GCSE English Language revision · Reading closely

Paper 1 Question 1: reading within the lines

The idea

From June 2026, Paper 1 Question 1 has four separate multiple-choice parts about stated lines, one mark each. Each part has one right answer, found in the lines, either stated outright or clearly implied.

Mark the line numbers in the source before you read.
Read each option against the exact words in those lines.
Choose the one option the lines fully support; ignore anything from outside them.

Watch out An option that is true of the story but not supported by the stated lines is wrong.

See it worked

Worked example

Lines 1 to 3: "The harbour was quiet. Two gulls argued over a crust on the sea wall, and the boats sat low in the brown water." Which is true of the harbour? A: it is busy. B: the water is brown. C: the boats are sailing out.

Stay inside lines 1 to 3 and test each option.
A contradicts "quiet"; C contradicts "sat low".
B is stated: "brown water".

Answer B: the water is brown.

Your turn

Question 11 mark

Lines 1 to 2: "The kitchen smelled of burnt toast. A radio muttered on the windowsill beside a cracked mug." Which of these is supported by the lines?

Question 21 mark

Lines 1 to 2: "Mara's coat was too big for her. She had rolled the sleeves twice, and her older sister's name was still stitched inside the collar." Which is clearly implied?

Question 31 mark

How many marks is Paper 1 Question 1 worth?

In past papers

7 official questions in 7 papers since 2020. The latest:

All GCSE English Language past papers

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