How to pass Delta Module 1 (and maybe even get a Distinction)

If you're preparing for Delta Module 1, you've probably Googled things like how to pass Delta Module 1, what is Paper 2 Task 3, or even is Delta Module 1 worth it. You're not alone. For many teachers, Module 1 is the most overwhelming part of the Delta (especially Paper 2), where timing, terminology, and technique collide under pressure.

In this post, I’ll share five clear Delta Module 1 study tips and Cambridge Delta exam techniques to help you pass, or even aim for a Merit or Distinction, without burning out or second-guessing yourself. Let’s go.

Is your nose stuck in a book too?

Strategy 1: reverse-engineer a Distinction

You’ve probably typed it yourself: "how to pass Delta Module 1", or even "how to get a Distinction in Delta Module 1"! Here’s how: start by working backwards.

Find example answers, from trainers, blogs, or colleagues, and ask: what makes this a Distinction, not just a Pass? You’ll notice:

• Tight structure

• Concise, purposeful writing

• Clear links between theory and practice

• No wasted words

  
  

Most Distinction answers look calm on the page. They’re not trying to impress: they’re trying to solve. You don’t need to be clever. You need to be clear.

Strategy 2: don’t just do past papers, study them

Everyone says, “Practise with past papers”. But the real question is, how are you using them?

So, what's the best way to prepare for Delta 1 in this regard? Well, the most successful candidates don’t just write. They reflect. After each paper, compare your answer with a sample response. What did they include that you didn’t? Where did they save time? What structure worked?

Cambridge publishes examiners’ reports for each exam cycle. They’re gold. Learn what mistakes most candidates make and how to avoid them. You’re not alone: thousands of candidates have walked this path. Learn from them.

"“No one can be really successful who does not retain their intellectual curiosity intact throughout their entire career.”  – John Dewey

Strategy 3: learn to skim and snipe

You don’t need to read every line in every book on the bibliography during your Delta Module 1 preparation. In fact, learning how to skim and snipe in Delta Paper 1 is a core survival skill.

Indeed - you can't read every book, you can't read every chapter, you can't read every sentence, and goodness knows you can't read every word. So hunting out what's going to work as regards the Delta 1 exam is what you really need to do. So hunt those chunks of text down: for example, which parts of How to Teach Vocabulary by Scott Thornbury will help you with the Language Analysis section of Paper 1, Task 5? Go through the contents, isolate those parts, exploit them.

Look at that mammoth reading list and challenge yourself to find answers quickly. Think like a sniper: deliberate, selective, focused. There’s satisfaction in precision, and confidence in control.

Strategy 4: time yourself ruthlessly

Time management in Delta Module 1 can make or break your result. You’re given 90 minutes per paper, and it goes fast. Many strong candidates fail because they run out of time, not because they didn’t know enough.

The solution? Treat the clock as part of the exam. Practise writing full responses to time. Know how long each task should take. Learn when to move on, even if your answer isn’t perfect. You’re not just racing the clock, you’re racing your own perfectionism.

Paper 1, Task 5 (again!) especially needs sharp pacing. You can’t afford to over-invest in Task 1 and end up rushing the most heavily weighted section.

Strategy 5: manage burnout before it hits

This might be the most important one. Delta Module 1 burnout is real. It creeps in when you study endlessly but feel like you’re not improving. When the terminology doesn’t stick. When past papers feel harder, not easier.

Create a weekly routine. Take full days off. Use timers. Track progress, not perfection. And please, find a support group. WhatsApp, Telegram, LinkedIn, and Facebook groups. The isolation is optional. The stress is not. You care deeply: that’s why this hurts. But it doesn’t have to be lonely.

Delta 1 isn’t just another exam. It’s a pressure test for everything you’ve built as a teacher: and every second counts. But you can beat it with strategy, precision, and the kind of clarity that turns pressure into performance.

If you're preparing for the exam, apply for the next course here, and download my free guide to Methods & Approaches.