For q1 should we plan our answers before tackling the 25 mark ques, and if so should do I write this in the answer booklet? would you say spending 15mins planning the answer and 30mins writing is reasonable?
Q1 is 50 marks. You can spend all of your 15 minute reading time on that, planning your answer on the question booklet. This will then give you 1.5 hours to write your answer to Q1.
For the 25 mark questions, try to get planning down to no more than 10 and write for at least 35.