General Paper

General Paper (GP) is an H1 academic subject offered at 'A' Levels in the Singapore education system. All students in Junior Colleges as well as students in senior years of Integrated Programme Schools in Singapore are required to offer this subject, except for students offering Knowledge and Inquiry (KI). General Paper aims to develop in students the ability to think critically, to construct cogent arguments and to communicate their ideas using clear, accurate and effective language. In addition, General Paper encourages students to explore a range of key issues of global and local significance and provides students with a good foundation to thrive in a fast-changing world.

The General Paper comprise two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2.

Paper 1 comprises twelve questions that cover a wide range of topics, including but not limited to history, society, culture, economy, politics, philosophy, sciences, mathematics and geography, literature and language, as well as topics of local interest and global concern. Candidates are to answer any one question out of the twelve given within a time-span of 90 minutes. Candidates are to write an essay of length between 500 and 800 words. Paper 1 accounts for half of the final grade.

Paper 2 comprises one or two passages of continuous prose. Candidates are required to demonstrate their ability to comprehend, explain, infer, evaluate and summarise within a time-span of 90 minutes. The sections tested include short answer questions, summary and an application question. Marks are also allocated for appropriate use of language. Paper 2 accounts for the other half of the final grade.

In 2012, the Singapore General Paper syllabus was modified and its subject code 8806 was replaced by a new subject code 8807. A key difference in the new syllabus is that examiners require candidates to present conviction, confidence and be convincing in their essays, departing from set-piece essays and memorizing core content.

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