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As you embark on your A Level General Paper (GP) journey, you may face difficulties in scoring for Paper 2, which is the comprehension section of the A Level GP exam. You will be introduced to new elements like the Application Question (AQ) section! New features, coupled with issues in time management may cause you to panic as you struggle to get on top of this new subject. However, fear not, as comprehension is actually the section that you’ll eventually find easier to score in, once you have mastered the skills to excel in it. To help you do just that, Zenith, a top Singapore JC tuition Singapore centre, has compiled the following guide of answering techniques for your perusal.
It is crucial that you read widely. There is a wide range of content available, including news articles, opinion pieces, books, forums, magazines, and more.
Try to consume both international and domestic media, such as:
Reading widely helps you build a strong repertoire of examples and understand trends across different countries and time periods.
Given the increasing complexity of global issues, this habit allows you to connect ideas and identify how different topics relate to one another. This deeper understanding will strengthen your answers.
You should also avoid “spotting” topics, as exam topics can be unpredictable. Developing a consistent reading habit not only helps with GP but also improves your global awareness and personal knowledge.
If you know you struggle with grammar, sentence structure, or expression, it is important to actively work on improving these areas.
Clear and precise language allows you to communicate your ideas more effectively. As you improve your writing clarity, both your content marks and language marks will improve.
If you need additional support, you can sign up for a free GP tuition trial at Zenith Education Studio, where experienced tutors help students strengthen their language and writing skills.
Many students lose marks because they misunderstand the question.
Always remember that the question is king. Your answer must directly address what the question is asking.
Take the time to read the question thoroughly and identify exactly what it requires before you begin writing your response.
For most comprehension questions, you should answer in your own words, even if the question does not explicitly state this requirement.
Copying large portions of the passage may cost you valuable language marks.
When paraphrasing:
Understanding different question types helps you structure your answers more effectively. Once you recognise the type of question, you can apply the appropriate answering technique.
Below are some common GP comprehension question types and how to approach them.
Objective: Understand the direct meaning of the subject matter.
How to answer:
Objective: Derive and explain the hidden meaning of the subject matter.
How to answer:
Objective: Understand and explain the subject matter within its context.
How to answer:
Objective: Explain how figurative language creates imagery or meaning.
Key definitions:
How to answer:
Objective: Understand the effect of the author’s words.
How to answer:
Objective: Identify how the author feels about a topic.
Definition:
Attitude refers to the author’s feelings or opinions about the subject.
How to answer:
Objective: Identify how the author expresses their attitude through language.
Definition:
Tone refers to the way the author conveys their attitude through their choice of words.
How to answer:
Objective: Understand the effect of punctuation in the passage.
How to answer:
Objective: Understand similarities, differences, or changes over time.
How to answer:
For these questions, pay careful attention to the scope of examples you can use.
If the question specifies “your society”, you must only use examples from your own society and remain consistent throughout your answer. Before giving examples, you should first identify and analyse the general trend and the extent to which the argument applies to your society or the world.
Your examples should illustrate the trend, not explain it.
Example question
Mary argues that euthanasia would undermine the commitment of doctors and nurses to save lives.
How far are her views applicable to your society? Refer to the passage and your personal knowledge of your society in your answer.
For this type of question, focus on evaluating the basis of the arguments presented.
You should assess whether the argument reflects an observable trend in the world or your society, depending on the scope stated in the question.
Your evaluation should be supported with relevant examples.
Example question
Mary argues that euthanasia would diminish the sanctity of life, whereas John believes that euthanasia allows one to die with dignity.
Which of these authors do you agree with more? Refer to the passage and your personal knowledge in your answer.
Some AQ questions may combine both application and evaluation requirements.
In such cases, it is important to carefully identify:
The structure of an AQ is similar to that of an essay because you are expected to present a balanced and well-supported argument.
For comprehension papers with two passages, you should evaluate arguments from both authors.
Your response should include the following sections.
Paper 2 is worth a total of 50 marks, with a maximum of 35 marks being awarded for content, and a maximum of 15 marks for your use of language as shown in Fig 1.
Content marks are awarded when your answers demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the passage(s). You will be judged based on your capabilities in synthesising, inferring, explaining, evaluating, and summarising the information presented to you. Language marks are awarded based on a holistic assessment of your language abilities throughout the script. Assessors will mainly lookout for clarity and fluency in your answers, and whether your answers, despite paraphrasing, are still able to convey the intended meanings of the text.
Paper 2 is split into 3 main sections: Short Answer Questions (SAQs), Summary, and AQ. SAQs, Summary, and AQ are allocated 17, 8, and 10 marks respectively for content. Given this mark allocation, you should plan your time accordingly. A suggested time allocation is 35-25-30 (total of 90 minutes). Knowing where your strengths lie (e.g if you are able to write quickly and ensure a top-quality essay, you may choose to do the AQ before the summary since the AQ section is essentially a mini-essay) will be helpful in determining which sections to complete, and hence score first.
Summary writing at the A Levels is largely similar to the O Levels, just that the length of your paragraph is longer (130 words). For summary writing, take note of the following:
1. Question requirements: How many tasks are there? Does my paragraph answer the question eventually?
2. Location: Where do you extract your information from?
3. Degree: Do your words convey the same degree of severity as the passage?
4. Connotation: Do your words share the same connotation as those in the passage?
5. Examples and Statistics: What is the overarching theme of these examples? What is the larger meaning behind these statistics?
Mastering A Level GP requires strong awareness of current affairs, both globally and locally, as well as consistent and purposeful practice. Simply doing more papers is not enough — you need to identify your weaknesses, learn from mistakes, and refine your answering techniques over time.
If you are unsure where to start or need guidance improving your Paper 2 skills, Zenith Education Studio offers GP tuition for JC students, where our experienced tutors help students identify their weak areas and improve their comprehension strategies.
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