CourseCourseConceptConceptDocsDocuments

IB Biology SL C3.2.16 Vaccines and Immunization Questions

Explore how weakened pathogens, antigens or genetic instructions produce active artificial immunity and faster secondary responses in IB Biology SL C3.2.16.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Course
Biology SL
Level
SL

Exam points

  • Explain that vaccines contain weakened or inactivated pathogens, pathogen antigens or genetic instructions that safely expose the immune system to the target.
  • Explain that vaccination produces active artificial immunity: antigen-specific lymphocytes and antibodies form, with memory cells enabling a faster secondary response.
  • Interpret vaccination or antibody-response data to distinguish primary vaccination responses, secondary responses and population disease-control effects.

Learn this topic

Study C3.2.16—Vaccines and immunization conceptsOpen the corresponding Concept lesson for explanations, examples and exam connections.

IB Biology SL C3.2.16 Vaccines and Immunization Questions question 1

[Maximum number: 2]

The image shows a castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus) which is commonly found in woodlands or forest areas. This tick can carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease in humans.

Figure for Question IB Biology SL C3.2.16 Vaccines and Immunization Questions question 1 — IB Biology SL

Question (a)

(a)

A vaccine has been developed to protect people against the symptoms of Lyme disease.
The graph shows the relative number of antibodies specific to these bacteria in the blood of a person before vaccination.

Figure for Question (a) — IB Biology SL
[ 2 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Suggest what can be concluded from the graph about the person before they were vaccinated.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Sketch a line on the graph to show how the number of antibodies would change over time after vaccination.

[ 1 ]
All question bank results loaded