Immunology and Disease: Eduqas A‑Level Biology questions

Every Eduqas A-Level Biology exam question on 3.A Immunology and Disease, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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Q7(a)
June 2025 · Component 3
2 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
The whole paper ↗
Q7(b)(i)
June 2025 · Component 3
2 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
The whole paper ↗
Q7(b)(ii)
June 2025 · Component 3
2 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(b)(iii)
June 2025 · Component 3
2 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(c)(i)
June 2025 · Component 3
1 mark3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(c)(ii)
June 2025 · Component 3
3 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(c)(iii)
June 2025 · Component 3
3 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(d)(i)
June 2025 · Component 3
3 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(d)(ii)
June 2025 · Component 3
2 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(a)(i)
June 2024 · Component 3
1 mark3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(a)(ii)
June 2024 · Component 3
2 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(a)(iii)
June 2024 · Component 3
3 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(b)(i)
June 2024 · Component 3
2 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
The whole paper ↗
Q7(b)(ii)
June 2024 · Component 3
2 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(b)(iii)
June 2024 · Component 3
1 mark3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(b)(iv)
June 2024 · Component 3
3 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(b)(v)
June 2024 · Component 3
2 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(c)(i)
June 2024 · Component 3
3 marks3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(c)(ii)
June 2024 · Component 3
1 mark3.A Immunology and Disease
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Q7(a)(i)
June 2023 · Component 3
1 mark3.A Immunology and Disease
The whole paper ↗

All 94 questions on Immunology and Disease, as a list

June 2025, Component 3, Q7(a) (2 marks): Define the following terms: [2] Infectious disease; Toxin; Antigen.
June 2025, Component 3, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Use the line on Image 7.1 to calculate the actual diameter of the clear zone. [2] Actual diameter = mm The experiment was then carried out for a range of antibi
June 2025, Component 3, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): It was concluded that Penicillin G was the most effective antibiotic against S. pyogenes. Use the data in Table 7.2 to evaluate this conclusion. [2]
June 2025, Component 3, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): In this investigation, identical agar plates and discs were used for all antibiotics and the concentration of each of the antibiotics was kept the same. State t
June 2025, Component 3, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): Explain why tetracycline is effective against a wide range of bacterial species. [1]
June 2025, Component 3, Q7(c)(ii) (3 marks): S. pyogenes is a Gram positive bacterium. Resistant strains of S. pyogenes survive due to one of two different mechanisms: • A transmembrane protein which pumps
June 2025, Component 3, Q7(c)(iii) (3 marks): Scientists have concluded that resistance of S. pyogenes to tetracycline has become a problem due to the extensive use of this antibiotic. Explain how the exten
June 2025, Component 3, Q7(d)(i) (3 marks): Describe how infection can lead to the development of a primary immune response against S. pyogenes. [3]
June 2025, Component 3, Q7(d)(ii) (2 marks): Scarlet fever caused by S. pyogenes is very uncommon in children under 6 months old who are breastfed. State the type of immunity present in these children and
June 2024, Component 3, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): State the role of the mosquito in the life cycle of Plasmodium. [1]
June 2024, Component 3, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why multiplying within liver cells and red blood cells helps the parasite to evade the host’s immune system. [2]
June 2024, Component 3, Q7(a)(iii) (3 marks): The sexual stage involving meiosis helps to increase genetic variation within parasite populations. Explain why this means that a person may develop symptoms of
June 2024, Component 3, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Use only the scale bar to calculate the magnification of Image 7.2 [2] Magnification = ×
June 2024, Component 3, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Use the information given about the life cycle of malaria and your own knowledge of the specific immune response to suggest why sporozoites are the life cycle s
June 2024, Component 3, Q7(b)(iii) (1 mark): Explain why live irradiated sporozoites are used. [1]
June 2024, Component 3, Q7(b)(iv) (3 marks): Plasmodium sporozoites can be cultured in human cells in the laboratory under very specific conditions: • 37°C • low oxygen concentrations. Use information from
June 2024, Component 3, Q7(b)(v) (2 marks): Explain how vaccination can give long-term protection against disease. [2]
June 2024, Component 3, Q7(c)(i) (3 marks): Explain what the test shown in Image 7.3 would look like if the blood sample was from someone infected with P. vivax. [3]
June 2024, Component 3, Q7(c)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why penicillin would not be effective against malaria. [1] Option B: Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy
June 2023, Component 3, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): State the meaning of the term endemic. [1]
June 2023, Component 3, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): The incidence is expressed as cases per 100 000 population and not as the total number of cases in the population. Explain why. [2]
June 2023, Component 3, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): Using Graph 7.1, calculate the percentage of the people diagnosed with TB who died from the disease in 2020. [2] Percentage = …… …….
June 2023, Component 3, Q7(a)(iv) (1 mark): In 1920 approximately 40% of those diagnosed with TB died from the disease. It is thought that the actual percentage of deaths resulting from TB in 1920 may hav
June 2023, Component 3, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Use Graph 7.2 to explain why rifampicin is effective against M. tuberculosis. [2] Rifampicin is a broad-spectrum, bactericidal antibiotic.
June 2023, Component 3, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): State what is meant by the terms: I. broad-spectrum; [1] II. bactericidal. [1]
June 2023, Component 3, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): Rifampicin works by inhibiting bacterial RNA polymerase enzyme, preventing transcription from taking place. Explain how rifampicin would affect M. tuberculosis.
June 2023, Component 3, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): To be effective the injection must penetrate the epidermis layer of the skin. Explain why. [2]
June 2023, Component 3, Q7(c)(ii) (3 marks): Describe how injecting the vaccine would result in antibody production. [3]
June 2023, Component 3, Q7(c)(iii) (2 marks): There may be concerns regarding the use of a live vaccine. Suggest what these concerns may be and give a suitable alternative to a live vaccine. [2] Option B: H
June 2022, Component 3, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Describe what is meant by the term antigen. [1]
June 2022, Component 3, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why viruses require a host cell in order to be able to reproduce and why one of the symptoms of flu is a sore throat. [2] Newly formed virus particles a
June 2022, Component 3, Q7(a)(iii) (3 marks): Explain how ‘Tamiflu’ could reduce or prevent the progress of the flu infection in patients. [3]
June 2022, Component 3, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Explain why a flu vaccine should contain only the H and N proteins and no viral RNA. [1]
June 2022, Component 3, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): Vaccination against flu results in an active cell-mediated immune response. Describe how cell-mediated immunity to the flu virus develops following vaccination.
June 2022, Component 3, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why people belonging to the following specific groups are advised to obtain a flu vaccination. [2] I. people with chronic illnesses; II. health professi
June 2022, Component 3, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): Name the type of bacterium indicated by the purple colour and describe what this indicates about the structure of the cell wall of Streptococcus pyogenes. [2] T
June 2022, Component 3, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Using the information in Image 7.4, explain why penicillin was selected to treat the patient. [2]
June 2022, Component 3, Q7(c)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why unnecessary overuse of antibiotics is likely to result in greater numbers of antibiotic resistant individuals in populations of bacteria. [2] Images
June 2022, Component 3, Q7(d) (2 marks): The diameter of the bacterium in Image 7.5B at the position of the arrow was calculated to be 0.75 µm. Calculate how many times larger the Streptoccocus bacteri
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Describe what is meant by the term ‘pandemic’. [1] Some people can be carriers of V. cholerae and harbour a reservoir of the bacteria in their gut without showi
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest why cholera is now rare in the UK despite there being no vaccination programme. [1]
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): One bacterium will produce one visible colony after 24 hours’ incubation. Explain why the original sample needed to be diluted before transferring 1 cm3 to an a
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the increase in the number of bacteria in the water samples between one and two months after the earthquake. [2] Space for working Increase =
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): State one of the body’s innate natural barriers that may provide some protection against these bacteria after they have been ingested. [1] V. cholerae produces
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(c)(ii) (3 marks): Use image 7.4 and your own knowledge to explain how tetracycline would prevent the synthesis of cholera toxin (CT). [3]
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(c)(iii) (1 mark): The bacterium is not killed by this mechanism. State the name that describes the mode of action represented by this type of antibiotic. [1] The main symptom of
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(c)(iv) (3 marks): Use the information in images 7.5 and 7.6 to interpret how these nanoparticles could prevent dehydration due to cholera. [3]
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(c)(v) (1 mark): Explain how the use of nanoparticles might have an advantage over the use of antibiotics in the treatment of cholera. [1]
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(d)(i) (3 marks): Explain how the use of these two components in the cholera vaccine ensure that it is both effective and safe. [3]
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(d)(ii) (1 mark): UK government policy cannot impose compulsory vaccination as it is the right of the individual to choose. Health care workers travelling to areas affected by ch
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(d)(iii) (2 marks): Explain how one feature of the method described above increased the reliability of the data and explain one feature of the method that reduced the reliability o
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(a) (1 mark): State the meaning of the word ‘endemic’. [1] In 2015, ‘Mosquirix’ (trade name) was the first vaccine licensed for use against malaria. A clinical trial of the v
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Using the information in image 8.1 together with your own knowledge, suggest two reasons for developing a vaccine that targets the sporozoite stage of the life
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(b)(ii) (1 mark): State one reason why a vaccine for malaria has proved difficult to produce. [1]
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(b)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest a suitable control that could have been used in this trial. [1] A summary of the results of the trial is shown in table 8.2. Table 8.2 Age Group Mean an
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(b)(iv) (3 marks): Use your knowledge of immunity to suggest an explanation for: I. the infants’ lower antibody production; [1] II. the infants’ lower susceptibility to malaria. [
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(c)(i) (2 marks): The sheep’s immune system produces spec
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(c)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest why anti-venom is administered to a person bitten by a puff adder even though they would produce their own antibodies to the toxin in the venom. [1] Ant
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(c)(iii) (2 marks): Giving a reason for your answer, suggest one advantage of using camels rather than sheep to produce puff adder anti-venom. [2]
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(d)(i) (2 marks): Explain how inhibition of
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(d)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why penicillin is more effective against Corynebacteria diphtheria than it is against Gram negative bacteria. [2]
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(e)(i) (2 marks): Scientists investigated the effect of penicillin on the number of C.diphtheria cells growing in a nutrient broth in a laboratory. A culture of C. diphtheria was
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q8(e)(ii) (1 mark): The nutrient broth used to grow each C.diphtheria population contained compounds called peptones which provide a source of organic nitrogen. Explain why a sourc
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(a) (3 marks): Although micro-organisms can cause disease in humans, scientists believe that up to 1016 symbiotic microbial cells live in or on the human body. Up to 90% of al
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain the role of the macrophage in the T-cell response. [3]
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): Describe the roles of each of the T-cell types shown in figure 8.2 as part of the immune response. [3]
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(c)(i) (2 marks): The hinged sections of the IgG molecule give it some structural flexibility. Suggest an advantage of this. [2]
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(c)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest an advantage of the IgM molecule over IgG [1]
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(d)(i) (2 marks): On the plate shown in figure 8.6 there are 25 plaques. Calculate the number of bacteriophages per cm3 in the original sample. [2] Number of bacteriophages =
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(d)(ii) (2 marks): Describe two techniques that could have been used to maintain sterile conditions when inoculating the plates. [2]
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(d)(iii) (1 mark): Explain why 37 °C was used as the incubation temperature. [1]
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(d)(iv) (2 marks): Using the information provided and your own knowledge, suggest two disadvantages of antibiotic use that could be overcome by phage therapy. [2]
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(d)(v) (1 mark): Suggest an ethical issue that should be considered before widespread use of phage therapy in humans. [1] Option B: Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy
June 2018, Component 3, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): State the term given to the Aedes mosquito in the lifecycle of the Zika virus. [1]
June 2018, Component 3, Q8(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the preventative methods described above would help reduce the chance of infection with Zika. [2]
June 2018, Component 3, Q8(b)(i) (3 marks): With reference to the diagram, suggest why viruses are difficult to treat with drugs and state the chall
June 2018, Component 3, Q8(b)(ii) (1 mark): State two features of a successful vaccine. [1]
June 2018, Component 3, Q8(c) (5 marks): Urgent research is being carried out to provide protection against Zika to pregnant women, as quickly as possible as well as providing a long-term prevention st
June 2018, Component 3, Q8(d) (2 marks): The image below is an electron micrograph showing part of a human cell infected with Zika. Virus particles are in membranous vesicles, the arrow on the microgra
June 2018, Component 3, Q8(e)(i) (2 marks): State what is meant by the term endemic and suggest why MRSA is not a major cause for concern amongst the general population. [2]
June 2018, Component 3, Q8(e)(ii) (2 marks): Erythromycin can be bactericidal or bacteriostatic depending on the dose. It binds to the large ribosomal subunit in bacterial cells. Suggest how erythromycin m
June 2018, Component 3, Q8(f) (2 marks): Antibiotic resistance is a global crisis and measures are needed to control the use of antibiotics as well as developing new antibiotics. Clinical trials need t
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(a) (1 mark): With reference to the photograph, describe this first line of defence. [1]
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(b) (3 marks): Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium that can be easily spread by hands as a type of direct contact. P. aeruginosa infections can be treated with
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): State two variables that should be controlled. [2]
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(c)(ii) (1 mark): Explain how you could identify which antibiotic worked the best. [1]
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(c)(iii) (2 marks): A sample of bacteria was removed from each zone of inhibition generated by the working antibiotics. These bacteria were then re-plated without the antibiotics a
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(d) (2 marks): Antibiotics have no effect on viruses. Chickenpox is a highly infectious airborne disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The virus spreads easily in the
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(e)(i) (1 mark): Use the graph to estimate the antibody concentration of the sample taken before vaccination and after. Write your answers in the table below. [1] Antibody Ring
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(e)(ii) (3 marks): Using your knowledge of the humoral response, explain the concentration of antibodies after the vaccination. [3]
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(e)(iii) (1 mark): To assess the effectiveness of the vaccine the technique was repeated with several blood samples taken from a number of volunteers. A statistical test was used
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(e)(iv) (1 mark): The test gave a value greater than the critical value at a probability of 0.05. State whether you would accept or reject the null hypothesis and explain why. [1
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(e)(v) (1 mark): A protective antibody response to a vaccine requires at least a fourfold increase in antibody concentration. Using the table opposite, calculate the minimum ant
June 2017, Component 3, Q7(e)(vi) (2 marks): State whether the results shown opposite indicate a successful vaccination and explain why annual vaccination programmes against influenza are not always effect

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