CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Infectious diseases
A patient is prescribed a course of penicillin for a bacterial infection. The patient asks why this antibiotic will not work against a virus and expresses concern about antibiotic resistance. Outline how penicillin acts on bacteria, why antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, the consequences of antibiotic resistance, and steps that can be taken to reduce its impact.
5 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 5 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Outline means: Give the main points briefly. Less detail than describe, but every key step has to be there. One short line per step, in order. The marks are for coverage, not depth.
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