ASEnglishCambridge (CIE)English General PaperRevision NotesPaper 1Paper 1: TopicsPaper 1 Topics: Overview

Paper 1 Topics: Overview (Cambridge (CIE) AS English General Paper): Revision Note

Exam code: 8021

Deb Orrock

Written by: Deb Orrock

Reviewed by: Nick Redgrove

Updated on

Paper 1 essay summary

  • Paper 1 of the CIE AS English General Paper is the essay component

  • You will select one question from a list of ten options to write an essay of approximately 600-700 words

  • The questions concern contemporary issues

Although the course targets a wide range of subjects, it is a skills-based qualification. This means you are not expected to master all of the possible content areas. Rather, the focus is on developing arguments and communication using knowledge drawn from general awareness and other academic studies. Your teachers are advised to select areas that develop your skills and use knowledge gained from studying other subjects.

In Paper 1, the questions are set to encourage a range of possible responses. The assessment focuses not explicitly on your knowledge, but on how you use that knowledge to support your arguments and demonstrate understanding of a wide range of issues. These broad topics may also be useful preparation for Paper 2, although Paper 2 provides all of the necessary reading material.

Paper 1 topics

The topics for Paper 1 are organised into three broad topic areas:

  • Economic, historical, moral, political and social issues

  • Science, environmental issues, technology and mathematics

  • Literature, language, the arts, crafts and the media

Topic area 1: economic, historical, moral, political and social issues

This broad category explores how societies function, including their systems, values and challenges. Questions often test your understanding of power, justice, equality and social responsibility, as well as human interactions.

Key subtopics

Political systems and governance:

  • The state, political systems, leadership, and forms of government

  • Role of international organisations and the politics of aid

Example question:

  • How far can international organisations influence the internal politics of a nation?

Conflict and justice:

  • Causes and consequences of wars, terrorism, and crime

  • The purpose of prisons and the value of rehabilitation

Example question:

  • Should justice focus more on rehabilitation than punishment?

Societal structures:

  • The individual and the state, social attitudes, family, and class

Example question:

  • Does modern society place too much value on individual freedom?

Economics and equality:

  • Globalisation, wealth distribution, and economic fairness

Example question:

  • Has globalisation done more to increase inequality than to reduce it?”

Welfare and work:

  • Education, employment, migration, and workers’ rights

Example question:

  • Should education focus more on preparing students for employment than for citizenship?

Ethics and rights:

  • Human rights, freedom of expression, animal welfare, and tolerance

Example question:

  • Should freedom of speech ever be limited in the interests of society?

Remember, top-level essays in this area balance individual rights with social and moral responsibility.

Topic area 2: science, environmental issues, technology and mathematics

This topic area examines scientific progress, ethics, and how humans manage the physical world.

Key subtopics

Health and medicine:

  • Medical advances, public health, and ethics in experimentation

Example question:

  • Are the benefits of medical testing on animals worth the ethical cost?

Technology and innovation:

  • ICT, privacy, artificial intelligence, and space exploration

Example question: 

  • Is artificial intelligence more of a threat than an opportunity?

Environmental concerns:

  • Climate change, conservation, natural disasters, and sustainability

Example question:

  • Is enough being done to prevent water shortages from becoming a cause of conflict?

Infrastructure and travel:

  • Transport systems, tourism, and urban development

Example question:

  • Does tourism do more harm than good to local cultures?

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Avoid simply describing science or technology; always analyse their impacts, benefits and risks.

Topic area 3: literature, language, the arts, crafts and the media

This area focuses on creativity, communication and cultural expression. You’ll explore how art and media shape society and reflect human experience.

Key subtopics

Arts and performance:

  • Literature, music, theatre, and visual arts

Example question:

  • Is live performance still important in a world dominated by streaming media?

Culture and heritage:

  • Traditional crafts, cultural preservation and heritage institutions

Example question:

  • Should governments do more to protect traditional arts and crafts?

Media and communication:

  • Print, broadcast, and digital media; advertising and censorship

Example question:

  • Should social media platforms be held responsible for the spread of false information?

Literary analysis:

  • The role of literature and storytelling in modern life

Example question:

  • Are stories written in the past still relevant to readers today?

Examiner Tips and Tricks

When writing about media or arts, focus on their purpose and social value, not just their form or popularity.

How to approach Paper 1 topics

Focus on skills, not content

Paper 1 tests how you think, not how much you know. Each essay should show:

  • Logical structure

  • Critical evaluation

  • Clear written communication

Use real-world examples

Link global issues to your country or community to demonstrate awareness and application.

Read widely

Stay informed using:

  • Reliable news outlets (BBC, Reuters, Al Jazeera)

  • Educational podcasts and opinion columns

  • Global reports and current affairs discussions

Develop balanced opinions

Think about different sides of an argument and support your stance with evidence. Avoid memorised or one-sided answers, as examiners look for independent thought and balanced evaluation.

Remember, these topic areas often overlap. For example, climate change (science) connects to migration (social issues), the media influences political behaviour and medical ethics raises moral debates.

Here at Save My Exams we produce revision guides on a wide range of topic areas relevant to your Paper 1 essay. We explore some of them in the following revision notes.

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    Author
    Reviewer
    Deb Orrock

    Author: Deb Orrock

    Expertise: English Content Creator

    Deb is a graduate of Lancaster University and The University of Wolverhampton. After some time travelling and a successful career in the travel industry, she re-trained in education, specialising in literacy. She has over 16 years’ experience of working in education, teaching English Literature, English Language, Functional Skills English, ESOL and on Access to HE courses. She has also held curriculum and quality manager roles, and worked with organisations on embedding literacy and numeracy into vocational curriculums. She most recently managed a post-16 English curriculum as well as writing educational content and resources.

    Nick Redgrove

    Reviewer: Nick Redgrove

    Expertise: English Content Creator

    Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.