Answering Paper 1 Questions

Paper 1 is the source-based examination. You are given a small collection of sources (usually four, a mix of primary and secondary, often including a visual) on a defined topic, and four questions worth a total of 24 marks. Each question type has a distinct task and a reliable method. Knowing exactly what each question wants is half the battle, because Paper 1 rewards technique as much as knowledge.

Question 1: Comprehension (5 marks, in two parts)

The first question tests whether you can read sources accurately. Part (a), usually 3 marks, asks what a source says or suggests about a topic. Make three separate, clearly distinct points, each drawn directly from the source. You may quote briefly or paraphrase, but do not simply copy a long passage. Part (b), usually 2 marks, asks what a visua