plumiLymphocytes and the specific immune response: OCR A‑Level Biology A questions
OCR A-Level Biology A past-paper questions on 4.1.1.4 Lymphocytes and the specific immune response, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q23(a)(iii)
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All 23 questions on Lymphocytes and the specific immune response, as a list
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q23(a)(iii) (3 marks): Using the diagram and your own knowledge, explain why plasma cells are usually larger than B lymphocytes. [3]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q23(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the type of T lymphocyte shown in the diagram. [1]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q23(b)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the role of process X in producing cell Y to fight future infections by the same pathogen. [2]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q23(c)(i) (2 marks): Some students choose to carry out a Student’s t-test to analyse the data for the drug treatment. With reference to the data, suggest whether a Student’s t-test
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q23(c)(ii) (2 marks): The students conclude that CYC is the most effective drug in reducing plasma cell numbers. Identify two reasons why the conclusion might not be supported. 1 2 [
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q19(a)(ii) (4 marks): B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes are involved in the immune response. Describe the role of T-lymphocytes in the development of immunity to a virus such as polio.
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q19(b) (5 marks): Antigens on the surface of pathogens can provoke an immune response in a patient. Fig. 19.1 shows the changes in antibody concentration in the blood of a patien
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(iv) (2 marks): A student wrote the following passage about the immune system: ‘T helper cells produce cell signalling molecules called perforins. These stimulate the activity
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): A patient was participating in influenza vaccination trials. • On day 5 of the trial the patient was injected with antigens extracted from the influenza virus.
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): Outline the role of B memory cells in the secondary immune response. [2]
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q6 (1 mark): The primary immune response involves differentiation and clonal expansion of certain white blood cells. Which of the following cells result from clonal expansio
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(c)(v) (1 mark): Dogs need a booster vaccination against parvovirus when they are one year old. Explain why a booster vaccination is needed. [1]
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): Which row, A to D, identifies cells X and Y and process Q in the immune response in the diagram below? X Q Y X Y Q A B cell T helper cell antigen presentation B
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q4 (1 mark): Questions 4 and 5 refer to the following image of a human blood smear. A E D C 4 Which of the blood components, labelled A to D, shows a lymphocyte? 11] Your an
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q4(b) (3 marks): Complete the following sequence to outline how a vaccine gives an individual immunity. The first two steps have been completed for you. Step 1: A vaccine is pro
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q14 (1 mark): Which of the following is/are not involved in the primary response against infection? A memory B-cells B mast cells C mitosis D platelets Your answer [1]
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q4(a) (2 marks): An individual’s immune responses can change throughout their lifetime. Fig. 4.1 shows one person’s immune response to the influenza virus when they were first i
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q4(b) (6 marks): (b)* The specific immune response involves B and T lymphocytes. There is variation in specific immune responses between individual animals. Variation between im
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q26(a) (5 marks): Complete the following passage by using the most appropriate terms from the list. You may use terms once, more than once or not at all. memory plasma killer T c
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Suggest and explain one symptom of agammaglobulinemia. [2]
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q8 (1 mark): Which of the following types of cells is not involved in a primary immune response? A T-memory cells B T-helper cells C T-killer cells D plasma cells Your answe
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q4(a) (4 marks): For each of the statements in the table below, use ticks or crosses to identify whether the statement belongs to B lymphocytes, or to T lymphocytes, or to both
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q4(b) (3 marks): Fig. 4 shows the concentration of antibodies in a patient’s bloodstream following an influenza (flu) vaccination, and then a subsequent infection with the influ
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