General Paper (GP) Essay Questions Compilation for 2020 and Thematic Strategies

GP Essay Questions (2020) and Thematic Strategies

Looking for the 2021 A Levels Essay Questions? It’s over here!

Below are questions inspired by the essay questions in this year’s prelim papers. I have modified them to avoid copyright issues. I have also organised them into topics for our easy reference. The major themes to focus on are: Arts, Science & Tech, Media, Politics, Environment, Individual/Values, General. These themes have been selected based on their frequency in the A Levels as well as whether they are large enough to cover different types of questions.

So below are over 100 questions that i have compiled for the year of 2020, all for your easy reference 🙂 If you need more questions, please check out the original post that has questions compiled across three years. I have also included some general questions for those of you who prefer to attempt general questions.

1. Arts/Heritage

1. TWE do the arts effect change in your society?
2. Consider the claim that museums have no place in today’s world.
3. Evaluate the view that museums have no future.
4. ‘Films that reflect reality have less appeal.’ What are your views?
5. ‘The arts do not matter in times of crisis.’ Is this true for your society.
6. TWE is it necessary for the individual to appreciate the arts today?
7. ‘A society that preserves its heritage will greatly benefit’. Discuss.
8. Evaluate the importance of the arts to your country.
9. Is there value to historic sites in your society?
10. In your society, is it important to still preserve local cultures despite youths’ declining interest?
11. Are physical libraries still relevant in today’s world?
12. ‘Countries are progressive when they value the arts.’ Comment.
13. ‘There is no point in preserving traditional dialects.’ Discuss in relation to your society.
14. HFDYA that museums still have a place in today’s world?
15. Does your society give enough recognition to artists?
16. ‘The arts are less useful to society than the sciences.’ Comment.

Insight/Strategy: Arts/Heritage types of questions quite commonly focus on the local context. If you are preparing for this theme, it would be useful to know Singapore examples. There are two central tensions apparent in this theme: 1) Do the arts have value? 2) How has the digital age change the arts? Being able to address these tensions would help us develop a meaningful response for many Arts questions. 

2. Science

1. Is there any value in pursuing scientific research that is not profitable?
2. How far has technology created a more dangerous world?
3. Should life-saving medical research be left to private companies instead of the government?
4. ‘Science should be left to scientists.’ Discuss.
5. Can substantial spending on space exploration ever be justified?
6. TWE can technology solve the major problems we face today?
7. Assess the claim that technological advancement will eventually replace schools.
8. DYA that medical research emphasises more on profits than helping to improve lives?
9. Is it justified to put restrictions on developing military technology?
10. ‘Global crises will no longer be a threat with progress in science and technology.’ TWE is this true?
11. DYA that ethical considerations serve to impede scientific pursuits rather than propel them?
12. Considering ethical implications, HFDYA that we genetic engineering should not be allowed?
13. ‘Our values are often sacrificed when we focus on scientific advancement.’ Is this valid?
14. ‘It is becoming ever more necessary to place restrictions upon scientific research today.’ DYA?
15. ‘It is unacceptable to pursue space exploration through public funds.’ HFDYA?
16. Is it true that more exploitation has transpired because of modern technology?
17. Discuss the claim that the digital economy is more of a bane than boon.

Insight/Strategy: Science and Tech is of course a classic theme that will always be relevant. This year, we see more varied questions under this theme, like those relating to specific areas of tech in space exploration/genetic engineering/military/medical. Preparing for this theme would mean that we are also ready to engage in questions that have such a specific scope, instead of those that ask about the entire spread of science and technology. 

3. Media

1. Do you agree greater control needs to be exerted over social media?
2. ‘Governments can no longer control the media now.’ HFDYA?
3. Can online vigilantism be justified against non-conforming individuals?
4. ‘Personal privacy today is more of a luxury.’ HFDYA?
5. Given so much misinformation in the media, can users trust content they come across?
6. Are we too eager to embrace digital activism?
7. Is it valid to think of social media users as a nasty and unruly crowd?
8. Should social media be kept free from regulation?
9. How far is it possible and important to increase privacy?
10. ‘We should see celebrities as role models we emulate’. DYA?
11. Assess the paradox that we become more isolated as we become more connected.
12. HFDYA that the personal lives of public figures should not be subjected to public judgment?
13. ‘Social media negatively impacts the self-esteem of our youth.’ Discuss.
14. Are public figures free to be themselves?
15. Is the freedom of the press only a facade?
16. How far can we hold the media accountable for problems faced by the youth today?
17. ‘We unfairly scrutinise public figures.’ DYA?
18. In our world today, do celebrities hold too much influence?
19. Consider the view that traditional media platforms are becoming obsolete.

Insight/Strategy: Media questions seem to be very popular in this year’s spread of questions. As I have mentioned previously, the theme of Media has gotten a resurgence in recent years with the rise of social media. An extremely crucial area of focus would, therefore, be on social media. Consider how social media has changed the role of the media and the power dynamics between governments and ordinary citizens. Other issues include privacy, image, censorship. 

4. Politics

1. Is it crucial for youth to engage in political activism?
2. ‘When it comes to human rights, international efforts trump national efforts.’ Comment.
3. TWE should governments take into account religious beliefs when making decisions today?
4. ‘The world is a desirable place today with populist leaders’. DYA?
5. Consider the claim that no country can afford to isolate itself.
6. HFDYA that politicians prioritise immediate concerns over long-term solutions?
7. Evaluate the view that strong governance is indispensable to overcome crises.
8. ‘In today’s world, democracy is only a game of popularity.’ TWE is this true?
9. ‘Diplomacy is the best approach to international relations.’ Discuss.
10. Assess the view that global organisations hardly make an impact in the world today.
11. Should governments dictate instead of persuade when security is threatened?
12. TWE can heightened power of governments be justified by the increasing threats in the world?
13. Should countries prioritise the needs of their citizens?
14. DYA that youth activism is more motivated by trends rather than a real concern about issues?
15. Is diplomacy the panacea to all conflict in our world today?
16. ‘With increasing globalisation, xenophobia will only escalate.’ Discuss.
17. Would it be more desirable for countries to have more diverse political leaders?
18. Is it fair to protect individual rights at any cost?
19.  In times of political instability, should governments still allow for individual freedoms?
20. HFDYA that we should encourage international cooperation?

Insight/Strategy: Like Sci/Tech, Politics is a theme that never gets old. Interestingly, it is also one of the least popular topics (evident from our Telegram poll and A Levels poll on which questions students picked). The two large branches of Politics would be: International Relations, Governance. The former looks at larger relationships between countries, the latter looks within the country. Doing well for the theme of Politics require us to know about the major events and occurrences in the world, and the different actors: citizens, governments, migrants, activists, international organisations etc. 

5. Environment

1. ‘We have exaggerated the extent of the environmental crisis.’ Discuss.
2. Is the individual’s efforts in stopping climate change futile?
3. DYA that damage we have done to the environment cannot be reversed?
4. TWE can global demand for food be satisfied while trying to ensure environmental sustainability?
5. ‘A non-meat diet is crucial for the good of the planet.’ Is this valid?
6. TWEDYA that renewable energy would benefit the economy as much as it benefits the environment?
7. TWE are we prepared for climate change? Discuss this for your country.
8. Is it accurate to evaluate your country’s recycling efforts as all talk but no action?
9. Assess the view that nature must always be sacrificed for man.
10. ‘The responsibility in combating climate change should be shared equally between developed and developing countries.’ Comment.
11. ‘Switching to alternative energy sources is a desirable, but unrealistic ideal’. Discuss.

Insight/Strategy: Environment questions have been less popular recently, who knows whether they would make an appearance in this year’s A Levels? Think about environmental issues from these aspects: Causes, Impacts, Solutions. Also look at the perspective of the different parties involved in this conversation: individuals, governments, activists, local organisations, international oragnisations. 

6. Individual/Values

1. ‘Happiness may not lie in being healthier.’ Discuss.
2. ‘Rules should be followed at all times’. Comment.
3. DYA that wealth is the answer to finding happiness?
4. ‘We should always sacrifice for the greater good.’ Evaluate this claim.
5. HFDYA that we should encourage perseverance?
6. ‘The main point of work is financial reward and not personal fulfilment.’ Discuss
7. Is a good leader determined more by character than intelligence?
8. ‘Wealth determines how far we go in life.’ DYA?
9. ‘We should always strive for stability.’ DYA?
10. Consider the claim that being feared is more important than being loved.
11. DYA that happiness can happen without wealth?
12. ‘Fear brings out the worst in people’. DYA?

Insight/Strategy: This theme is often overlooked because many students deem it too philosophical. However, I always encourage my students to look into this theme because it is a very common theme in the A Levels (2 questions for this theme in many of the years). Doing well for questions here require us to think critically about the importance of these different values highlighted, and what roles they play in our lives. Being able to see the connection between values and classifying them into smaller categories would also make this theme much more manageable. 

7. General

1. HFDYA that fashion should determine the identity of an individual?
2. Evaluate the claim that there is no value in remembering the past.
3. DYA that poverty is the main reason behind crime?
4. TWE is it true that women can do better than men?
5. Is there any point to social movements?
6. ‘It is integral for citizens to understand their country’s history.’ Discuss.
7. ‘Activism is one part substance but two parts noise.’ Comment.
8. Is your society making sufficient efforts to ensure diversity?
9. ‘Global problems already have solutions, but we just lack the will to pursue them.’ Is this valid?
10. Should we still think of gender inequality as a distant dream in the modern world?
11. Should we embrace or fear uncertainty?
12. Consider the claim that protests are ineffective in catalysing change.
13. DYA that women will make the world a better place if they have more power?
14. Can we give unlimited powers to law enforcement to combat crime?
15. ‘Our efforts to fight prejudice are futile.’ Discuss.
16. ‘City life is unhealthy.’ Comment.
17. ‘History is a mirror that reflects how we never learn from our mistakes.’ Discuss.
18. TWE is it true that key to social change lies in the hands of the people and not politicians?
19. HFDYA that games are a frivolous pursuit?
20. DYA that we do not give real attention to diversity today?
21. Is it fair to claim that people are overly reliant on governments to resolve issues? Discuss in relation to your society.
22. ‘The death penalty has no place in today’s world’ Is this a valid comment?

Insight/Strategy: This theme contains various topics that are more general and niche, but are not broad enough to become a theme on their own. In here you would find questions relating to specific issues. The biggest tip I have for such questions is: they may not always be that different. Often, you would find connections between arguments you make here and arguments in questions from other themes. The only challenge would of course be the examples, because the topics here are extremely specific. Try to avoid such questions unless you have decent content knowledge for the particular topic. 

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It’s 1 more week before the A Levels! The last lap can be nerve-wrecking but it can also be game-changing! I have seen many students make tremendous and miraculous improvements in the final lap. Study smart and pay attentions to all the skills in GP. Skills mean the difference between knowing how to consciously meet the requirements of GP and simply depending on luck.

That being said, good luck for the upcoming exams. Take care of yourself, be sure not to burn out in this period.

Update: Check out the 2020 A Levels Questions Analysis here 🙂

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