Immunity — Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science

Active immunity: defence against a pathogen by making antibodies, gained after an infection or by vaccination.

Spec B10.1

Supplement

Supplement: only for the Extended papers (2 and 4). Core students can skip it. What the labels mean

Diseases and immunity, subtopic 2 of 2

Revision notes

1 short note, in the order of the specification. Each one in short:

Antigens, antibodies and active immunity
Antibodies have a shape complementary to one specific antigen; active immunity is defence by antibody production, gained by infection or vaccination.

1 exam-style question (3 marks), each with its mark scheme.

2 cards: flip them, mark what you knew, and practise the rest.

The whole of diseases and immunity on one page, so you can see where this subtopic fits.

Free PDFs to print or save.

Supplement What is active immunity?
Show answer
Defence against a pathogen by antibody production in the body.
Supplement State two ways in which active immunity is gained.
Show answer
After an infection by a pathogen, and by vaccination.

Written and checked against the Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) specification · Updated October 2026