meant by the term phagocytosis. (1)

  12. Q2(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    3 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 2(b)(ii): Explain why monocytes play a role in the antigen specific immune response to viruses but neutrophils do not. (3)

  13. Q7(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    9 marksBacteria, viruses, TB and HIVThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 7(b)(ii): The gene for STAT3 can have alternative bases at two sites, SNP1 and SNP2. • The base at SNP1 is either A or G and the base at SNP2 is either T or C. • The SNP1

  14. Q7(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    2 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 7(a)(i): Calculate the percentage change in the number of cases of measles from 2013 to 2014. Give your answer to three significant figures. (2) %

  15. Q7(a)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    4 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 7(a)(ii): One conclusion from the data is that it takes time for an increase in vaccination rate to reduce the number of cases of measles in children. Explain why this is

  16. Q7(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    1 markThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 7(b)(i): Antibodies are released into the blood when (1) A B cells are activated to become killer cells B B cells are activated to become plasma cells C macrophages are

  17. Q7(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    1 markThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 7(b)(ii): Vaccinations are carried out against many serious diseases. Vaccination leads to the production of antibodies and memory cells. Which kind of immunity is provid

  18. Q7(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    3 marksThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 7(b)(iii): Explain why, following a measles infection, it may be advisable for children to repeat other vaccinations they have had. (3)

  19. Q8(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    1 markThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 8(a): The initial response when bacteria enter the body is a (1) A non-specific response and bacteria are destroyed by antibodies B non-specific response and bacteria

  20. Q9(b)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    6 marksDNA, RNA and protein synthesisThe immune response
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 9(b): There is a gene in humans similar to the mouse coat colour gene. This human gene comprises 74 775 base pairs. The mRNA produced from this gene codes for a prote
All 44 questions on The immune response, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q6(a) (1 mark): The following are aspects of the non-specific immune response. 1. Acidic conditions on the skin that are the optimum for bacterial enzymes 2. Lysozymes in tears
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q8(c)(ii) (6 marks): Discuss how these types of immunotherapy can lead to the destruction of cancer cells. Use your own knowledge and the information given in this question. (6)
  3. June 2024, Paper 1, Q9(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain the role of a fever in the immune response. (2)
  4. June 2024, Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (4 marks): Individuals infected with hepatitis C produce antibodies. Describe how the activation of T helper cells leads to the production of antibodies. (4)
  5. June 2024, Paper 1, Q9(c) (6 marks): Another type of virus that causes liver disease is hepatitis B. Infection with hepatitis B can be treated with drugs and a vaccine is available. Treatment Comme
  6. June 2024, Paper 3, Q8(d) (3 marks): Explain how the presence of different antibodies can be used to show that some viruses are specific to sloths and some are incidental (Box 3). (3)
  7. June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(c) (2 marks): The gut has barriers to prevent pathogens entering the body. Explain the role of conditions in the gut in preventing infection by microorganisms. (2)
  8. June 2023, Paper 1, Q7(b)(iii) (4 marks): Symptoms of bacterial infection include fever and inflammation. Explain the role of the inflammatory response in protecting the body from bacterial infection. (
  9. June 2023, Paper 1, Q9(b) (3 marks): Gene expression leads to the synthesis of proteins that give rise to the phenotype. Describe how one gene can give rise to more than one protein. (3)
  10. June 2023, Paper 3, Q2(a) (2 marks): Complete the table to show the volume of each neutrophil. Volume of a sphere V = 4 3 πr3 (2) Information Neutrophil Monocyte Number of cells per mm3 of blood 30
  11. June 2023, Paper 3, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term phagocytosis. (1)
  12. June 2023, Paper 3, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why monocytes play a role in the antigen specific immune response to viruses but neutrophils do not. (3)
  13. June 2023, Paper 3, Q7(b)(ii) (9 marks): The gene for STAT3 can have alternative bases at two sites, SNP1 and SNP2. • The base at SNP1 is either A or G and the base at SNP2 is either T or C. • The SNP1
  14. June 2022, Paper 1, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage change in the number of cases of measles from 2013 to 2014. Give your answer to three significant figures. (2) %
  15. June 2022, Paper 1, Q7(a)(ii) (4 marks): One conclusion from the data is that it takes time for an increase in vaccination rate to reduce the number of cases of measles in children. Explain why this is
  16. June 2022, Paper 1, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Antibodies are released into the blood when (1) A B cells are activated to become killer cells B B cells are activated to become plasma cells C macrophages are
  17. June 2022, Paper 1, Q7(b)(ii) (1 mark): Vaccinations are carried out against many serious diseases. Vaccination leads to the production of antibodies and memory cells. Which kind of immunity is provid
  18. June 2022, Paper 1, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): Explain why, following a measles infection, it may be advisable for children to repeat other vaccinations they have had. (3)
  19. June 2022, Paper 1, Q8(a) (1 mark): The initial response when bacteria enter the body is a (1) A non-specific response and bacteria are destroyed by antibodies B non-specific response and bacteria
  20. June 2022, Paper 2, Q9(b) (6 marks): There is a gene in humans similar to the mouse coat colour gene. This human gene comprises 74 775 base pairs. The mRNA produced from this gene codes for a prote
  21. June 2022, Paper 3, Q8(b) (3 marks): Explain how inflammation and the immune response can cause damage to tissues (paragraph 4). (3)
  22. November 2021, Paper 3, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain how a single gene can give rise to acetylcholinesterase molecules with different primary structures. (2)
  23. November 2021, Paper 3, Q8(i) (3 marks): Explain why some pig genes can cause reactions in the human immune system (paragraph 27). (3)
  24. November 2021, Paper 3, Q8(j) (3 marks): Explain how a vaccine developed against human plague can provide lifelong immunity to sylvatic plague in the black-footed ferret (paragraph 33). (3)
  25. October 2020, Paper 1, Q3(a) (2 marks): Complete the table by putting a tick (ü) in the box if the type of barrier is correct. If the type of barrier is not correct, place a cross (X) in the box. (2)
  26. October 2020, Paper 1, Q3(b) (3 marks): Explain why the presence of microorganisms on the skin and in the gut helps to prevent pathogenic organisms multiplying in the body. (3)
  27. October 2020, Paper 1, Q3(c) (2 marks): The human gut contains more than a thousand species of bacteria. Only 30 to 40 of these species are found in the stomach. Explain why there are relatively few s
  28. October 2020, Paper 1, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Describe how the pre‑mRNA may be modified before being translated on the ribosome. (2)
  29. October 2020, Paper 1, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why modification of pre‑mRNA enables one gene to give rise to more than one protein. (2)
  30. October 2020, Paper 1, Q9(b)(i) (1 mark): The type of immunity given by this vaccine is (1) A artificial active immunity B artificial passive immunity C natural active immunity D natural passive immunit
  31. October 2020, Paper 1, Q9(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain the role of T cells in the immunity to the Ebola virus that develops following the use of this vaccine. (3)
  32. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(c) (4 marks): ‘Innate immunity initiates the inflammatory response, in which white blood cells swarm the site of infection’ (paragraph 5). Explain how white blood cells ‘swar
  33. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(d) (2 marks): The protein α4β1 integrin projects out from the cell surface membrane of white blood cells. Deduce how molecules such as α4β1 integrin help immune cells cross t
  34. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(f) (3 marks): ‘The lymphatic vessels also ferry antigens—substances capable of inducing an immune response—from the tissues into tissue-draining lymph nodes, where they are p
  35. June 2018, Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Which cell produces antibodies? (1) A macrophage B plasma cell C red blood cell D T cell
  36. June 2018, Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): The type of immunity that the newborn baby obtains from the milk produced by its mother is (1) A artificial active immunity B artificial passive immunity C natu
  37. June 2018, Paper 1, Q3(b) (4 marks): Inflammation is a non-specific response to an infection. Explain how changes in the blood vessels result in the redness and swelling seen at the site of inflamm
  38. June 2018, Paper 1, Q3(c)(i) (3 marks): The influenza virus can be lethal to mice. The effects of interferon on influenza infection in mice was investigated. Mice were infected with influenza virus an
  39. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(i) (2 marks): There are ‘trillions of microbes’ found in the gut, ‘as well as others living elsewhere in and on the body’. Describe the role of the microbes that are normally
  40. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(d) (3 marks): Probiotics include live bacteria that are ingested for health benefits. Explain how probiotics may regulate food cravings (paragraphs 18, 19 and 20). (3)
  41. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(g) (4 marks): ‘Bacterial molecules pass into the bloodstream where they do not belong, triggering an immune response’ (paragraph 32). Explain how the bacterial molecules coul
  42. June 2017, Paper 1, Q8(a)(ii) (4 marks): The table shows two vaccines developed from different combinations of HPV. Strains of HPV used in development Vaccine of the vaccine Cervarix 16 and 18 Guardasi
  43. June 2017, Paper 1, Q8(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which of the following describes the type of immunity developed by these vaccines? (1) A artificial active immunity B artificial passive immunity C natural acti
  44. June 2017, Paper 1, Q8(b) (3 marks): Cervarix and Guardasil have been used in national vaccination programs. A person who has been vaccinated becomes infected with HPV-16. Explain the role of the T

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