Antibiotics: past paper questions
Real questions on antibiotics
The newest 20 of 31 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9700/21 · October/November 2025 · Q4c(ii)[2]
The antibiotic tetracycline is used to treat cholera. However, some bacteria that cause cholera have evolved resistance to this antibiotic. Scientists have reported that resistant bacteria have an extra protein in their cell surface membrane. This protein has been found to use ATP. Suggest how the presence of this prot...
See it on the paper → - 9700/21 · October/November 2025 · Q4c(iii)[2]
For some vaccines, there may not be an effective secondary immune response when a person is infected by the specific pathogen. The antibodies that are produced do not act on the pathogen. This is known as immune evasion. Evolution of resistance of bacteria to antibiotics occurs more frequently than immune evasion. Sugg...
See it on the paper → - 9700/23 · October/November 2025 · Q5a[2]
Suggest why erythromycin can inhibit translation in the bacterium that causes cholera and not inhibit translation in humans who are infected with this pathogen.
See it on the paper → - 9700/23 · October/November 2025 · Q5b[1]
State why penicillin does not act on human cells.
See it on the paper → - 9700/23 · October/November 2025 · Q5c[1]
Explain one way in which rifampicin may inhibit the action of RNA polymerase in transcription.
See it on the paper → - 9700/42 · October/November 2025 · Q4a[2]
Name two ways in which a bacterium can become resistant to an antibiotic.
See it on the paper → - 9700/42 · October/November 2025 · Q4b[1]
Suggest one way in which this contributes to solving the problem of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. (b) The World Health Organisation regularly analyses bacterial DNA sequence data.
See it on the paper → - 9700/42 · October/November 2025 · Q4c[3]
Some infectious bacterial diseases are treated with the antibiotic streptomycin. If a person does not finish the prescribed course of streptomycin, bacteria are more likely to become resistant to the antibiotic. Explain why a streptomycin‑resistant strain of bacteria is more likely to develop as a result of natural sel...
See it on the paper → - 9700/23 · May/June 2025 · Q3d(i)[3]
Vancomycin and penicillin act on the cell wall of bacterial cells. With reference to Fig. 3.2, describe the similarities and differences between the mechanism of action of vancomycin and the mechanism of action of penicillin.
See it on the paper → - 9700/23 · May/June 2025 · Q3d(ii)[3]
Some strains of S. aureus are resistant to vancomycin and penicillin. Describe the steps that can be taken to reduce the impact of antibiotic resistance.
See it on the paper → - 9700/53 · May/June 2025 · Q2e(ii)[3]
For E. coli exposed to the negative control, after seven hours: • the mean of nine fluorescence measurements was 140 au • the sample standard deviation was 8 au. For E. coli exposed to EchAMP, after seven hours: • the mean of nine fluorescence measurements was 100 au • the sample standard deviation was 10 au. The formu...
See it on the paper → - 9700/53 · May/June 2025 · Q2e(iii)[4]
The t value calculated by the scientists was significant. After reading the scientific paper published by the scientists, a student wrote the conclusion: EchAMP would make a good treatment for bacterial infections in the human digestive system. Suggest four reasons why this conclusion might not be valid.
See it on the paper → - 9700/22 · May/June 2024 · Q3b[3]
Lysozyme and penicillin can be described as antibacterial agents. Compare lysozyme and penicillin to show the similarities and differences between these two antibacterial agents. ,
See it on the paper → - 9700/22 · May/June 2024 · Q6b[2]
Following transmission of HIV, early diagnosis of infection and treatment with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) helps to control the spread of the pathogen and prevent HIV / AIDS. Suggest why treating people who have developed HIV / AIDS with ART may help to reduce the number of overall deaths from infectious diseases, su...
See it on the paper → - 9700/51 · October/November 2022 · Q1b[1]
The student decided to test the antibiotic solution before testing the Manuka honey. In addition to normal laboratory apparatus and materials, the student was provided with: • a fresh broth culture of B. subtilis • a clear antibiotic stock solution • nutrient solution to dilute the antibiotic stock solution • 15 cm 3 f...
See it on the paper → - 9700/51 · October/November 2022 · Q1c[2]
In the next part of the investigation, the student used a stock solution of Manuka honey. The student remembered that hydrogen peroxide could be present but could not think of a way to break down the hydrogen peroxide to remove it from the solution. Describe how the student can improve the investigation by removing hyd...
See it on the paper → - 9700/51 · October/November 2022 · Q1d[2]
The student was provided with a stock solution of Manuka honey containing an MGO concentration of 600 μg cm –3 . This was a clear solution, labelled ‘100% honey’. The same apparatus and materials were available. Describe how the student could prepare a 10% solution of honey using the stock solution. Construct a table t...
See it on the paper → - 9700/51 · October/November 2022 · Q1e[2]
State the independent variable and dependent variable for the part of the investigation involving Manuka honey solution. independent variable dependent variable
See it on the paper → - 9700/51 · October/November 2022 · Q1f[2]
Predict the results the student would expect when investigating the effect of Manuka honey on B. subtilis. Explain the reasoning behind the prediction.
See it on the paper → - 9700/51 · October/November 2022 · Q1g[5]
Describe how the student could determine the lowest concentration of Manuka honey solution that would kill or inhibit the growth of B. subtilis. • • Do not repeat any detail given in (d) of how to prepare the different concentrations of Manuka honey solution Do not give details of using aseptic technique (techniques to...
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
The investigation was looking to identify the lowest concentration of antibiotic solution that appeared to kill or inhibit the growth of B. subtilis. Therefore, the correct control should allow a comparison to be made between the culture tubes containing antibiotic and a control tube where no antibiotic has been used. Candidates who replaced the antibiotic solution with either distilled water or n...
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 9700/51 Q1(b) (Cambridge)
Several candidates suggested that the enzymes catalase or peroxidase could be used to remove hydrogen peroxide. The use of an inorganic catalyst such as manganese oxide was also acceptable to gain credit. Candidates often struggled to explain why removing hydrogen peroxide would make the results more valid. A clear statement that the results gained would be due only to MGO or not due to hydrogen...
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 9700/51 Q1(c) (Cambridge)
A 10% solution of honey is made by diluting the 100% stock solution with nutrient solution in the ratio 1:9; for example, by diluting 1 cm3 of stock solution with 9 cm3 nutrient solution. Correct volume units should always be given. The question rubric asked candidates to ‘Construct a table to show how the dilution is made for the 10% solution and the other concentrations that the candidate could...
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 9700/51 Q1(d) (Cambridge)
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