How to Answer Paper 1 Question 1 Flashcards
All 11 cards in this deck
How many marks is Paper 1 Question 1 worth, and how long should you spend on it?
4 marks, one for each part. Spend about 5 minutes: it is the shortest question on the paper, and the time is better saved for Questions 2 to 5.
Which assessment objective does Paper 1 Question 1 test?
AO1: identifying and interpreting explicit and implicit information and ideas. It tests careful, accurate reading, not analysis of the writer's methods.
What does Paper 1 Question 1 look like from summer 2026?
Four multiple-choice parts, 1.1 to 1.4. Each is worth 1 mark, has three options, and has one correct answer. The parts follow the order of the text.
What does the 2026 Question 1 tell you to read?
"Read again the first part of the source, from lines … to …." Every answer must come from inside those lines, which are always at the start of the source.
An option is true about the character, but the detail only appears later in the source. Should you choose it?
No. A detail from outside the given lines scores 0 even if it is true. Distractors are often taken from just after the given lines, so draw a box around the lines before you start.
Does the italic introduction above the source count as part of the given lines?
No. It is background written by the examiners, not part of the source. An option that only the introduction supports is a trap.
The right option rarely copies the text's exact words. How do you match it to the text?
Look for a paraphrase or synonym: the text might say 'the frail old dog' and the right option 'It is weak'. Don't pick an option just because it repeats a word from the passage, because distractors often reuse the text's words in the wrong sense.
How can the order of the questions help you on Question 1?
The parts follow the order of the text, so the answer to 1.2 comes after the answer to 1.1, and so on. Use that to find the right sentence quickly.
What is a sensible way to work through each Question 1 part?
- Find the sentence the question is about and read the whole of it.
- Cross out any option from outside the lines or not in the text at all.
- Check the remaining options against the exact wording.
- Choose one.
What mistakes do examiners report most often on Paper 1 Question 1?
Taking details from outside the given lines or from the italic introduction, misreading a word (for example confusing quiet with quite), and choosing an option that guesses beyond what the text says.
How many options can you choose for each part of Question 1?
One. The paper says to choose a maximum of one answer for each question, so a part with two options chosen can't score. If you change your mind, follow the instructions on the paper so your final answer is clear.