2015 A levels H1 General Paper (8807) Paper 1 Suggested Solutions

As predicted correctly, this year’s paper has a fair mix of topics that we have proudly identified for students!

We have kindly highlighted the questions whose topic we have correctly predicted.

  1. “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” To what extent is this true? (Media)

  2. How far is it possible for one country to forgive another for its past actions? (War and terrorism)

  3. How effectively is public health promoted and managed in your society?

  4. “No cause is ever worth dying for.” Discuss.

  5. Consider the argument that the main purpose of television should be to educate rather than simply to entertain. (Media) 

  6. In your society, how well are the demands of the economy and the environment balanced? (Environment) 

  7. “Parents have no right to impose their own values and beliefs on their children.” Discuss.

  8. “Books serve little purpose in education as technological developments become more sophisticated.” How far do you agree? (Traditional media vs. S&T)

  9. To what extent should the arts in your society focus on local rather than foreign talent? (Arts)

  10. Should there be any controls over the production of energy when the need for it is so great? (S&T)

  11. When a government’s finances for social welfare are limited, should they be directed towards the young or the old?

  12. “Human actions should be based on scientific fact, not religious faith.” How far do you agree with this statement?

Are you interested to know if you have answered the questions correctly? Click on the questions for a short suggested outline for each of the question.

Showing 60 comments
  • Stressed Student
    Reply

    Hi, can you do a suggested outline for question 2? Thank you!

    • KS Teng
      Reply

      Hi, it has been posted here. Feel free to add on more points. All the best for the rest of your papers!

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Hi,

      It has been posted up since yest. Do have a look 🙂

  • ywj
    Reply

    Hi, can you do a suggested solution for question 6? Thanks!

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Hi ywj,

      I have posted a suggested solution for qns 6! pls have a look at it and let me know what do you think. You may also clarify some of your points with me!

      • ywj
        Reply

        Is it okay to add points that argues about Singapore not managing the environment and demands well due to certain reasons like corporation being profit maximisers at the expense of environment, etc?

        • Christine Chen
          Reply

          Yes you can argue from the perspective that corporations being profit motivated are unlikely to take into account environmentally-friendly methods of production, especially if these production processes are expensive/costly. They are economically driven, which ties in to the demands of the economy- for us to be capitalistic, to be efficient and cost-effective in order to have an international competitive edge. But to score for the question, you would need to tie this point to the “demands of the economy” and argue whether corporations being profit motivated will lead to “unbalance” between economy and the environment. Also, do note that government has schemes for companies to go green, and yet be efficient and cost-effective.

  • Amanda
    Reply

    Hi can u post the outline for qn 10 pls

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Hi Amanda,

      The outline has been out:) Do let me know if you have any worries.

      • Amanda
        Reply

        Hi sorry for the very late reply
        But I was just wondering how many types of energy you should talk about for qn 10
        I just mentioned fossil fuels and nuclear energy
        Fossil fuels – current energy source
        But without controls – will be depleted and env problem
        Nuclear – benefits
        But health problems – power plant failure
        And misuse of nuclear energy- weaponry

  • KL
    Reply

    Q12! 🙏

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Yes sure will consider writing on it. Heard its not a very popular question for this year. So perhaps a short outline:P

  • CA
    Reply

    Hi, could you post the outline for question 10?

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Hi CA,

      The outline has been out:) Let me know if you have any worries.

  • KX
    Reply

    Hi, can you do Qn 4 as well please? I’m really worried that I will be out of topic 🙁 thank you in advance.

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Hi, Qns 4 is done:) Pls have a look and help us to share this website with your friends! Any questions feel free to ask.

  • Fph
    Reply

    Hello do you mind doing an outline for qn3 too? I’m afriad that my points are not suitable for the question cos there are 2 key words to tackle simultaneously “promote” and “manage” hence I’m not sure if my points are valid. Would really appreciate it 🙂

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Hi,

      For Q3, I can see how why most students will be citing examples of medisave, medishield and even medicare schemes that we have here. After all, these are our national healthcare schemes that every Singapore can fall back on, assuming if we have enough funds in there in the first place:) Raising awareness is just one aspect, but if this is the only aspect that you have covered, then I am afraid the essay is a bit too narrow. To do well for this question, you would need to answer what is “effective” and set a criteria to measure effectiveness. Also, you are required to address what is “promoted” and what is “managed”. What do we mean by “managed”? The term seems to suggest a form of deliberate and subtle control by the state, so what is it that the state is doing. Hope this clarifies a little:) I will post up the outline soon, when I am not so busy with work. Do check back on this page for it.

      • K
        Reply

        I wrote a paragraph for both manage and promo. One paragraph on promo and another on manage. Then counter saying that however there are some who disagrees that the government is managing and promoting public health efficiently. I wanted to write about tourism. But my school teacher told me it’s not valid as most of the medical tourist visits private hospitals. And this question is about public health. And I did this question about 2-3 times before the A levels lucky me LOL

  • Student A
    Reply

    Hi, I attempted question 4 and might have went out of point, could you possibly come up with a short outline please? ><

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Hi, the question has been posted already. If you have any fears or doubts, pls feel free to ask.

  • Corn-cerned
    Reply

    Hi, I did q3 also! I was just wondering if there should be a distinction between public health and healthcare since public health means the general health of the public.. I’m quite scared cos i didnt mention examples like medisave, medishield which many of my friends did. I only focused on the..softer aspects of the management of public health like raising awareness……

    Thank you for the website!!!

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Hi,

      For Q3, I can see how why most students will be citing examples of medisave, medishield and even medicare schemes that we have here. After all, these are our national healthcare schemes that every Singapore can fall back on, assuming if we have enough funds in there in the first place:) Raising awareness is just one aspect, but if this is the only aspect that you have covered, then I am afraid the essay is a bit too narrow. To do well for this question, you would need to answer what is “effective” and set a criteria to measure effectiveness. Also, you are required to address what is “promoted” and what is “managed”. What do we mean by “managed”? The term seems to suggest a form of deliberate and subtle control by the state, so what is it that the state is doing. Hope this clarifies a little:)

      • Student X
        Reply

        Hi would be acceptable to argue for question 3 that healthcare is effectively promoted because of the adoption of copayment. That this would be a more effective promotion and encouragement than mere campaigns and advertisement for the individual has a stake and a responsibility in the improvement of his or her health. it transcends beyond being just aware of the health hazards/diseases etc

        • Christine Chen
          Reply

          Hi, co-payment is to instill a sense of individual responsibility towards one’s health, otherwise you will suffer and have to pay the “penalty”. The state will not take on the full responsibility, otherwise healthcare will be abused by many. In the process, indirectly, healthcare is promoted as individuals do not want to incur these extra healthcare costs unless it is really inevitable. Understanding the notion that healthcare is expensive in Singapore will lead to the promotion of better health.

          • Student X

            So would this be accepted. I used it as a counter to those who suggested the lack of welfarism in singapore ( hence suggesting its public health not being effectively managed and promoted)

          • Christine Chen

            Hey there again, yes it would be accepted. But please note that the argument is very simplistic. Just because there is a lack of welfarism in Singapore, doesn’t necessarily mean that public health is not the concern of the government, or that it is not effectively managed and promoted. Things are more complicated than that. But bearing in mind that you guys are just 18, Cambridge should cut some slack in the marking:)

          • Student X

            Ok thankyou for taking time to response. Yes its very simplistic hahah. thats why i used it as an opposing point argument

  • Mush
    Reply

    Hello Christine, for Qn 5 one of my points was that the entertainment on TV could be potentially exploited by Gov as propaganda tools, therefore education should not be the main purpose of TV as such in explicit education deprives people of their rational thinkings. the example I used was the proliferation of anti-Japanese dramas in China. Can this be counted as a separate point from “education imparts values”? Thank you:D

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Hi Mush, thanks for your comment. Your point sounds like you are a little confused in the writing, as you basically mesh up the points on both education and entertainment. The question requires you to compare one against the other. What you are doing is to evaluate how entertainment may be infiltrated with government’s propaganda, which is “dangerous”, hence education should not be the main purpose. Your point needs to be re-work a little to discuss how entertainment may not be necessary entertainment considering how the government controls the media and utilizes it for their own agenda. Perhaps entertainment serves no value in such a case, and that the media should just focus on educating the public instead- possibly in terms of imparting knowledge and values.

      • Mush
        Reply

        Thank you for taking time replying:)))) emmm actually I wrote about TV’s role in imparting values as the third argument but was a very rushed one as I didn’t provide example to illustrate how entertainment can exert bad influence:( then following up was the meshed-up point haha… But I defined the phrase in the question “simply to entertain” as “bringing only joy but nothing else to the audience”, and that’s why I wrote about entertainment can be used for a wrong cause and hence it should not be infiltrated with educative elements… Is this okay? Or I misinterpreted the question haha

        • Christine Chen
          Reply

          yes it is definitely ok, don’t worry there is no misinterpretation going on here. Anyway, entertainment together with education is just one perspective that a student can take, not necessarily for all to use it.

          • Mush

            Oh haha then I m relieved😂 thank you for clarification:))) it’s really kind of you to take time to answer our questions so thoroughly!!!! Wish you all the best in your work!!!:D

          • Christine Chen

            no prob! all the best for ur papers. If you do like our site, do pass on our website to your juniors who can look it up for resources and guidance.

  • anon
    Reply

    Hi, for q10, do u think my points are ok?
    Control:
    – ensure its sustainable cos coal fuel are non renewable and alternative energy have limitations
    – prevent risk of nuclear meltdown using controls like strict safety measures, and sg do not allow nuclear plant as its a huge risk
    – environmental impacts

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Yes, your points are definitely within the scope of the essay! Congrats:) But do note that though these points are “correct”, you would need to compare and assess why control still outweigh even though demand is surging or so great.

  • worried
    Reply

    Hello can u do an outline for q11? 🙂

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      yes, I will have it up asap. Busy with my J1 classes.

  • Sggz
    Reply

    Hii how about qn 7 >< ? Can I have an essay outline ? Thanks !

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      Yes, I will notify you when I have it up asap. Have been busy with my J1 classes. You can clarify your points with me meanwhile first. I can offer my perspectives.

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      done! pls have a look. Also, do note that children have lots of rights in countries like Sweden:) maybe sth for u to look up.

  • -
    Reply

    Hi, what questions have been most popular this year for As? Do you know whether many people attempted the question on public health?

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      My HCI kids did mostly q10, my RI kids did q8, and h2 history students love to go for q2. There are more questions on public health because I have yet to post a suggested outline. Have been busy with my j1 classes.
      So what question did u do?

      • -
        Reply

        I did the public health one haha! I’m just curious, if you have many wide-ranging examples on public health, but the organisation of points on the whole are kinda messy (although they do answer the overall question), will I still do well as a whole?

        My examples include SportsSG $100 credit to access public sports facilities such as gyms and swimming complexes that promote better public health, 3M approach – Medisave/Medifund/Medishield, pumping in a lot of money into better public health during Budget 2015 such as the Pioneer Generation card, providing subsidised healthcare facilities such as polyclinics and hospitals, new infrastructure to meet demand for public health in many regions of SG such as Eng Teng Fong hospital, raising awareness for better public health such as iQuit Smoking Campaign… I also considered in some one-off cases where public health is not so effectively managed such as failure to contain the recent Hep C cases and long waiting times at A & E (but nevertheless our healthcare system is on the whole, still world-class and many countries wish to emulate us). Are my examples valid? :S

        • Christine Chen
          Reply

          Hi dear, I have just posted up a very short outline on this question. Yes ur examples are valid, but your arguments are of course more important in the essay!

  • jen
    Reply

    Hi, for q12, if I only discuss human actions in the field of science, would that be narrow scope?

    • Christine Chen
      Reply

      yes Jen, unfortunately that will be a bit too narrow. this is not a science and tech question asking about religion vs rational facts.

  • B
    Reply

    Hi, for q7, is it possible to argue that parents shouldn’t because certain morals and beliefs that they have been growing up with is less in line with today’s revolutionized world in terms of women rights/animal rights? E.g belief in Madurai (a village in India) that sacrifice of animals will make God satisfied?

  • curiouscat
    Reply

    hi! can you please post your a level gp 2016 predictions?

pingbacks / trackbacks

Leave a Comment

Contact Us

CONTACT US We would love to hear from you. Contact us, or simply hit our personal page for more contact information

Not readable? Change text. captcha txt
0

Start typing and press Enter to search