GP Common Test. [Edited]

PAPER ONE: ESSAY (1½ HRS)

There will be a choice of 12 essay questions, on topics drawn from all domains of knowledge and human experience. Although we have focused on media and gender issues in the past semester, the topics will range from ethics of science and technology to religious, political, and social issues.

DO NOT be deceived by questions that seem only to test your knowledge of scientific facts; candidates are ALWAYS required to discuss the ethical, moral, political, cultural, economic AND/OR social aspects of their chosen essay topic.

The essay should be 500-800 words (3 to 4 sides, single line spacing) of well-constructed ARGUMENTS, offering balanced, sophisticated views supported by facts and a thorough knowledge of the topic.

Essays should be WELL-ORGANIZED, with the main arguments summarized in the opening paragraph, and then systematically developed—argued and counter-argued—in the rest of the essay, towards an evaluative conclusion.

(By “evaluative conclusion” I mean you decide, supporting your decision with reasons, whether the arguments or counter-arguments were stronger—how successful your arguments have been in proving your point. Every essay has a central point.)

(A re-post of General Notes on What a GP Essay Should Be. If it does not load, right-click the link and download the file directly.)

On the most rudimentary level, a good essay should be FREE FROM GRAMMATICAL and SPELLING ERROR. Then, the essay is marked for range and subtlety of language.

If the HANDWRITING is poor, the examiner is under NO obligation to go to any extraordinary lengths to understand your scrawl. Little credit can be given to what the examiner does not understand.

The essay is marked out of a total of 50 marks—30 for CONTENT and 20 for LANGUAGE.

PAPER TWO: COMPREHENSION (1½ HRS)

Either one or two passages will be used. Questions test the ability to UNDERSTAND the passage; to INFER tone of voice or implicit points of view; to SUMMARIZE arguments succinctly yet completely; to EXPLAIN vocabulary accurately; and to EVALUATE the main arguments in the passage, and APPLY or CONTEXTUALIZE them in your local socio-politico-religio-economic environment.

Please note, even if the question does not explicitly require it, do give your answers IN YOUR OWN WORDS as far as possible.

Also note, when the AQ asks you for your opinion, or to give arguments from your experience, it is NEVER about your personal opinion or experience -- it asks you for your experience of what is typical or the norm, or what is significant, in your COUNTRY or SOCIETY.

The comprehension is marked out of a total of 50 marks—35 for CONTENT and 15 for LANGUAGE.

I cannot emphasize this too strongly: the LANGUAGE mark is largely impressionistic; such basic things as handwriting, grammar and spelling go a long way in pleasing the examiner. Write in complete sentences; nothing pisses the examiner off more than perceived laziness. (No need to repeat the question in your answer; we are not in primary school anymore.) And for God’s sake USE YOUR OWN WORDS as far as possible.

GP H1 Grade Allocation

Grade	A	B	C	D	E	S	U
%	70-100	60-69	55-59	50-54	45-49	35-44	<35
Upon 50	35-50	30-34	27.5-29	25-27	22.5-24	17.5-22	<17.5