Original exam-style worksheet — not an official exam paper
Time guide: 50–60 minutes · Questions: 32 · Total marks: 104
Written in AQA style. Use AQA command words. Quality of written communication is assessed on the 6-mark question.
Answer all questions. Show working. Answers are in a separate file on the Worksheets page — do not look at them until you have finished.
1.
State what is meant by a pathogen. [1]
2.
State what is meant by a virus. [1]
3.
State what is meant by a bacterium. [1]
4.
State what is meant by a vaccine. [1]
5.
State what is meant by herd immunity. [1]
6.
State what is meant by an antibiotic. [1]
7.
State what is meant by a white blood cell. [1]
8.
State what is meant by phagocytosis. [1]
9.
State what is meant by the first line of defence. [1]
10.
State what is meant by a clinical trial. [1]
11.
Amira is asked about a pathogen in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe a pathogen. [2]
(b) Explain why a pathogen is important in this topic. [3]
12.
Amira is asked about a virus in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe a virus. [2]
(b) Explain why a virus is important in this topic. [3]
13.
Amira is asked about a bacterium in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe a bacterium. [2]
(b) Explain why a bacterium is important in this topic. [3]
14.
Amira is asked about a vaccine in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe a vaccine. [2]
(b) Explain why a vaccine is important in this topic. [3]
15.
Amira is asked about herd immunity in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe herd immunity. [2]
(b) Explain why herd immunity is important in this topic. [3]
16.
Amira is asked about an antibiotic in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) Describe an antibiotic. [2]
(b) Explain why an antibiotic is important in this topic. [3]
17.
A bacterium divides every 20 minutes. Starting from 1 cell, how many after 2 hours? [3]
18.
A vaccine trial has 200 people. 6 have a serious side effect. Calculate the percentage. [3]
19.
Antibody concentration rises from 2 units to 50 units. Calculate the percentage increase. [3]
20.
A Petri dish colony count is 120 in 0.1 cm³. Estimate colonies in 5 cm³. [3]
21.
An antibiotic zone of inhibition has diameter 18 mm. Calculate the area (π=3.14). [3]
22.
A pathogen generation time is 30 minutes. How many generations in 5 hours? [3]
23.
Amira carries out growing bacteria on agar using aseptic technique. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
24.
Amira carries out testing the effectiveness of disinfectants. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
25.
Amira carries out investigating the effect of antibiotics on bacterial growth. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
26.
Amira carries out handwashing comparison with agar plates. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. [2]
(b) State one control variable and explain why it must be controlled. [2]
(c) Suggest one improvement or source of error and how it affects the result. [2]
27.
Compare antibiotics with painkillers. [4]
28.
Compare active immunity with passive immunity. [4]
29.
Compare bacteria with viruses. [4]
30.
Compare preclinical testing with clinical testing. [4]
31.
Apply your knowledge of a white blood cell to this situation: complementary shape to the antigen [3]
32.
Apply your knowledge of phagocytosis to this situation: works against many pathogens [3]