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Response to infection: Edexcel A‑Level Biology B questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology B exam question on 6.7 Response to infection, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,826 questions

  1. Q5(c)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    3 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 5(c)(i): Girls who had recently been vaccinated were excluded from this study. Explain why these girls were excluded. (3)

  2. Q5(c)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 5(c)(iii): The table shows the levels of four immunological markers in the blood of each group of girls. Mean value ± SD for each group of girls Immunological marker With

  3. Q5(c)(iv)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 5(c)(iv): The scientists also determined the number of a type of cell called T regulatory cells in the blood of these two groups of girls. They found that the numbers of

  4. Q5(c)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 5(c): Vaccines against bacteria are not always effective. The antigens they contain stimulate only a weak immune response. Which of the following types of immune resp

  5. Q5(d)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 5(d)(i): The graph shows the number of T helper cells in the lymph nodes that drain the part of the body where the vaccine was implanted. 40 30 Number of T helper cells

  6. Q5(d)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 5(d)(ii): In part of this investigation, mice had the vaccine implanted 35 days before being infected with E. coli. A control group that had not received the vaccine was

  7. Q5(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 mark6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 5(a): Antibodies can be injected into a person to give immunity. Which type of immunity develops from the injection of antibodies? (1) A artificial active B artificia

  8. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 mark6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 5(b)(i): Each test used 2 µl of a sperm cell suspension at a concentration of 3.0 × 106 cells per cm3. 1 µl = 10–6 dm3 Calculate the number of sperm cells used in each t

  9. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 5(b)(ii): The graphs show the results of this assay. 60 50 40 Time taken for 100% 30 agglutination / secs 20 10 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 Concentration of antibody / µg cm–3 10

  10. Q5(b)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 5(b)(iii): Observation of the sperm cells agglutinated by these antibodies showed that some were joined head to head, some head to flagellum and some flagellum to flagellu

  11. Q5(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 5(c): In the development of these contraceptives, the effect of the concentration of sperm cells on the time taken to agglutinate was also investigated. Explain why a

  12. Q8(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    4 marks6.7 Response to infection1.4 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 8(a): These vaccines deliver the mRNA into antigen presenting cells, such as macrophages. Describe how the delivery of mRNA into macrophages results in antigen presen

  13. Q8(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    4 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 8(b): Antigen presentation results in the stimulation of both the humoral immune response and the cell‑mediated immune response. Compare and contrast the humoral immu

  14. Q8(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    4 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 8(c): These vaccines stimulate both the humoral immune response and the cell‑mediated immune response. Explain how the products of these responses result in the destr

  15. Q7(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    1 mark6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 7(a)(i): Which diagram shows one antibody binding to the surface of a macrophage (Step 1)? (1) A B C D

  16. Q7(a)(iv)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    3 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 7(a)(iv): Describe the events that take place resulting in T helper cell activation, following the formation of pseudopodia by the macrophages (Step 4). (3)

  17. Q7(b)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    6 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 7(b): Phagocytosis by macrophages is affected by a number of factors. Microorganisms with a fluorescent green dye attached to them were used to measure phagocytosis b

  18. Q8(b)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 8(b)(i): Explain how an HPV vaccine protects girls from developing cervical cancer. (3)

  19. Q8(b)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 8(b)(ii): Explain why the HPV vaccine will not protect girls from infection with Chlamydia. (3)

  20. Q8(b)(iii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    6 marks6.7 Response to infection
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 8(b)(iii): The HPV vaccination programme is being extended to boys. Explain the advantages of offering the HPV vaccine to boys, as well as girls, in schools. (6)
All 39 questions on Response to infection, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q5(c)(i) (3 marks): Girls who had recently been vaccinated were excluded from this study. Explain why these girls were excluded. (3)
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q5(c)(iii) (2 marks): The table shows the levels of four immunological markers in the blood of each group of girls. Mean value ± SD for each group of girls Immunological marker With
  3. June 2025, Paper 1, Q5(c)(iv) (2 marks): The scientists also determined the number of a type of cell called T regulatory cells in the blood of these two groups of girls. They found that the numbers of
  4. June 2024, Paper 1, Q5(c) (1 mark): Vaccines against bacteria are not always effective. The antigens they contain stimulate only a weak immune response. Which of the following types of immune resp
  5. June 2024, Paper 1, Q5(d)(i) (3 marks): The graph shows the number of T helper cells in the lymph nodes that drain the part of the body where the vaccine was implanted. 40 30 Number of T helper cells
  6. June 2024, Paper 1, Q5(d)(ii) (3 marks): In part of this investigation, mice had the vaccine implanted 35 days before being infected with E. coli. A control group that had not received the vaccine was
  7. June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(a) (1 mark): Antibodies can be injected into a person to give immunity. Which type of immunity develops from the injection of antibodies? (1) A artificial active B artificia
  8. June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Each test used 2 µl of a sperm cell suspension at a concentration of 3.0 × 106 cells per cm3. 1 µl = 10–6 dm3 Calculate the number of sperm cells used in each t
  9. June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): The graphs show the results of this assay. 60 50 40 Time taken for 100% 30 agglutination / secs 20 10 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 Concentration of antibody / µg cm–3 10
  10. June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(b)(iii) (3 marks): Observation of the sperm cells agglutinated by these antibodies showed that some were joined head to head, some head to flagellum and some flagellum to flagellu
  11. June 2023, Paper 1, Q5(c) (2 marks): In the development of these contraceptives, the effect of the concentration of sperm cells on the time taken to agglutinate was also investigated. Explain why a
  12. June 2023, Paper 1, Q8(a) (4 marks): These vaccines deliver the mRNA into antigen presenting cells, such as macrophages. Describe how the delivery of mRNA into macrophages results in antigen presen
  13. June 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b) (4 marks): Antigen presentation results in the stimulation of both the humoral immune response and the cell‑mediated immune response. Compare and contrast the humoral immu
  14. June 2023, Paper 1, Q8(c) (4 marks): These vaccines stimulate both the humoral immune response and the cell‑mediated immune response. Explain how the products of these responses result in the destr
  15. June 2022, Paper 1, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Which diagram shows one antibody binding to the surface of a macrophage (Step 1)? (1) A B C D
  16. June 2022, Paper 1, Q7(a)(iv) (3 marks): Describe the events that take place resulting in T helper cell activation, following the formation of pseudopodia by the macrophages (Step 4). (3)
  17. June 2022, Paper 1, Q7(b) (6 marks): Phagocytosis by macrophages is affected by a number of factors. Microorganisms with a fluorescent green dye attached to them were used to measure phagocytosis b
  18. November 2021, Paper 1, Q8(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain how an HPV vaccine protects girls from developing cervical cancer. (3)
  19. November 2021, Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why the HPV vaccine will not protect girls from infection with Chlamydia. (3)
  20. November 2021, Paper 1, Q8(b)(iii) (6 marks): The HPV vaccination programme is being extended to boys. Explain the advantages of offering the HPV vaccine to boys, as well as girls, in schools. (6)
  21. October 2020, Paper 1, Q5(a) (6 marks): Antibodies can be divided into five classes. The table gives some information about these classes of antibody. Class of antibody Information IgM IgA IgG IgD IgE
  22. October 2020, Paper 1, Q5(b) (2 marks): Vaccination against rubella has helped to reduce the incidence of infection. Explain the importance of vaccinating as many people as possible against rubella. (
  23. June 2019, Paper 1, Q6(a) (2 marks): Explain why the scientist looked for the presence of MHC molecules on the endothelial cells, in Step 1. (2)
  24. June 2019, Paper 1, Q6(b) (2 marks): Irradiation prevents cells from dividing. Explain why the endothelial cells were irradiated in Step 2, before they were cultured with T lymphocytes and antigen.
  25. June 2019, Paper 1, Q6(c) (2 marks): Explain why the T lymphocytes needed to be washed thoroughly in Step 4. (2)
  26. June 2019, Paper 1, Q6(d)(i) (2 marks): Explain why T lymphocytes were cultured with and without the antigen. (2)
  27. June 2019, Paper 1, Q6(d)(ii) (3 marks): Analyse the data to explain the conclusions that can be drawn from this investigation. (3)
  28. June 2019, Paper 3, Q7(c) (5 marks): Some plants have been genetically modified to express viral antigens. These plants are used as edible vaccines and stimulate immunity when eaten. Devise an inve
  29. June 2018, Paper 1, Q6(a) (2 marks): Describe how macrophages present antigens to T helper cells. (2)
  30. June 2018, Paper 1, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain why the macrophages were treated with mitomycin. (3)
  31. June 2018, Paper 1, Q6(b)(iii) (4 marks): Analyse the data to explain the results of this investigation. (4)
  32. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the samples of Plasmodium were exposed to radiation. (2)
  33. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): State the control treatment that was given to people in group C. (1)
  34. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(a)(iii) (3 marks): It was claimed that this vaccine was 100% effective. Analyse the data to criticise the validity of this claim. (3)
  35. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(a)(iv) (5 marks): Describe how vaccination enabled the people in group B to have active artificial immunity against malaria. (5)
  36. June 2017, Paper 1, Q9(a) (1 mark): What is the name of the antibody-producing cell? (1) A macrophage B memory cell C neutrophil D plasma cell
  37. June 2017, Paper 1, Q9(c) (2 marks): Myeloma cells have the potential to divide indefinitely. Explain why myeloma cells are used in the production of monoclonal antibodies. (2)
  38. June 2017, Paper 1, Q9(d)(i) (3 marks): Explain the advantages of using humanised antibodies in the treatment of cancer. (3)
  39. June 2017, Paper 1, Q9(d)(ii) (6 marks): Explain why mouse anti-human antibodies need to be humanised in order to treat cancer. (6)

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