JC General Paper Essays

Prepare for the H1 General Paper essay: Read sample GP essays


Read sample or model GP essays to understand what makes a good essay.

Choosing a few related themes and topics to study for GP, followed by extensive reading on the topics while taking copious, relevant notes are the first few steps to success in GP.

What else can you do to make sure that you are well prepared for GP?

Now, you should read good GP essays so that you have a firm idea of what makes a good GP essay and see what examiners are looking out for.

Reading sample or model GP essays would be useful in helping you understand what can be expected under examination conditions. This is pure common sense. 

But I would say, hold yourself to even higher standards than these model essays – instead, just think of these model or sample essays you read as baseline or foundational – and hold yourself to even higher standards where you can and will eventually write even better, and craft even better GP essays. 

In other words, see what makes the essays good, and then try to reach that standard, and then, beyond that, strive to write even better. Learn from these essays only to make sure that you learn how to write even better essays.

Always think of how you can improve.  

When reading sample or model GP essays, you could highlight key phrases and arguments made. How did the student make his arguments? Were these arguments strong and valid, or should they have been buttressed, or buttressed further? Do these arguments made gel with what you have read and studied while preparing for your theme, or should you add these to your repertoire?  

In terms of language, notice the various possible turns of phrases, or even quotations that you can use (be sure to check these quotations up to make sure that they are accurate quotations from real and famous personalities). What do these phrases mean, and how can you use them in future GP essays?

In terms of examples, note how the examples are made in the essay to highlight and portray certain arguments or points, or to emphasise some arguments or some points made. What was the evidence given, and was the evidence convincing? In other words, think of how you can learn from the essays you read, and how you can improve upon the writing.

But I would say once again, just to emphasise and to make it loud and clear – you should just think of these excellent essays or good essays you find as baseline or foundational for your purposes – and hold yourself to even higher standards where you believe you can and will eventually write even better, and craft even better GP essays than what you have read.

Make consistent progress, and have even bigger and better improvements.

In conclusion, remember to read sample GP essays to understand what makes a good essay and learn from these essays.


JC General Paper Essays – how to prepare for GP