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DSE English — Paper 1 Long Questions: A Lesson Prep Guide for Tutors — Locating Evidence, Point-per-Mark Answers, Word Inference and Timing
Most students hand in a wall of copied text and still score one mark. This lesson trains one sentence per mark.
Objectives — By the end students can: (1) locate the right paragraph from question keywords within 90 seconds and state the line number; (2) write three separate points for a 3-mark question, one sentence each, with no repetition; (3) infer four unknown words from context and name the clue they used.
01 Prerequisites (3-minute check)
If any of these fails, fix it before the lesson starts.
| Skill | Quick check | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|
| Scanning | Read the passage first or the questions first? | Questions first |
| Word class | What do the words around a blank tell you? | The word class needed |
| Copying | Can a 3-mark answer quote a whole sentence? | No, split it into points |
02 Lesson flow (60 minutes)
| Time | Stage | Tutor does | Student does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-5 min | Question scan | Circle the command word in all 15 questions (explain, give two, why) | Students write the number of points beside each question |
| 5-17 min | Model locating | Model question 1: circle keywords, find the paraphrase, mark the line | Students repeat with question 2 and report the line number |
| 17-32 min | Point per mark | Three sentences for three marks, each a different point | Students submit two answers; tutor counts the points |
| 32-52 min | Timed practice | 3 texts, 15 questions in 18 minutes, six minutes per text | Students work to the clock and stop on time |
| 52-60 min | Review and exit check | Discuss only wrong answers: which sentence was copied, which point was missing | Three exit questions, all correct |
03 Teaching script (read it out)
Scene 1: A long answer is not dictation: one mark, one point
Paper 1 has 15 questions worth 40 marks. Five are 3-mark long answers worth 15 marks; the other ten short answers carry 25 marks, about 2.5 each.
Marking gives one mark per point, so a 3-mark answer needs three separately countable sentences, not one polished paragraph.
To locate: circle the noun and verb in the question, then hunt for their paraphrase in the text (the question says advantages, the text may say benefits). Mark the line with an arrow; the answer sits within three lines of it.
Target 90 seconds per question. Longer than that means the keyword is wrong, so try another word.
Copy keywords only, never whole sentences: a copied sentence usually earns half a mark.
Marking gives one mark per point, so a 3-mark answer needs three separately countable sentences, not one polished paragraph.
To locate: circle the noun and verb in the question, then hunt for their paraphrase in the text (the question says advantages, the text may say benefits). Mark the line with an arrow; the answer sits within three lines of it.
Target 90 seconds per question. Longer than that means the keyword is wrong, so try another word.
Copy keywords only, never whole sentences: a copied sentence usually earns half a mark.
Students say: how many sentences a 3-mark answer needs and what each sentence contains.
Scene 2: Timing: 18 minutes to scan, six minutes per text
A 120-minute reading paper is not shared equally. Spend the first 18 minutes scanning all three texts for topic sentences and names, then answer question by question.
Each text is about 600 words. Skimming at 100 words a minute takes six minutes; careful reading at 150 words a minute takes four, leaving only two minutes for five questions.
Order of work: do questions with line references first, global questions (main idea, tone, heading matching) last.
In the final five minutes do only two things: check nothing is blank, and count the points in every 3-mark answer.
Never spend more than four minutes on one question: three marks is not worth two lost questions.
Each text is about 600 words. Skimming at 100 words a minute takes six minutes; careful reading at 150 words a minute takes four, leaving only two minutes for five questions.
Order of work: do questions with line references first, global questions (main idea, tone, heading matching) last.
In the final five minutes do only two things: check nothing is blank, and count the points in every 3-mark answer.
Never spend more than four minutes on one question: three marks is not worth two lost questions.
Students say: how many minutes go to scanning and how many to answering, per text.
Scene 3: Word inference: three clues, not a bigger vocabulary
The common misconception is that you must know the word to answer. Four clues are enough: contrast in the next clause (but, however usually signal the opposite), word class (between the and of it is a noun), word parts (un-, -less, re-), and the substitution test.
Model reluctant: the previous sentence says he agreed, the next says he did not move all afternoon, so the two clash and the word means unwilling.
Write one synonym, not an explanation. Explanations lose the mark.
In four word questions you may miss one. Missing two means the strategy was not used, not that vocabulary is weak.
Model reluctant: the previous sentence says he agreed, the next says he did not move all afternoon, so the two clash and the word means unwilling.
Write one synonym, not an explanation. Explanations lose the mark.
In four word questions you may miss one. Missing two means the strategy was not used, not that vocabulary is weak.
Students say: the four inference clues and apply one to reluctant.
04 Question types and worked steps
| Type | Example | Steps | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-mark long answer | Explain why the writer uses the word “prison” | Locate, three points, one sentence each | Three sentences, one mark each |
| Two-item list | Give two reasons why … | Two means two; a third is not marked | Two sentences |
| Word inference | What does “reluctant” mean? | Context clues plus substitution test | One synonym |
| Heading matching | Match the headings to paragraphs | Do the paragraph with the most repeated keywords first | Each heading used once |
Sanity check (teach this): Four points for a 3-mark question add nothing; two points always lose a mark.
15 questions carry 40 marks: 15 for long answers, 25 for short ones, so short answers are where the marks are.
Six minutes for 600 words is 100 words a minute, fast enough for gist only; details need a second look.
A word answer written as an explanation, with no synonym, has not answered the question.
15 questions carry 40 marks: 15 for long answers, 25 for short ones, so short answers are where the marks are.
Six minutes for 600 words is 100 words a minute, fast enough for gist only; details need a second look.
A word answer written as an explanation, with no synonym, has not answered the question.
05 Independent practice (3 questions)
| Question | Answer | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Explain why the writer describes the room as “a cage”. (3 marks) | Three points: small space, no way out, loss of freedom | Are the points separate and not paraphrases of each other |
| What does “daunting” mean? (1 mark) | frightening, or very difficult | Is it one word rather than a sentence |
| Give two reasons the narrator moved to the city. (2 marks) | Job prospects and family reunion | Did the student write exactly two |
06 Common mistakes and what to say
| Mistake | Student writes | Say this |
|---|---|---|
| Copying whole sentences | I copied two lines, that must be worth something | Three marks means three sentences, and your two lines make one point. |
| Explaining instead of synonym | Daunting means you feel it is hard to face | One word is enough: frightening. |
| Losing the clock | I spent 25 minutes on the first text | Six minutes scanning per text; at 20 minutes you move on. |
| Missing list items | I wrote one reason for give two | The question says two, so count to two and circle the numbers. |
07 Homework (paper, section and question numbers)
- All English prep guides in this series — Revisit the Paper 1 chapters
- Timed practice: 3 texts, 15 questions, 18 minutes — Write the number of points beside each question
- Secondary prep hub — Compare timing plans across subjects
08 Exit check (last 5 minutes)
| Question | Answer | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| How many sentences for 3 marks | Three, one point each | All three right: move to a full timed paper |
| Minutes of scanning per text | Six | One wrong: recalculate the timing |
| Format of a word answer | One synonym | Two or more wrong: return to the third script |
09 Tutor FAQ
Should students read the whole passage first?
No. Skim topic sentences, then go back for detail as questions demand.
Can model answers be memorised?
No. Passages change every year; the skill being tested is locating and splitting points.
What if a word is unknown?
Use contrast, word class, word parts and the substitution test; those four cover most items.
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A TutorZone lesson-prep guide. Written by the TutorZone team; questions and lesson flow are original and are not taken from any school or publisher material.
