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Immunology and disease: WJEC A‑Level Biology questions

Every WJEC A-Level Biology exam question on 4.A Immunology and disease, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,223 questions

  1. Q7(a)(i)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    1 mark4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 7(a)(i): State the term used to describe an animal which carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism. [1] Following a bite from an infected

  2. Q7(a)(ii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    3 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 7(a)(ii): Use Image 7.1 and your own knowledge to describe how the rabies virus is replicated. [3]

  3. Q7(b)(i)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 7(b)(i): RIG provides artificial passive immunity. State what is meant by artificial passive immunity. [2] The rabies vaccine is given on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 after e

  4. Q7(b)(ii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    4 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 7(b)(ii): Use Graph 7.2 to conclude why RIG is administered immediately after being bitten in addition to the rabies vaccine. [4]

  5. Q7(b)(iii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    3 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 7(b)(iii): Individuals who have previously had the rabies vaccine are not given RIG but receive a booster shot of the vaccine. Suggest why these individuals: I. are not gi

  6. Q7(c)(i)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 7(c)(i): Explain the shape of the clear zone. [2]

  7. Q7(c)(ii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    1 mark4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 7(c)(ii): The minimum inhibitory concentration is the lowest concentration of the antibiotic that is effective against the bacterium. Use Image 7.3 to determine the minim

  8. Q7(c)(iii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 7(c)(iii): A patient weighs 50 kg. Calculate the volume of a 40 mg cm–3 concentration of azithromycin that should be prescribed per day for this patient. [2] Volume = cm3

  9. Q7(c)(iv)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 7(c)(iv): State one advantage and one disadvantage of oral administration of azithromycin to treat Shigella. [2] Advantage Disadvantage

  10. Q7(a)(i)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    1 mark4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 7(a)(i): State why tuberculosis is called an infectious disease. [1]

  11. Q7(a)(ii)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    1 mark4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 7(a)(ii): To prevent the spread of TB, the BCG vaccination was introduced in 1953 for children aged 10–14 years old. Define the term vaccine. [1] The BCG vaccination is n

  12. Q7(a)(iii)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 7(a)(iii): Using the map in Image 7.1, suggest why the TB incidence is so high in some areas of London. [2] Graph 7.2 shows the concentration of antibodies released by the

  13. Q7(b)(i)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    4 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 7(b)(i): Describe and explain the shape of the part of Graph 7.2 which shows the primary immune response. [4]

  14. Q7(b)(ii)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    4 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 7(b)(ii): With reference to Graph 7.2, explain how vaccination prevents development of TB when exposed to M. tuberculosis. [4]

  15. Q7(c)(i)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 7(c)(i): Calculate the percentage decrease in TB incidence between 1940 and 2015. [2] Percentage decrease in incidence of TB = % Mycobacterium tuberculosis can develop i

  16. Q7(c)(ii)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    4 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 7(c)(ii): Complete the table below by stating one advantage and one disadvantage for each of the treatments. [4] Treatment Advantage Disadvantage Drug A and antibiotics D

  17. Q7(d)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 7(d): The methods of treating TB can also be used to treat malarial infections. Explain why these methods are less effective when they are used in the treatment of ma

  18. Q7(a)(i)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 4

    1 mark4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 4, question 7(a)(i): State what is meant by the term bactericidal. [1]

  19. Q7(a)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 4

    4 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 4, question 7(a)(ii): Streptococcus and Staphylococcus are types of Gram-positive bacteria. Suggest how and why flucloxacillin has a bactericidal effect on these types of bacteria. [

  20. Q7(a)(iii)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 4

    3 marks4.A Immunology and disease
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 4, question 7(a)(iii): Flucloxacillin has become ineffective against some species of Staphylococcus. Suggest why. [3]
All 38 questions on Immunology and disease, as a list
  1. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): State the term used to describe an animal which carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism. [1] Following a bite from an infected
  2. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q7(a)(ii) (3 marks): Use Image 7.1 and your own knowledge to describe how the rabies virus is replicated. [3]
  3. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): RIG provides artificial passive immunity. State what is meant by artificial passive immunity. [2] The rabies vaccine is given on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 after e
  4. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q7(b)(ii) (4 marks): Use Graph 7.2 to conclude why RIG is administered immediately after being bitten in addition to the rabies vaccine. [4]
  5. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): Individuals who have previously had the rabies vaccine are not given RIG but receive a booster shot of the vaccine. Suggest why these individuals: I. are not gi
  6. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain the shape of the clear zone. [2]
  7. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q7(c)(ii) (1 mark): The minimum inhibitory concentration is the lowest concentration of the antibiotic that is effective against the bacterium. Use Image 7.3 to determine the minim
  8. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q7(c)(iii) (2 marks): A patient weighs 50 kg. Calculate the volume of a 40 mg cm–3 concentration of azithromycin that should be prescribed per day for this patient. [2] Volume = cm3
  9. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q7(c)(iv) (2 marks): State one advantage and one disadvantage of oral administration of azithromycin to treat Shigella. [2] Advantage Disadvantage
  10. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): State why tuberculosis is called an infectious disease. [1]
  11. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): To prevent the spread of TB, the BCG vaccination was introduced in 1953 for children aged 10–14 years old. Define the term vaccine. [1] The BCG vaccination is n
  12. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): Using the map in Image 7.1, suggest why the TB incidence is so high in some areas of London. [2] Graph 7.2 shows the concentration of antibodies released by the
  13. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q7(b)(i) (4 marks): Describe and explain the shape of the part of Graph 7.2 which shows the primary immune response. [4]
  14. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q7(b)(ii) (4 marks): With reference to Graph 7.2, explain how vaccination prevents development of TB when exposed to M. tuberculosis. [4]
  15. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage decrease in TB incidence between 1940 and 2015. [2] Percentage decrease in incidence of TB = % Mycobacterium tuberculosis can develop i
  16. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q7(c)(ii) (4 marks): Complete the table below by stating one advantage and one disadvantage for each of the treatments. [4] Treatment Advantage Disadvantage Drug A and antibiotics D
  17. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q7(d) (2 marks): The methods of treating TB can also be used to treat malarial infections. Explain why these methods are less effective when they are used in the treatment of ma
  18. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term bactericidal. [1]
  19. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q7(a)(ii) (4 marks): Streptococcus and Staphylococcus are types of Gram-positive bacteria. Suggest how and why flucloxacillin has a bactericidal effect on these types of bacteria. [
  20. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q7(a)(iii) (3 marks): Flucloxacillin has become ineffective against some species of Staphylococcus. Suggest why. [3]
  21. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q7(a)(iv) (1 mark): Suggest how infection following the insect bite could be prevented. [1]
  22. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe the difference between the terms endemic and epidemic. Suggest why malaria could be considered pandemic. [2]
  23. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): State why there is no current effective vaccine against Plasmodium. [2]
  24. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): Conclude why the number of cases of measles increased between 2016 and 2020. [1]
  25. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): In 2018 there were 700 000 children born. Calculate the number of children that had not been vaccinated by the time they were two years old. [2] Number of child
  26. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q7(c)(iii) (3 marks): The MMR vaccine contains antigens of the three pathogens. Explain why a child who is exposed to the measles virus after being vaccinated does not develop the me
  27. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q7(c)(iv) (1 mark): Use Graph 7.2 to suggest which year the report was published. [1]
  28. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): State three other natural barriers to infection in the body. [1]
  29. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why the body is sometimes described as a host to other living organisms. [1]
  30. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(a)(iii) (1 mark): Rhinovirus uses the metabolic pathways of a host cell to produce many copies of the virus. Explain how infection with rhinovirus could cause cell death. [1]
  31. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(a)(iv) (3 marks): In cells infected with rhinovirus, the cell-mediated immune response involves the activation of B and T lymphocytes, and phagocytes. Explain how phagocytes and
  32. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(b)(i) (3 marks): With reference to the diagram, explain why antibiotics can be used to treat colds caused by S. pyogenes but not those caused by rhinovirus. [3]
  33. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): Patients infected with S. pyogenes can be treated with the antibiotic amoxycillin which has a similar mode of action to penicillin. The recommended dosage is at
  34. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(b)(iii) (2 marks): Using the graph, identify the mode of action of these two antibiotics and explain how you reached this conclusion. [2]
  35. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(b)(iv) (2 marks): State two factors that would need to be controlled to increase confidence in the results. [2]
  36. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(b)(v) (1 mark): Explain why S. pyogenes was cultured at 35 °C. [1]
  37. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(c)(i) (3 marks): Using your own knowledge of immunisation, suggest and explain why it is unlikely that a vaccine for the common cold will ever be developed. [3]
  38. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q8(c)(ii) (1 mark): The flu virus causes many similar symptoms to the common cold. There is a vaccine against the flu virus which can provide protection. It is offered to certain ‘

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