Junior College General Paper

Get Ahead with Curio’s Free GP Study Package!

curiosg · February 20, 2025 · Leave a Comment

"Study smarter, not harder—Curio’s free GP study package is here to help you excel!"

Studying for the GCE ‘A’ Levels can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Curio, we’ve put together a comprehensive and completely free study package to help you excel in General Paper.

Our study package includes carefully curated worksheets and curriculum-based resources designed to strengthen your critical thinking and essay-writing skills. You’ll get access to two comprehension practice sets—one on Racism & Xenophobia and another on Technology & the Future of Work—both complete with Application Question (AQ) exercises and answer schemes. These are perfect for sharpening your analysis and evaluation skills, key components of excelling in GP.

But that’s not all! We’re also providing five high-quality model essays on thought-provoking topics such as:

A government that lacks the trust of its citizens is destined to collapse. Do you agree?
Is it always ethical for medical science to prioritize extending human life?
‘Freedom of expression is a luxury we cannot afford.’ How far is this true in your society?
To what extent has tourism contributed to environmental damage?
To what extent is social media activism effective?

These essays serve as excellent references, showing you how to structure arguments effectively and develop nuanced perspectives. Plus, our Curated Reading List will guide you toward insightful articles and resources to broaden your understanding of key issues.

Why struggle on your own when you can study smarter with Curio? Download our free GP Study Package below and take your preparation to the next level!

GCE ‘A’ Levels_ General Paper Study Package Download

How to Score in AQ – ‘A’ Level GP Model Answers

Rebecca Samuel · June 21, 2023 · Leave a Comment

"Scoring well in the General Paper AQ requires relentless effort and adaptability, as the topics can vary widely, but with determination, conquering is within reach."

Scoring well for the AQ in the General Paper demands relentless effort, especially considering the substantial variations in each paper and question. Add to that, topics can range from the benefits of solitude to the perils of geopolitical turmoil. Conquering an English A Level application question may appear intimidating, but with a determined approach, it becomes conquerable. Read on for some tips and tricks, and download some model AQ answers.

Reading

Reading widely, from newspapers and magazines to novels and biographies will get you a leg up in the application question. Furthermore, since the subject matter of GP comprehensions are so varied, it is important to know a little bit about almost everything. Since the AQ focuses on how you can link the subject matter to your society, and being well versed in local matters will be of great help.

PESTLE

When in doubt, use the acronym PESTLE to break the topic down in order to understand the perspectives that can be discussed.

P = Political

E = Economic

S = Societal

T = Technological

L = Legal

E = Environmental | Educational

Highlight pivotal keywords and phrases that aid in formulating a response. Subsequently, unleash a flood of ideas through brainstorming. Leverage existing knowledge about the topic and explore external resources that can augment your answer.

Once a wealth of ideas has been generated, embark on a research expedition. Employ credible sources and meticulously record detailed notes. This meticulousness will enable you to track the accumulated information and facilitate the writing process.

Organisation

The AQ is a mini essay and to ensure triumph, organisation and a strategic plan are paramount. Try and use the following structure:

1. Recommended Structure

Introduction + Stand
Argument (a)
Argument (b)
Argument (c) [optional]
Conclusion

2. Analysis

Highlight question’s demands
Focus on keywords
Balance: Write 1 paragraph in support and 1 paragraph against OR Agree to a certain extent to each author’s point, and then explain your counter

3. Introduction

Does not need to be more than 3 lines: State summary of passage | State summary of your argument | State your stand
Your stand: E.g. “Even though there are alternate possibilities in the scenario mentioned by *author* I largely agree with her views as I find them highly relevant in the context of Singapore.”

4. Body Paragraphs

Start with a topic sentence: An observation that the author has made. E.g. “The author posits that <quote>”
Explain the quote
State your stand e.g. “As this observation is highly relevant in Singapore’s context, I agree with the author that…”
State an example of what you have observed in Singapore in relation to the quote you have picked.
Evaluate: (a) Agree with the author by emphasising the point they have made by using a reason within the Singapore context OR (b) Disagree with the author by explaining that the viewpoint is limited/applicable to a small group of people/irrelevant to most people in Singapore
Balance: e.g. “There are still pockets of people in Singapore who will not find this applicable…” or “The author’s points are relevant when we consider the next two years, but they may be obsolete in twenty years because…”
Link back to the question e.g. “Therefore, it is clear that the author’s views are highly relevant to my society as…”

When constructing your response, ensure that you directly address the question and employ compelling evidence from your research to fortify your arguments. Vigilantly proofread your answer to eliminate any errors in spelling or grammar.

Lastly, the indispensable component of success is practice. Undertake practice tests and meticulously evaluate your answers. This will cultivate familiarity with the material and enable you to identify areas necessitating improvement. Try out our GP programme to ace your AQ. https://curio.sg/programmes/gce-a-levels-general-paper-programme/

Download the following papers and start practicing today!

A-Level-Model-AQ_-Gentrification Download

A-Level-Model-AQ_Arts-and-Politics Download

The GP Essay: How to Craft Excellent Body Paragraphs

Rebecca Samuel · June 8, 2023 · Leave a Comment

"A truly remarkable body paragraph captivates the reader."

An excellent body paragraph is engaging. It should support the central idea or argument of an essay by providing clear, concise information with well backed up evidence and explanations.

A suggested structure is as follows:

POINT – EXPLANATION – EXAMPLE – LINK – EVALUATION

1. Point

Capture the main idea of what the entire body paragraph will consist of: possible to show some form of evaluation

E.g. In today’s society, which is consumer-driven and materialistic, it is indeed of concern that people are becoming increasingly phoney.

E.g. On the other hand, many young people in my society are concerned about the environment, and possibly contributing to saving our world instead of destroying it.

2. Explanation

Explain the point that you have raised and provide an explanation which directly answers the question. This element should take up the BULK of your body paragraph.

E.g. Singaporeans prioritise and take pride in the education system, which churns out prestigious scholarship winners and international science and maths awardees. With the consistent increase in income levels, most people can afford tuition and enrichment classes that give students a leg up in their educational pursuits. However, the path to academic success is not without its pitfalls. Students are often depressed, overworked and highly stressed individuals. In a survey done in 2021…

3. Example

Substantiation of your point and explanation thus far.

Examples of examples that you can use!

Information gleaned from reliable articles e.g. The Straits Times, The Economist, National Geographic etc
Examples of known facts e.g. In Singapore, a lockdown titled ‘Circuit Breaker’ was imposed during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic
Data, Statistics

4. Link

Connect your explanation to your evaluation, use it as a transition

E.g. Therefore it is quite clear that the local arts scene in Singapore is of incredible relevance to the fabric of the nation’s culture, as it has contributed significantly to the Singaporean identity. Keeping that in mind…

5. Evaluation

Consideration of all key factors that have contributed to the JUSTIFICATION of your argument. Point out a challenge to your point, followed by a justification for why it cannot hold. (as compared to your stand of course!)

Tip: Is there a long or short term consequence that may arise due to any assumption you have raised?

Tip: Are there entities who may (or may not) be affected by the points you have raised?

Downloadable Notes:

GP-Essay-Crafting-an-Excellent-Body-paragraph-Tips-Techniques Download

The GP Essay: How to Craft an Excellent Introduction

Rebecca Samuel · June 8, 2023 · Leave a Comment

"Your GP essay intro is like a first impression - impress, contextualize and broaden the reader's understanding of the issue."

Think of an introduction to your GP essay as similar to meeting someone for the first time. The way you are dressed, your demeanour, manners and what you say as well as HOW you say what you say, will give someone an impression. This impression will either impress them, repulse them or make them feel neutral, and perhaps dismissive. In a GP essay introduction, you definitely want to impress, but also provide context and give the reader a broader sense of the issue that you will be arguing.

Suggested Techniques

Quotes

Some famous people you can quote from include Martin Luther King, Gandhi, LKY, Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein, Nietzsche, Shakespeare, Steve Job, Muhammad Ali, John Lennon, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Babe Ruth, Voltaire, Mother Teresa, Anne Frank… and the list goes on.

You can even quote from mythology, books or films!

Statistics

Descriptive statistics is a way to organise, represent and describe a collection of data. For example, it can refer to the collection of people in a city using the internet or using television.

Inferential Statistics allows us to use information collected from a sample to make decisions, predictions or inferences from a population.

Any type you choose to use is fine, so long as it remains relevant to the discussion at hand.

Definition

You can define words or elements of the question to set the tone and context for the essay. It is important not to be pedantic here, and to focus on reasonable, common sense definitions that most people would not disagree with.

Example: To what extent is success important in your society?

You will first need to define success. Does it refer to wealth, academic achievements, a high quality of life, health, happiness, all of the above? How can we phrase the definition precisely without sounding overly detailed?

Anecdote

One of the easiest ways to start an essay, can be with a short amusing, interesting story which involves yourself, a situation or someone else you know of or have read of. This method will lead the reader into your essay by getting them to IDENTIFY with the topic and begin to relate to it.

Historical or Current Event/Situation

Referring to how the main aspect of your topic has been viewed or handled in the past, or how it is considered in modern times will set the context for your essay, while demonstrating your understanding of how the issue developed to what it is today.

Writing Thesis Statements

The thesis statement should be written at the very end of the introduction and should state your stand clearly. You must take ownership of this stand, and ensure that your entire essay leads back to proving it.

Some suggestions for your stand (although you can try to be creative here as well!)

(a) I believe that…

(b) It is my view that…

(d) It is my conviction that…

(e) It is my considered opinion that…

(f) I hold firmly to the view that…

Suggested Approach to a GP Essay

Hook

Elaborate on hook

Definitions (where necessary)

Set the scope by explaining the points you will be raising to support your stand, including an anti-thesis.

State your thesis statement

Read the sample of an introduction to a GP essay below and critique it!

Consumerism is not always bad. Do you agree?

Last weekend, I sat and contemplated all three of my yoga mats, wondering what had prompted me to purchase that many. Reluctantly still, I posted two of them for sale on my estore on ‘Carousell’, my way of not contributing to more waste in Singapore. The world today is rife with consumerism as people become more preoccupied with the acquisition of consumer goods they do not need, or sometimes even want. Consumerism can be defined as the preoccupation of a society with products and possessions. Some may argue that the economic competition that has arisen thanks to consumerism has made the world a better place. Most people however, are usually constantly buying items that are frivolous or worse, impractical, contributing to environmental damage and socio-economic problems as well as the dangers arising from individual overconsumption. Hence it is my view that most of the time, consumerism is harmful and ought to be avoided.

Downloadable notes:

The-GP-Essay-Crafting-Excellent-Introductions-2 Download