General Paper Essays

The A-level 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. 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.

In Paper 1, twelve questions will be set, of which candidates answer one. Students will be asked to write an essay in response to the question, and they are expected to present their own point of view and support it with clear and logical arguments while addressing any counterarguments. The suggested topic areas are:

• Historical, social, cultural, economic, political and philosophical topics
• Science including its history, philosophy, general principles, current developments and applications
• Mathematical and geographical topics
• Literature and language
• Arts and crafts
• Topics of local interest and global concern.

The suggested length of the essay is between 500 to 800 words and the allowed duration is 90 minutes.