Guidelines for the GP Exam

Paper One: Essay Paper

Before the Paper: How do you revise?
Practice Papers: Expose yourself to an array of comprehension practices and
essay analyses. No fixed mould or template to good grades!
(Essay) Content: Familiarize yourself once again with the various content
matters we have done in class, through the Global Fact Sheets, notes taken in
class, GP Packages, and Resource file.
Do your own MindMap for each topic: Make sure you know not only the
facts to a particular topic but the relationships between facts as well (how one
occurrence may lead to another (preventing logic gap dont jump to
conclusions!), and very often, why as well (analysis).
Specialize: Zoom in on two or three topics by not only knowing the key
composites, but also memorizing pertinent examples which will very likely
come in handy, and which will be applicable for most questions. Your
resource file will come in very handy for this (Ha!).
Analytical Skill: This has to come with practice. Take out your old essay
assignments and attempt to fill in the gaps where commented on, e.g. lack
of analysis, logic gap, generalization, inappropriate examples etc.
During the Paper: How do you choose and undertake a question?
In this paper there will be 12 questions and you will have to answer any one
question in 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The paper is worth a total of 50 marks (50% of the examination total) of
which 30 marks is awarded for content and 20 marks for language.
Hence, concentrate on your content.
There will be a mixture of questions on different topics including education,
the environment, politics and economics which you have studied, and also topics
like science and technology and the media which you have not.
There will also be questions on society and social issues (e.g. on youth, or the
role of women in society) as well as more general/philosophical questions (e.g.
Man is his own worst enemy or The world is too preoccupied with tragedy and
fear). If you are relatively weak in the subject, do not do philosophical questions
as they are very abstract.

 Have a quick glance through all the questions in the paper when you begin
and highlight a few that you think you may be able to attempt and cross out those
you are certain you wont be doing. Do this even if you have specifically
prepared for a topic(s). Do not just home in on a question on the environment or
education and ignore the rest of them.
Once you have narrowed down your choice of questions, re-read each
question again to make sure you are aware of what the question is asking
(remember, nothing is straightforward, there is definitely a twist) and that you
have a rough idea of an approach that you will take to answering it. Quickly
decide on the question you are attempting.
Do a rough plan for the essay, looking at what the question requirements are,
defining key terms and coming up with a few major points. Be sure you also plan
something in the way of a counter-argument.
I would recommend spending around 15 to 20 minutes choosing a question
and planning an outline. You definitely shouldnt spend more than 25 to 30
minutes planning. However, the most important thing is that you know where
youre heading: have a clear idea of the requirements and structure of your essay
once you begin writing.
Do a CAF for your essay planning. ALL questions need a CAF even though
not everything may be relevant. This is not only for organizational purposes, but
to make sure you have breath as well as depth, and to avoid repetition of points.
Order your points according to level of importance.
Your introduction should include a brief opening statement regarding the
topic, clear definitions of the key terms (without being too obvious and
unnatural about it) and your stand with regard to the question via a thesis
statement. Do not write two introductions.
Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that outlines the main point of that
paragraph. The point is to conceptualize, demonstrate knowledge of a
connection/relationship and show that you are answering the qn.
Remember that this is an argumentative essay and never a descriptive or
narrative one. If you are spending most of a paragraph describing an example
without analyzing the implications of what you are discussing, you should sit up
and take notice.
Try to bring in wide ranging examples and analysis. Do not confine yourself
to analysis and examples based on Singapore.
Where time is running out, ensure you have at least a balanced viewpoint.
When writing a conclusion try to go beyond writing a one line restatement of
your stand on the issue (e.g. Thus, to conclude, I agree that developed nations

should be responsible for alleviating the plight of the poor in developing nations).
You can briefly run through the main points you have brought of in support of
your argument. Try to highlight your stance and then qualify it again if necessary.
Otherwise, you can project the issue into the future.
Dont write something like I agree with the statement to a certain extent, but
I also disagree with it to a certain extent. (Self-censorship of the word extent in
your essay!)
Most importantly, do not panic. There is ample time to finish the paper. If
you encounter a sudden case of writers block, stop for a moment and ask
yourself what is the main point you are trying to make in that specific paragraph.
I would not recommend ditching a question and beginning a new one once
more than more 30 to 40 minutes have elapsed and/or you have written beyond
the intro and opening paragraph of an essay. It is likely you are only temporarily
stuck.
Remember that this is an argumentative essay and thus a certain formality of
tone should be preserved. Try to avoid language that is too emotive and
excessively judgmental (e.g. the evil and cruel terrorists were responsible for the
murder of thousands of innocent civilians whom they slaughtered mercilessly in
cold blood, as the sound of gunfire drowned out repeated cries for mercy)
As a rough guide, the most important thing is clarity. The most fundamental
thing is to write in clear, uncomplicated, grammatically correct English that is
able to bring your point across. Do not write in pompous and flowery language
but ultimately fail to address or answer the question.
Always actively engage or intertwine the key or subject words throughout
your essay.
As a rule of thumb, if you are unsure exactly how to use a difficult word or
phrase, try and find a simpler way of expressing what you want to say.
Paper Two: Comprehension

This paper is worth a total of 50 marks, of which 35 marks are awarded for
content and 15 marks for language.

Reading: I would recommend that you begin with reading the AQ to see
what the subject is about first. Then, briefly look through the passage(s) that are
given to you (do not read in great detail: the objective is not to read and
understand every single word in the passage). The main idea is to get a feel for
what the overall topic and argument is for the passage(s). You shouldnt spend
more than 5 minutes doing so.


For short answer questions, take note of specifications as to where you
should get the answer from. (E.g. from paragraph one). Also look at the specific
area in the passage where the quotation/question is taken from as the answer can
usually be found around there.

First bracket or underline the sentences which you have identified as the
answer. Make a mental note of the key words or phrases that you cannot lift.

Explain what is meant by: First paraphrase the phrase given in the
passage, then explain it by relating it to sentences found in that particular
paragraph.

Metaphors (and analogy): State which two (unlikely) ideas are being
compared, and explain the literal meaning of the metaphor (1m). Then, explain
the figurative meaning relating to the context in the passage using Just asso
(1m).

Irony: Identify the irony (if needed), explain the expectant aim vs the
unexpected outcome, and link the contradiction using the words yet, however)

Tone and Effect/Attitude: First specify/explain the tone (e.g. sarcastic,

ironic), then explain why/how the tone is used by inferring from the description
in the phrase. Note: words like negative and happy are not acceptable.

Summary: Read the question carefully and demarcate the necessary

paragraphs. Bracket sentences that serve to answer the question. When in doubt,
make use of the opening phrase given and see if your choice of sentence fits/runs
on logically. Number your points to prevent repetition; you should have at least 8
in all, depending on the number of marks allocated. Do not paraphrase examples.

AQ: 99.8% of the material you have produced should be from yourself,
not the passage. Link the quotes to analysis of Singapore. Give specific examples
where possible. Evaluate and evaluate! Where time is running out, ensure you
have at least a balanced viewpoint.