model aq

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!

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!