Syllabus: Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper 8021
Syllabus: Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper 8021
Syllabus: Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper 8021
Version 2
Why choose Cambridge International?
Cambridge International prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a lasting
passion for learning. We are part of the University of Cambridge.
Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Schools can shape
the curriculum around how they want students to learn – with a wide range of subjects and flexible ways to offer
them. It helps students discover new abilities and a wider world, and gives them the skills they need for life, so they
can achieve at school, university and work.
Our programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created by subject
experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research. They provide a strong platform for
students to progress from one stage to the next, and are well supported by teaching and learning resources.
We review all our syllabuses regularly, so they reflect the latest research evidence and professional teaching
practice – and take account of the different national contexts in which they are taught.
We consult with teachers to help us design each syllabus around the needs of their learners. Consulting with
leading universities has helped us make sure our syllabuses encourage students to master the key concepts in the
subject and develop the skills necessary for success in higher education.
Our mission is to provide educational benefit through provision of international programmes and qualifications for
school education and to be the world leader in this field. Together with schools, we develop Cambridge learners
who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged – equipped for success in the modern world.
Every year, nearly a million Cambridge students from 10 000 schools in 160 countries prepare for their future with
the Cambridge Pathway.
Quality management
Cambridge International is committed to providing exceptional quality. In line with this commitment, our
quality management system for the provision of international qualifications and education programmes for
students aged 5 to 19 is independently certified as meeting the internationally recognised standard,
ISO 9001:2015. Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/ISO9001
2 Syllabus overview 5
Aims 5
Topics and skills overview 5
Assessment overview 6
Assessment objectives 7
3 Subject content 8
Topics 8
Skills 10
The latest syllabus is version 2, published April 2021. There are no significant changes
which affect teaching.
Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper 8021 syllabus for 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Key benefits
The best motivation for a student is a real passion for the subject
they’re learning. By offering students a variety of Cambridge
International AS & A Levels, you can give them the greatest chance
of finding the path of education they most want to follow. With
over 50 subjects to choose from, students can select the ones
they love and that they’re best at, which helps motivate them
throughout their studies.
Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper develops a set of transferable skills. These include
comprehension, constructing an argument, presenting views, and writing English coherently and persuasively.
Learners can apply these skills across a wide range of subjects and these skills equip them well for progression to
higher education or directly into employment.
Our approach in Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper encourages learners to be:
confident, explaining, analysing and evaluating multi-disciplinary issues and communicating arguments
responsible, seeking a wide range of knowledge and opinion from varied sources, directing their own learning
reflective, considering and reflecting upon a diverse range of ideas, incorporating these into their responses
innovative, creating their own ideas and style as they explore topics and express ideas in writing
engaged, developing informed opinions, engaging with the challenges of our dynamic world.
‘Cambridge students develop a deep understanding of subjects and independent thinking skills.’
Principal, Rockledge High School, USA
UK NARIC, the national agency in the UK for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications and
skills, has carried out an independent benchmarking study of Cambridge International AS & A Level and found it to
be comparable to the standard of AS & A Level in the UK. This means students can be confident that their Cambridge
International AS & A Level qualifications are accepted as equivalent, grade for grade, to UK AS & A Levels by leading
universities worldwide.
Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper helps to provide transferable skills which support further
subject specific study. This syllabus also promotes an ability to communicate in written English relevant to the
study of a wide range of courses in higher education. It is suitable for candidates intending to enter employment or
further study, or as part of a course of general education.
We recommend learners check the Cambridge recognitions database and the university websites to find the most
up-to-date entry requirements for courses they wish to study.
Cambridge Assessment International Education is an education organisation and politically neutral. The
content of this syllabus, examination papers and associated materials do not endorse any political view. We
endeavour to treat all aspects of the exam process neutrally.
‘The depth of knowledge displayed by the best A Level students makes them prime targets for
America’s Ivy League universities’
Yale University, USA
Supporting teachers
We provide a wide range of practical resources, detailed guidance, and innovative training and professional
development so that you can give your students the best possible preparation for Cambridge International
AS & A Level.
‘Cambridge International AS & A Levels prepare students well for university because they’ve
learnt to go into a subject in considerable depth. There’s that ability to really understand the
depth and richness and the detail of a subject. It’s a wonderful preparation for what they are
going to face at university.’
US Higher Education Advisory Council
2 Syllabus overview
Aims
The aims describe the purposes of a course based on this syllabus.
Learners consider topics within local and international contexts. Learners should be able to draw upon knowledge
and understanding gained from studying other subjects.
Through the study of these broad topic areas, learners develop effective reading and writing skills in English. They
work with information, ideas and opinions. They analyse and evaluate opinions and ideas. They also learn how to
build an argument. These skills are all highly transferable and will help learners in other subjects they are studying,
and equip them for higher education or employment.
Assessment overview
Paper 1
Paper 2
Candidates for Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper take Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the same series.
Assessment objectives
The assessment objectives (AOs) are:
• Demonstrate the ability to analyse the meaning of language as used in its context.
• Develop explanations with examples, analysis and evaluation.
• Develop, analyse and evaluate arguments and make supported judgements.
• Write structured responses, using a range of appropriate language for a variety of purposes.
• Communicate information, ideas and opinions clearly and accurately.
• Construct cohesive and organised responses, linking ideas and arguments.
3 Subject content
Topics
The syllabus sets out broad topics. The broad topics provide meaningful and stimulating contexts for skills
development. These enable candidates to integrate knowledge and understanding from other subjects and to view
issues from a range of perspectives.
Within these broad topics there are suggested areas to explore. Teachers do not need to cover all the suggested
areas when teaching the course. They should select suggested areas to develop candidates’ skills to make use of
knowledge gained from studying other subjects.
In Paper 1, candidates will be assessed on how they use their knowledge and understanding of the topics and
suggested areas to support their arguments and show understanding of a wide range of issues.
These broad topics may be useful in preparation for Paper 2. However, the paper will provide candidates with all
the material necessary to answer the questions.
2 Science, including its history, philosophy, ethics, general principles and applications; environmental
issues; technology and mathematics
Suggested areas to explore:
• Medical and scientific advances and their ethics
• Drug testing, manufacture and provision
• Diet, health education and provision of healthcare
• Space exploration and its associated industry
• Information and communications technology
• Surveillance and privacy
• Environmental concerns
• Natural disasters including mitigation and management
• Rural and urban concerns
• Food and water security
• Transport, travel and tourism
• The uses and applications of mathematics
Skills
Candidates following this course should be encouraged to develop a range of skills.
Application of information
Candidates should develop the ability to identify, select and apply appropriate information to respond to a task.
They are encouraged to understand different points of view on a topic. Candidates should use information as
evidence to support an argument with examples and to develop ideas.
Reading
Candidates are encouraged to read widely for general understanding and develop skills to identify relevant
information from a variety of sources. Candidates should develop a wide range of vocabulary in English and the
ability to understand the use of English words and phrases in context. They should understand how information
is presented and how the English language is used to convey implicit as well as explicit meaning.
Candidates should learn skills of evaluation. They should go beyond observing or summarising the evidence.
They should learn to draw out inferences, understand the implications of a course of action, develop and
draw out the significance of an argument and examine other points of view. Candidates should learn to make
supported judgements.
Writing
Candidates should develop the skills to write in accurate English in a clear, coherent and structured way,
including essays. They should also learn to write shorter responses for a variety of purposes. These might include
explanation, description, summary, analysis, evaluation and persuasion. Candidates should learn to use a range
of vocabulary, appropriate spelling, grammar and punctuation, and use of register, to communicate information,
ideas and opinions appropriate to the task.
Paper 1 – Essay
There are three topics and the paper has questions from each topic.
1 Economic, historical, moral, political and social
2 Science, including its history, philosophy, ethics, general principles and applications; environmental issues;
technology and mathematics
3 Literature, language, the arts, crafts, and the media.
Questions will be set that encourage a range of possible responses. Candidates are assessed on how they use
knowledge of a topic in their responses, and not on their knowledge itself. Candidates are assessed on how well
they use a range of relevant examples to support their responses.
Candidates are assessed on how clearly they communicate their response. This includes the range, accuracy and
appropriateness of vocabulary and spelling, use of register, grammar and punctuation. Candidates are assessed
on how the essay is structured in order to develop an argument, link and evaluate ideas and draw supported
conclusions.
The register used in the response should demonstrate the type of written communication skills required for
entering employment or further study.
Paper 2 – Comprehension
This paper has two sections and each section is worth 25 marks.
Candidates must answer all questions in each of the two sections on the paper.
The sections consist of a range of sub-questions. These include questions which require short answers and more
extended answers which require responses of up to 120 words.
In Section A, candidates are required to explain and interpret the information provided in the material to show
understanding. They are also required to respond by writing a persuasive text that expresses an opinion and justifies
a conclusion.
In Section B, candidates are required to demonstrate the ability to read for detailed understanding at word,
sentence and paragraph level. They are required to demonstrate understanding of how language features are used
in a variety of styles and registers. Candidates are assessed on how they analyse and evaluate the material to show
an awareness of the strengths and weakness of different kinds of information presented. They are required to
identify and analyse inference.
The register used in the responses to Sections A and B should demonstrate the type of written communication skills
required for entering employment or further study.
All questions will be based on unseen material on an insert accompanying the question paper. The texts may come
from the print(ed) media or online, for example, reports, reviews, essays, blogs, scripts, speeches and descriptions.
Other material may include, for example, diagrams, data and notes.
The unseen material will be up to 900 words in length. The number of words does not include any introductory
notes or glossary notes.
Command words
The table below includes command words used in the assessment for this syllabus. The use of the command word
will relate to the subject context.
Phrases such as ‘To what extent …?’ may also be seen in the assessment for this syllabus.
This section is an overview of other information you need to know about this syllabus. It will help to share the
administrative information with your exams officer so they know when you will need their support. Find more
information about our administrative processes at www.cambridgeinternational.org/eoguide
We design Cambridge International AS & A Level syllabuses based on learners having about 180 guided learning
hours for each Cambridge International AS Level. The number of hours a learner needs to achieve the qualification
may vary according to local practice and their previous experience of the subject.
You can view the timetable for your administrative zone at www.cambridgeinternational.org/timetables
You can enter candidates in the June and November exam series. If your school is in India, you can also enter your
candidates in the March exam series.
Check you are using the syllabus for the year the candidate is taking the exam.
Making entries
Exams officers are responsible for submitting entries to Cambridge International. We encourage them to work
closely with you to make sure they enter the right number of candidates for the right combination of syllabus
components. Entry option codes and instructions for submitting entries are in the Cambridge Guide to Making
Entries. Your exams officer has a copy of this guide.
Exam administration
To keep our exams secure, we produce question papers for different areas of the world, known as administrative
zones. We allocate all Cambridge schools to one administrative zone determined by their location. Each zone has
a specific timetable. Some of our syllabuses offer candidates different assessment options. An entry option code
is used to identify the components the candidate will take relevant to the administrative zone and the available
assessment options.
Retakes
Candidates can retake Cambridge International AS Level and Cambridge International A Level as many
times as they want to. Cambridge International AS Levels are linear qualifications so candidates
cannot re-sit individual components. Information on retake entries is in the Cambridge Handbook at
www.cambridgeinternational.org/eoguide
The standard assessment arrangements may present unnecessary barriers for candidates with disabilities or learning
difficulties. We can put arrangements in place for these candidates to enable them to access the assessments and
receive recognition of their attainment. We do not agree access arrangements if they give candidates an unfair
advantage over others or if they compromise the standards being assessed.
Candidates who cannot access the assessment of any component may be able to receive an award based on the
parts of the assessment they have completed.
Language
This syllabus and the related assessment materials are available in English only.
‘Ungraded’ means that the candidate’s performance did not meet the standard required for the lowest grade
(e). ‘Ungraded’ is reported on the statement of results but not on the certificate. In specific circumstances your
candidates may see one of the following letters on their statement of results:
• Q (pending)
• X (no result)
• Y (to be issued).
On the statement of results and certificates, Cambridge International AS Level is shown as General Certificate of
Education, GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level (GCE AS Level).
‘Cambridge International A Levels are the ‘gold standard’ qualification. They are based on
rigorous, academic syllabuses that are accessible to students from a wide range of abilities yet
have the capacity to stretch our most able.’
Director of Studies, Auckland Grammar School, New Zealand
How students, teachers and higher education can use the grades
Cambridge International AS Level
Assessment at Cambridge International AS Level has two purposes:
• to measure learning and achievement
The assessment:
– confirms achievement and performance in relation to the knowledge, understanding and skills specified in
the syllabus.
Grade descriptions
Grade descriptions are provided to give an indication of the standards of achievement candidates awarded
particular grades are likely to show. Weakness in one aspect of the examination may be balanced by a better
performance in some other aspect.
Grade descriptions for Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper will be published after the first
assessment of the AS Level in 2022. Find more information at www.cambridgeinternational.org/alevel
You must read the whole syllabus before planning your teaching programme.
Changes to syllabus • Information on page 16 regarding grade descriptions has been updated to
reflect this is an AS Level syllabus.