The Nitty-Gritty of the GP

Advice from the Cambridge Gurus

Created by: A. Lupu - Cypress Bay High School, 2013

Addressing the Prompt

Candidates should focus on aspects of their own country when the set question demands it; if this is not the prompt, then a broader focus is required.

1. To what extent should a nation try to forget its past? BROAD

2. To what extent does your country’s constitution uphold and promote human rights? LOCAL

(Source: CIE)

The Introduction

Some candidates wrote unnecessarily lengthy introductions to the topic instead of focusing on the key words of the question.

Before you begin to write:

1. Circle the key words in the prompt.

2. Reflect on the key words in the prompt.

3. Connect the key words to concrete examples, either domestic or international, depending on what is required.

The Introduction

We may use the analogy of a court case. Consider the body as the defense and the antithesis as the prosecution. There is no point in holding a trial without a verdict. In terms of spoken text, consider your discursive essay as a debate in which both sides are presented. Without a final adjudication, the debate has little purpose.

(Source: Education Focus)

(Source: Education Focus)

The Future is Bright. Discuss.

The future is a mystery to everyone. Some people would argue that the future is bright because modern technology will soon be able to solve most problems in our society. Other people think that modern technology will bring about the destruction of the world. Almost every generation seems to think it is living in the worst of times and worries about the future. Indeed, if we consider the recent negative environmental and social trends in the world today, it is difficult to be optimistic about the future.

(Source: Education Focus)

The Conclusion

Less effective conclusions merely listed points from the essay, rather than arriving at a clear, personal point of view.

In conclusion, it is clear that for most people in the world the future is not bright because mankind is destroying the environment through unsustainable development. Modern technology can solve some problems, but without careful planning, the future looks bleak. On the other hand, to see the glass as half empty is to see through a lens of doom and gloom. It is better to see human potential as the light on the horizon that can make the future bright.

(Source: Education Focus)

Tone

Quite a few candidates wrote their essays in informal and sometimes colloquial English which did not match the tone of a serious topic.

The message here is: Your tone needs to be professional.

Avoid slang.

Avoid highly emotional language.

Think academic. Think balanced. Think clear.

Mechanics & Conventions

Use of English marks can be needlessly lost through basic errors, examples of which are listed below:

subject/verb non-agreement

use of informal vocabulary such as ‘kinda’, ‘gotta’, ‘kids’, and ‘Right!’ as a one word sentence to emphasize a point

the use of the clichéd phrase ‘In a nutshell’, usually as the first words of the conclusion, is not appropriate in a formal essay

missing endings on plural nouns because of carelessness and/or poor checking

To Reiterate...

Rubric infringements were relatively rare as were ‘short’ essays, i.e. fewer than 375 words. However, the quality of the use of English was, in many cases, well below the required standard, which often obscured the content.

Candidates could improve their marks substantially by avoiding really elementary errors and carelessness. A thorough and systematic check of the English, to eradicate such basic slips as those listed below in the following section, is urgently required. A substantial number of candidates have acquired a wide-ranging English vocabulary but unfortunately have not learnt to use these words in an appropriate context.

MESSAGE HERE: EDIT YOUR WORK!

How To Approach a Prompt

Assess the discrimination you might face when choosing a career, considering such issues as age, sex, and background.

The Moderators’ Comments

The question is not seeking a ‘right’ answer.

Content Bands 1 (excellent) and 2 (very good) will recognise the wider implications of the question and include a range of criteria before a candidate reaches a personal conclusion, based upon the evidence presented.

Although a personal response is expected, candidates need to argue the case for/against discrimination, rather than merely assert its existence or absence.

Better answers will refer to more than one aspect of discrimination.

Relevant local examples would enhance an answer.

Moderators’ Comments cont.

The focus of the answer should be on the impact of discrimination on the choice of a career.

A purely polemical (attacking) argument is unlikely to access higher mark bands.