AQA AS LEVEL BIOLOGY ACTUAL EXAM
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ What are the two ways pathogens cause disease? Answer: 1)
production of toxins
2) cell damage
◉ What are the lifestyle factors that can affect your chances of getting
cancer? Answer: 1) smoking
2) excessive exposure to sunlight
3) excessive alcohol intake
◉ What are the three surfaces of contact- where pathogens enter our
body? and how do they get in? Answer: 1) gas-exchange system = if you
breathe in air that contains pathogens, most of them will be trapped in
mucus lining the lung epithelium. Some pathogens are able to reach the
alveoli where they can invade cells and cause damage.
2) Skin = if you damage your skin, pathogens on the surface can enter
your bloodstream. blood clots prevent pathogens from entering.
, 3) Digestive system = if you eat or drink food that contains pathogens.
Some will survive from the acidic conditions of the stomach, and invade
cells of the gut wall and cause disease.
◉ Explain the process of phagocytosis. Answer: 1) A phagocyte
recognises the antigens on a pathogene
2) The cytoplasm of the phagocyte moves round the pathogen, engulfing
it.
3) The pathogen is now contained in a vacuole or a vesicle in the
cytoplasm of the phagocyte.
4) A lysosome fuses with the phagocytic vacuole and the lytic enzymes
break down with the pathogen
5) The phagocyte presents the pathogens antigens, it sticks the antigens
on its surface to activate other immune system cells.
◉ What is the cellular and humoral response? Answer: Cellular = The T-
cells and other immune system cells that they interact with e.g
phagocytes , form the cellular response
Humoral - B cells and the production of antibodies form the humoral
response.
◉ Explain what is meant by a primary response. Answer: The primary
response is slow because there aren't many B-cells that can make the
antibody needed to bind to it.
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ What are the two ways pathogens cause disease? Answer: 1)
production of toxins
2) cell damage
◉ What are the lifestyle factors that can affect your chances of getting
cancer? Answer: 1) smoking
2) excessive exposure to sunlight
3) excessive alcohol intake
◉ What are the three surfaces of contact- where pathogens enter our
body? and how do they get in? Answer: 1) gas-exchange system = if you
breathe in air that contains pathogens, most of them will be trapped in
mucus lining the lung epithelium. Some pathogens are able to reach the
alveoli where they can invade cells and cause damage.
2) Skin = if you damage your skin, pathogens on the surface can enter
your bloodstream. blood clots prevent pathogens from entering.
, 3) Digestive system = if you eat or drink food that contains pathogens.
Some will survive from the acidic conditions of the stomach, and invade
cells of the gut wall and cause disease.
◉ Explain the process of phagocytosis. Answer: 1) A phagocyte
recognises the antigens on a pathogene
2) The cytoplasm of the phagocyte moves round the pathogen, engulfing
it.
3) The pathogen is now contained in a vacuole or a vesicle in the
cytoplasm of the phagocyte.
4) A lysosome fuses with the phagocytic vacuole and the lytic enzymes
break down with the pathogen
5) The phagocyte presents the pathogens antigens, it sticks the antigens
on its surface to activate other immune system cells.
◉ What is the cellular and humoral response? Answer: Cellular = The T-
cells and other immune system cells that they interact with e.g
phagocytes , form the cellular response
Humoral - B cells and the production of antibodies form the humoral
response.
◉ Explain what is meant by a primary response. Answer: The primary
response is slow because there aren't many B-cells that can make the
antibody needed to bind to it.
