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The effect of ageing on the nervous system: OCR A‑Level Biology B questions

Every OCR A-Level Biology B exam question on 5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,889 questions

  1. Q36(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 36(a)(i): Apart from memory loss and speech deficits, suggest two other symptoms that may be associated with FTD. 1 2 [1]

  2. Q36(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 36(a)(ii): Using your knowledge of AD, suggest how the formation of Pick bodies may cause the symptoms associated with FTD. [2]

  3. Q20

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 20: Scientists studying the effect of Alzheimer’s disease on the human brain found Tau protein filaments forming tangles with an average diameter of 3.3 × 10–9 m. W

  4. Q29

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 29: Which of the conditions is not caused by the effects of ageing on the nervous system? A Cataracts B Glaucoma C Hearing loss D Menopause Your answer [1]

  5. Q13

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 13: A student investigating the effect of ageing on short-term memory collected data from two groups of adults of different age ranges. Each group contained 15 adul

  6. Q1(a)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    1 mark5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 1(a)(i): State the independent variable for this investigation. [1]

  7. Q1(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 1(a)(ii): The sex of the participants was controlled during the investigation by ensuring that there were an equal number of men and women in each group. Apart from sex,

  8. Q1(a)(iii)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    4 marks5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 1(a)(iii): Table 1.1 shows some of the processed data from the investigation. Mean number of Mean number of Standard Standard Group words correctly words incorrectly Devia

  9. Q1(b)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    1 mark5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 1(b)(i): Ageing is one of the risk factors for AD. Apart from ageing, state one other risk factor for AD. [1]

  10. Q1(b)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    3 marks5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 1(b)(ii): The data for two risk factors, G and H, are shown in Table 1.2. Number of people exposed Number of people that to the risk factor developed AD Risk factor G 600

  11. Q1(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 1(c): Fig. 1.1, on the Insert, shows PET scans of a normal brain and the brain of a patient diagnosed with AD. Using Fig. 1.1, describe the effects of AD on the struc

  12. Q1(d)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 1(d): It has been suggested that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium involved in the development of gum disease, may also cause the symptoms associated with AD. P.

  13. Q1(e)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    4 marks5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 1(e): Scientists studying the effects of P. gingivalis in the brain tissue of laboratory mice carried out the following investigation: • Samples of P. gingivalis were

  14. Q25

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    No published mark scheme
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 25: An experiment collected data on the effect of ageing on reaction times. Participants were placed into age groups, as shown in the table below. Age group Number

  15. Q28

    June 2019 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1, question 28: Brain atrophy is the loss of brain tissue as a result of neuronal cell death. A study was conducted to investigate a possible relationship between brain atrophy

  16. Q29

    June 2019 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1, question 29: Alzheimer’s disease is associated with several pathological changes in the brain. Which of the options, A to D, is observed in the brain of an individual with A

  17. Q5(a)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    4 marks5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 5(a)(i): For regions C and D in Fig. 5, name the degenerative disease and explain why vision would be affected. Region C name of disease explanation Region D name of dis

  18. Q5(a)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    2 marks5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 5(a)(ii): Ranibizumab is a monoclonal antibody-based drug that inhibits the growth of new blood vessels. Suggest how ranibizumab would be effective in treating a degenera

  19. Q16

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 16: Glaucoma is an eye condition caused by increased pressure within the eye. Which of the options, A to D, is a correct explanation for the increased pressure? A d

  20. Q4(a)(i)

    June 2017 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.2.3 The effect of ageing on the nervous system
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 3, question 4(a)(i): Complete Table 4 by calculating the median and the range for both data sets. [2]
All 24 questions on The effect of ageing on the nervous system, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q36(a)(i) (1 mark): Apart from memory loss and speech deficits, suggest two other symptoms that may be associated with FTD. 1 2 [1]
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q36(a)(ii) (2 marks): Using your knowledge of AD, suggest how the formation of Pick bodies may cause the symptoms associated with FTD. [2]
  3. June 2024, Paper 1, Q20 (1 mark): Scientists studying the effect of Alzheimer’s disease on the human brain found Tau protein filaments forming tangles with an average diameter of 3.3 × 10–9 m. W
  4. June 2023, Paper 1, Q29 (1 mark): Which of the conditions is not caused by the effects of ageing on the nervous system? A Cataracts B Glaucoma C Hearing loss D Menopause Your answer [1]
  5. June 2022, Paper 1, Q13 (1 mark): A student investigating the effect of ageing on short-term memory collected data from two groups of adults of different age ranges. Each group contained 15 adul
  6. November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): State the independent variable for this investigation. [1]
  7. November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): The sex of the participants was controlled during the investigation by ensuring that there were an equal number of men and women in each group. Apart from sex,
  8. November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(a)(iii) (4 marks): Table 1.1 shows some of the processed data from the investigation. Mean number of Mean number of Standard Standard Group words correctly words incorrectly Devia
  9. November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Ageing is one of the risk factors for AD. Apart from ageing, state one other risk factor for AD. [1]
  10. November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(b)(ii) (3 marks): The data for two risk factors, G and H, are shown in Table 1.2. Number of people exposed Number of people that to the risk factor developed AD Risk factor G 600
  11. November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(c) (2 marks): Fig. 1.1, on the Insert, shows PET scans of a normal brain and the brain of a patient diagnosed with AD. Using Fig. 1.1, describe the effects of AD on the struc
  12. November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(d) (2 marks): It has been suggested that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium involved in the development of gum disease, may also cause the symptoms associated with AD. P.
  13. November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(e) (4 marks): Scientists studying the effects of P. gingivalis in the brain tissue of laboratory mice carried out the following investigation: • Samples of P. gingivalis were
  14. November 2020, Paper 1, Q25 (1 mark): An experiment collected data on the effect of ageing on reaction times. Participants were placed into age groups, as shown in the table below. Age group Number
  15. June 2019, Paper 1, Q28 (1 mark): Brain atrophy is the loss of brain tissue as a result of neuronal cell death. A study was conducted to investigate a possible relationship between brain atrophy
  16. June 2019, Paper 1, Q29 (1 mark): Alzheimer’s disease is associated with several pathological changes in the brain. Which of the options, A to D, is observed in the brain of an individual with A
  17. June 2019, Paper 2, Q5(a)(i) (4 marks): For regions C and D in Fig. 5, name the degenerative disease and explain why vision would be affected. Region C name of disease explanation Region D name of dis
  18. June 2019, Paper 2, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Ranibizumab is a monoclonal antibody-based drug that inhibits the growth of new blood vessels. Suggest how ranibizumab would be effective in treating a degenera
  19. June 2018, Paper 1, Q16 (1 mark): Glaucoma is an eye condition caused by increased pressure within the eye. Which of the options, A to D, is a correct explanation for the increased pressure? A d
  20. June 2017, Paper 3, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Complete Table 4 by calculating the median and the range for both data sets. [2]
  21. June 2017, Paper 3, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): Evaluate the usefulness of the mean and the median when carrying out statistical analyses. [2]
  22. June 2017, Paper 3, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest one limitation of using the range in a statistical analysis. [1]
  23. June 2017, Paper 3, Q4(b) (2 marks): The investigators decided to perform a paired t-test on the data in Table 4. Explain why a paired t-test is more appropriate than an unpaired (Student’s) t-test
  24. June 2017, Paper 3, Q4(c) (6 marks): An investigation into the effects of ageing on reaction times was carried out using data from a longitudinal study of the same people over a period of time. • A

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