Changes to GP Syllabus: The OLD, The NEW & The DIFFERENCES

2023 SYLLABUS

AIMS

The syllabus aims to enable candidates to achieve the following outcomes:
1. Understand better the world in which they live by fostering a critical awareness of continuity and change in the human experience
2. Appreciate the interrelationship of ideas across disciplines
3. Broaden their global outlook while enabling them to remain mindful of shared historical, social and cultural experiences both within Singapore and regionally
4. Develop maturity of thought and apply critical reading and creative thinking skills
5. Develop the skills of clear, accurate and effective communication
6 Develop the skills of evaluation of arguments and opinions
7 Promote extensive and independent reading and research.

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES AND SKILLS

The candidate will be expected to demonstrate:

1. A broad and mature understanding of a range of subject matter from the humanities and culture as well as science and technology, including current affairs, issues of global significance and issues of significance to Singapore. This includes the ability to:
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of diverse topic areas
• analyse and evaluate issues across disciplines, showing awareness of their significance and implications for the individual and society
• express understanding as well as critical and creative thinking through informed personal responses
• formulate cogent arguments.

2 Comprehension, interpretation and application of a range of subject matter. This includes the ability to:
• comprehend the text(s) in detail and as a whole
• identify information
• infer relevant information
• summarise information
• evaluate information
• make observations of trends and relationships
• apply understanding and interpretation in a task derived from the text(s).

3 Effective communication and proficient use of language. This includes the ability to:
• use the accepted conventions of spelling, punctuation and grammar
• use a variety of linguistic styles and expressions appropriate to the context, task and audience
• use and demonstrate understanding of a range of vocabulary
• present information clearly.

SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT

Paper 1: Essay
1. Twelve questions will be set, of which candidates answer one. This will allow candidates the
opportunity to express an informed, critical, creative and relevant response.
2. 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.
3. Questions will not necessarily be set on every topic area and will not be set in any particular order. They will be general in nature and require candidates to draw on their knowledge from across disciplines to show an awareness of significant global/national/local issues.
4. The ability to convey a sustained and well thought-out argument will be important. Examples will be needed to support that argument.

Paper 2: Comprehension
1. One or two passages of continuous prose will be set. The passage(s) should allow for comparative analysis.
2. There will be a range of questions on the text(s), requiring candidates to demonstrate their ability to comprehend, explain, infer, evaluate and summarise.
3. Candidates will also be required to synthesise information and respond to concepts or ideas
conveyed. They will apply their response, based on their understanding and interpretation of the
text(s) as a whole, to a task derived from the text(s).

2024 SYLLABUS

Aims, assessment objectives and skills are exactly the same as in the 2023 syllabus.

SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT FOR 2024

Paper 1: Essay*
1. Eight questions will be set, of which candidates answer one in 500 to 800 words. This will allow candidates the opportunity to express a cogent, informed and insightful response.
• Candidates examine issues of local, regional and global significance, drawing on current affairs as well as general knowledge related to:
– society and culture
– economics
– politics
– the arts and humanities
– science and technology
– the environment
2. Questions will be general in nature and require candidates to draw on their knowledge from across disciplines to show an awareness of significant local/regional/global issues and demonstrate understanding at a conceptual level.

Paper 2: Comprehension*
1. Three passages of continuous prose will be set. The passages will allow for comparative analysis. The length of the passages will be approximately 1200 words in total. Each passage will be presented with paragraph numbers in the left margin and line numbers in the right margin.
2. There will be a range of questions on the passages, requiring candidates to demonstrate their ability to comprehend, infer, analyse, evaluate, summarise and synthesise.
3. Candidates will also be required to synthesise information and respond to concepts or ideas conveyed. They will apply their understanding and interpretation of the passages as a whole, in response to a task derived from the text.

*‘Your society’ questions: Answers to ‘your society’ or a specified society (Singapore) question need to be rooted in a specific society. While it is likely this would be Singapore, not all candidates are established Singaporean nationals so they may discuss ‘their society’ or experience outside of Singapore. This is an acceptable approach. Contrasts with other societies may also be relevant when answering these questions, as long as the primary focus remains rooted in the specified society.

SO WHAT ARE THE KEY DIFFERENCES?

Paper 1 Changes:

• The number of essay questions will be reduced from 12 question to 8 questions. So students will only have 67% of the choices available for 2023!
• Word count remains unchanged (500-800). But AGP students are trained to achieve about 1500-1800 words!
• Content topics are reduced: Mathematics and philosophy are removed, history and geography merged with arts/humanities.

Paper 2 Changes:

• 3 passages as the standard, no longer either 1 or 2 passage(s).
• Each passage has different “functions”
• Allows AQ answers that are not based on Singapore.

Based on SEAB’s sample GP exam paper:

• Passage A for 5 SAQs → 11 marks
• Passage B for summary → 8 marks
• Passage C for Comparison questions → 4 marks (but can be up to 6 marks)

FINAL WORDS

Obviously, the new GP exams will be more demanding! Fewer choices for Paper 1, more marks for AQ and a new question that tests “connections of ideas across passages”. Ability to present cogent arguments, write lucidly and persuasively, deep and broad content knowledge as well as ability to see connections or relationships will be very critical. Good thing this is what AGP has always been focussing on in GP Programme! If you are still not one of our students, delay no longer. You need that regular practice to Ace Your GP!