There are 8 questions to select from instead of the 12 questions as in the past syllabus
Themes for the examination are lesser and integrated into a narrow framework. For example, topics like history and geography are now classified under the theme under Arts. This part of the syllabus is of greatest imperative to understand well on how the essay paper is tested.
Structure of the discussion remains the same where the focus on the discussion is still based on ‘do you agree?, ‘how far do you agree?’, ‘discuss’, ‘comment’ and ‘what is your view?
Skills required for the essay paper remain the same.

There will be 3 passages with different focuses on different types of discussion like the positive and negative impact and opinion development. It is also observed that the passage is shorter and the number of issues discussed are lesser.
The types of comprehension questions can be classified as factual, inference, language-based, logic deduction and argumentative types of questions. The answers required specific ways and steps in answering it to full mark for the question. As for the summary question, the testing requirements remain the same. Lastly, for the AQ, the 2024 paper is limited to one type of format which is testing the dialectical impact of discussion like benefits and harms of the issue discussed which required students to provide a degree of agreement to the issue based on the context of modern society or Singapore.
The theme of the comprehension covers a wide range of questions about social issues in modern society and the discussion is based on different aspects of debate about the issue. Students are required to develop the answers based on the context of discussion.