Category: Essay Questions

Essay Questions from past years. Have a look at these General Paper Essay Questions from past years.

1. ‘History records male acts, written by males and holds little interest for females as a result.’ Is this a fair comment?
2. Would it matter if all the performing arts venues in your society, such as concert halls and theatres were closed down?
3. ‘The book has no place in modern society.’ Discuss.
4. How far can an individual be held responsible for crimes against humanity?
5. Can mathematics be seen as anything more than a useful tool in everyday life?
6. ‘The person who dies rich dies disgraced.’ Discuss.
7. How important is it for people in your society to retain a sense of tradition?
8. ‘Taking risks is an essential part of life and should be encouraged.’ Discuss.
9. Is there any value in preserving minority languages in the world?
10. Is violence ever justified?
11. The most influential individuals in history are those who have caused the most harm.’ How far would you accept this view?
12. To what extent are the rights of animals protected in your society?

A-Level Essay Questions. Have a look at these A-Level Essay Questions from Past Year General Paper Prelims.

1. ‘A picture is always more powerful than mere words.’ What is your view?
2. To what extent do the newspapers and magazines that you read deal with what is trivial, rather than with what is important?
3. ‘The world would be a better place if everyone spoke the same language.’ Discuss
4. Should crimes that were committed many years ago simply be forgotten?
5. ‘Advertisements are often entertaining, but they rarely affect consumer choice.’ Is this your experience?
6. ‘The view of the majority is always right.’ Do you agree?
7. ‘The pen is mightier than the sword.’ Can written language really be so powerful?
8. Can the view of the supernatural be sustained in our modern world?
9. Discuss the view that too much faith is placed in statistics.
10. How important are dreams?
11. To what extent is design important in your society?
12. Are certain types of writing superior to others?
13. ‘Fashion is as much a good thing as a bad thing’. To what extent do you agree?
14. As long as people in the public eye do their job well, does it matter what they do in private?
15. Assess the impact of foreign films or foreign TV programmes on culture of your society.

GP Essay Questions on Science and Technology. Have a look at these GP Essay Questions on Science and Technology from A-Level past papers and address these essay questions taken from past exam papers.

1. Does modern technology always improve the quality of people’s lives?
2. Examine the claim that the world is too dependent on oil.
3. Should research into expensive medical treatments be allowed when only a few can afford them?
4. How far is it possible to ensure that all producers of food and goods are fairly rewarded?
5. To what extent has technology had an impact on both privacy and security in your country?
6. ‘The key to good health is a lifestyle rather than medicine.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
7. To what extent has technology had a negative impact on the skill levels of people?
8. In the digital age do newspapers still have a role in your society?
9. Can space research be justified nowadays?
10. Consider the view that mathematics possesses not only truth but supreme beauty.
11. Should people be allowed to have children by artificial means?
12. How far is it acceptable for technology to be used only for financial benefit?
13. Consider the view that most work these days could, and should, be done from home.

Essay Questions GP (A-Level). Have a look at these Essay Questions GP from A-Level past papers.

1. ‘Too much attention is given to criminals; not enough to their victims.’ Is this true?
2. Would it matter if all the performing arts venues in your society, such as concert halls and theatres were closed down?
3. Examine the claim that the world is too dependent on oil.
4. ‘Entrepreneurship is just another name for personal greed.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
5. Consider the view that the study of mathematics is intellectually satisfying, but of little practical use.
6. ‘There is no such thing as luck. People determine their own lives.’ Do you agree?
7. ‘Instead of speeding up the pace of life, we should be slowing it down.’ What do you think?
8. The most influential individuals in history are those who have caused the most harm.’ How far would you accept this view?
9. ‘History records male acts, written by males and holds little interest for females as a result.’ Is this a fair comment?
10. ‘Instead of speeding up the pace of life, we should be slowing it down.’ What do you think?
11. Should crimes that were committed many years ago simply be forgotten?
12. Is there still a place for charity in today’s world?

GP Essay Questions on various topics. Have a look at these GP Essay Questions on various topics from past papers.

1. A work of art can never be valued just in financial terms.’
2. Can the trade in weapons ever be justified?
3. ‘The prospect of a Third World War is now unthinkable.’ Do you agree?
4. To what extent are small businesses preferable to large ones?
5. Does the book still have a future?
6. Statistics measure everything but prove nothing.’ Discuss.
7. Does the book still have a future in this technologically advanced society?
8. “The only worthwhile form of discipline is self-discipline.’ Discuss
9. ‘A good leader must always look beyond the needs of his or her country.’ Do you agree?
10. Discuss the appeal and value of fantasy stories and films.
11. Do the past and present offer any guidance for the future?
12. ‘Far too much attention is given to beauty products and treatments.’ How Far Do you agree?
13. Advertising encourages a desire for products which people do not actually need. Discuss.
14. To what extent do the newspapers and magazines that you read deal with what is trivial, rather than with what is important?
15. ‘People, not the government, should decide how to organize their lives.’ Is this a fair comment?

GP Essay Questions on Miscellaneous Topics. Have a look at these GP Essay Questions on Miscellaneous Topics from past papers.

1. How far do you agree that health is the responsibility of the State, not of the individual?
2. A life of total luxury – dream or nightmare?
3. Is preoccupation with the past merely an escape from the present?
4. ‘Idealism brings disillusionment; realism brings results.’ Discuss.
5. Is it always important to succeed?
6. ‘In the modern world, image is everything.’ Discuss.
7. ‘The most worthwhile jobs are those with the least financial gain.’ Do you agree?
8. In what ways does a country both benefit and suffer from where it is situated?
9. Is the idea of having one partner for life still a realistic one?
10. ‘History can never be anything more than an intelligent guess at what the past was like. The reality is inevitably lost forever.’ Do you agree?
11. Discuss the appeal, and the dangers, of attempting to predict the future.
12. Do you think that life offers us too many choices?
13. Do you agree that city life is becoming increasingly unattractive?
14. Does a study of history make you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the human race?
15. ‘If people become ill it is largely their own fault.’ How far do you agree?

GP Essay Questions A-Level. Have a look at these GP Essay Questions from A-Level past papers.

1. ‘The strong do what they will; the weak do what they must.’ Discuss.
2. “For parents to choose the sex of their unborn child is neither natural nor desirable. Discuss.”
3. Should marriage be a life-long commitment?
4. “A life without challenge and risk is not worth living.” How far would you agree with this view?
5. Should promises always be kept?
6. “The decisive use of force is the only practical means to resolve territorial conflicts.” Discuss.
7. How important is a discipline in society?
8. Can anything worthwhile be gained from continued research into historical events?
9. Is personal morality the concern of the State?
10. Consider the value in the life of planning.
11. “The best test of a civilised society is the way in which it treats its weakest members.” Discuss
12. To what extent can international aid be really effective? Refer to specific examples to support your answer.
13. Should any limits be placed upon scientific developments?
14. Why, in a scientific age, are people still interested in – or afraid of – the supernatural?
15. ‘Films which have the greatest appeal are usually those which have the least value.’ By reference to specific examples, consider how far this is a fair assessment.

General Paper past Essay Questions. Have a look at these General Paper Past Essay Questions for practice.

1. “Far too little attention is paid to the needs of the handicapped.” Discuss.
2. How far should scientists be held responsible for the uses made of their discoveries?
3. Write a critical review of a book, play or film which you have read or seen.
4. “The sea is a bottomless rubbish pit.” Discuss.
5. “Reading novels is a waste of time.” Discuss
6. “Those who have no knowledge of the past are condemned to repeat it.” Is a knowledge of history important?
7. “It is a sweet and honourable thing to die for one’s country.” The poet Wilfred Owen described this saying as “the old lie”. Do you agree?
8. ‘Public campaigns are hardly ever effective.’ Is this true?
9. ‘The truth must be told, whatever the cost.’ Should it?
10. In your opinion what are the most interesting current developments in science?
11. Assess the arguments for and against the control of the population.
12. Discuss the ways in which attitudes to health have changed in your society and the effects which have resulted.
13. ‘To live is to change.’ Is change always beneficial?
14. ‘The strong do what they will; the weak do what they must.’ Discuss.
15. ‘If people are poor it is largely their own fault.’ How far would you agree?