Exams
Exam formats, assessment objectives, weightings, marks, duration
Most information discussed is found in H2 KI 2011 A levels Syllabus. Go to: http://www.seab.gov.sg/SEAB/aLevel/syllabus/2011_GCE_A_Level_Syllabuses/9759_2011.pdf
What’s tested in past year papers + things to take note:
Paper 1
Section A Rationalism v.s. Empiricism; Provisional nature of human knowledge, etc
Section B East v.s. West in knowledge construction; Art; Ethics; Sciences; Scientific Method; etc.
Note Cambridge’s more frequent testing of society’s use of knowledge.
Paper 2
Section A Form/Process of arguments; Input and output of knowledge systems; true/false premises; explaining arguments, claims and conclusions; evaluating reasoning; challenging/supporting with one’s own arguments
Section B Note: Answers to this section are not tested on content.
Breakdown of P1 and P2 durations
Paper 1
Section A (1 essay, 30 marks) 1.5 hrs
Section B Question (1 essay, 30 marks) 1.5 hrs
Total duration = 3hrs
Paper 2
Section A (Passage Analysis, 30 marks) 1hr
Section B (2 short passages, 15 marks x2 = 30 marks total) 0.5 hr x2 = 1hr
Total duration = 2hr
Emphasis
Critical Thinking skills have more weighting (42.5%) than Content knowledge (35%). Therefore students should place more importance on CT skills as opposed to fact memorization.
Block Test and C1 Promos
Only 1 essay in C1 Block Test and Promos will be tested due to time constraints on the syllabus. However, a full Paper 2 will be tested.
Full Paper 1 and 2 will be tested in C2 Block Test to build up academic stamina.
