Never start writing immediately. Spend the first 10 minutes reading all 12 questions carefully and choosing the one where you have the strongest examples and clearest arguments.

How to plan: Write down your stand (agree or disagree), 3 arguments for your side, 1 counter-argument from the opposing side, and at least 1 example per argument. This skeleton plan prevents you from going off-topic or running out of ideas mid-essay.

Choosing your question: Pick the question where you can list 3 strong arguments with specific examples — not the one that sounds most interesting. Avoid questions on topics you only vaguely understand, even if the wording seems simple.

Your introduction should do three things in 3–5 sentences: provide context for the topic, define any key terms in the question, and clearly state your stand (thesis).

Context: Start with a relevant observation or trend that frames the issue. For example, for a question about AI replacing jobs, you might open with: "The rapid deployment of generative AI tools across industries has reignited fears of mass technological unemployment."

Define key terms: If the question uses words like "progress", "success", or "responsibility", briefly clarify what you mean by them. This shows the examiner you're engaging with the question precisely.

State your stand: Be direct. Use phrases like "This essay argues that..." or "While there are merits to both sides, the evidence suggests that...". Avoid fence-sitting — examiners want to see a clear position.

Examples are what separate a mediocre GP essay from a strong one. The best examples are specific, recent, and relevant to your argument.

Be specific: Instead of "many countries have banned plastic bags", write "Singapore's mandatory disposable bag charge, introduced in July 2023, led to a 70% reduction in plastic bag usage at supermarkets within six months."

Stay current: Use examples from the past 5 years where possible. Examiners notice when every example is from 2010. Follow major news outlets and keep a running list of examples organised by topic.

Singapore context: For questions containing "in your society", at least 2 out of 3 examples should be Singapore-specific. For other questions, a mix of local and international examples shows breadth of knowledge.

Browse Hello Cher's essay outlines to see examples of well-chosen evidence across all 15 GP topics.

Including a counter-argument is not optional in GP — it demonstrates critical thinking and the ability to engage with opposing views, which examiners explicitly reward.

Structure: After your 3 body paragraphs and before your conclusion, dedicate one paragraph to the counter-argument. First, present the strongest argument from the opposing side fairly. Then, rebut it with evidence or logic.

Don't strawman: Pick a genuinely strong opposing argument, not a weak one that's easy to dismiss. Examiners can tell when you're avoiding the real objection.

Useful phrases: "Opponents may argue that...", "While it is true that... this fails to account for...", "However, this view overlooks...".

You have 1 hour 30 minutes for Paper 1. Here's a recommended time allocation:

Common trap: Don't spend too long on the introduction. Many students write elaborate openings and then rush the body paragraphs. Your arguments and examples carry most of the content marks.

Language accounts for 10 out of 30 marks in Paper 1. While you can't transform your writing overnight, these habits help:

• Vary sentence length. Mix short, punchy sentences with longer ones. Monotonous sentence structures make essays feel flat.
• Use precise vocabulary. Don't write "good" when you mean "effective", "transformative", or "beneficial". But don't overuse complex words — clarity beats showing off.
• Proofread for common errors. Subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and comma splices are the most common mistakes. Save 10 minutes at the end to catch these.
• Read good writing. The Economist, The Straits Times opinion pages, and The Guardian are excellent models for clear, persuasive prose.