VJC 2023 WA1 P2 (8881)

1 VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE JC1 WEIGHTED ASSESSMENT 1 2023 HIGHER 1 GENERAL PAPER 8881/02 Paper 2 1 hour READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your C.T. group, index number and name on all the work you hand in. Write in dark blue or black pen. Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid. Answer all questions. Note that up to 15 marks out of 40 will be awarded for your use of language. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. This document consists of 8 printed pages, including this page. [Turn over

2 Passage 1: An author writes about the benefits of higher education. 1 Education is seen as the golden ticket to a better life. An invaluable tool in liberating the minds of individuals to an elevated state of understanding and potential, it encourages one to question and analyse the various goings -on of the world and its inhabitants. Education allows one to approach controversy and to form strongly validated, persuasive views. However, spending cuts and subsequent financial burdens are causing education to be withheld from many students due to the increasing cost of becoming educated. The ultimate tool to really increase the abundance of educational opportunities begins at lowering, if not removing entirely, the tuition of college and treating it as a common good. Free education is not some mystical fantasy, as it has indeed existed in the past and still does exist in small institutions scattered across America. 5 10 2 Many economists agree that higher education is directly correlated with economic growth and stability. Countries thrive when their educational systems thrive. The more educated the citizens of a country are, the more likely their personal economies are to develop and succeed. We can all understand that educated individuals bring in bigger paychecks than those who are lacking in their education. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), educated people are more actively i nvolved in various societal activities such as voting, volunteering, engaging in political discourse and building interpersonal trust. Knowledge in many fields contributes to participating in these activities and events. Education makes people aware of what they are capable of, allowing them to enhance their lives and contribute to the world at large. 15 20 3 Aside from improvements in day-to-day living, educated individuals tend to live longer lives than their uneducated counterparts. Improved mental, physical and emotional health can all be attributed to education. According to Michael Kruger and Ernest Abel in the Psychological Reports journal, the rates of suicide for educated individuals are far lower than their uneducated counterparts. Learned people lead fuller, more meaningful lives and consequently have greater inspiration to keep on living and to fulfil their life goals and dreams. 25 30 4 Education benefits society as a whole by nurturing feelings of “togetherness” and compatibility within a society. In order for a society to grow, it must share common goals and values while simultaneously promoting variance and uniqueness. In a peaceful, strong and vibrant society, differences can only exist if there is sufficient common ground. When inhabitants of a country come together to participate in shared democratic practices, such as voting or partaking in national polls and surveys, they experience feelings of solidarity and nationalism as a collective unit working to move their country forward. 35 5 In view of the potential benefits of pursuing an education, higher education should no longer be viewed and treated as a privilege, but rather considered a right and necessity for the individuals of society. Societies around the world must work at providing education for those who seek it. It is an injustice to humanity to deny or obstruct any person from the pursuit of education. 40

3 Passage 2: An author questions the purported benefits of pursuing higher education. 1 There are plenty of good reasons for a young person to choose to go to university: intellectual growth, career opportunities, having fun. Around half of school-leavers in the rich world now do so, and th e share is rising in poorer countries too. Governments are keen on higher education, seeing it as a means to boost social mobility and economic growth. Almost all subsidise tuition — in America, to the tune of $200 billion a year. But they tend to overesti mate the benefits and ignore the costs of expanding university education. 5 2 As more young people seek degrees, the returns both to them and to governments are lower. Employers demand degrees for jobs that never required them in the past and have become more demanding since. In a desperate attempt to stand out, students are studyin g even longer, and delaying work, to obtain master’s degrees. In many developed countries where most young workers have degrees, many of the unemployed are graduates. Many students are wasting their own money and that of the taxpayers who subsidise them. 10 3 Spending on universities is usually justified by the “graduate premium” — the increase in earnings that graduates enjoy over non-graduates. But the graduate premium is a flawed unit of reckoning. Some professions require qualifications. But a degree is not always the best measure of the skills and knowledge needed for a job. With degrees so common, recruiters are using them as a crude way to screen applicants. Non -graduates are thus increasingly locked out of decent work. 15 20 4 In any case, the premium counts only the winners and not the losers. Across the rich world, a third of university entrants never graduate. It is the weakest students who are drawn in as higher education expands and who are most likely to dr op out. They pay fees and sacrifice earnings to study, but see little boost in their future incomes. Many school-leavers are being misled about the probable value of university. 25

4 Passage 3: A university undergraduate writes about her thoughts on higher education. 1 I am a strong believer of “chasing your dreams” regardless of your educational level, but getting a good degree at least gives you an advantage. It will help one thrive amongst one’s competitors – in a pool of equally diversified individuals with equal or more talent. 2 Undeniably, the digital age has brought many new professions that do not require higher education. Even a decade ago, people would have never believed that “vlogging” – making videos and posting them online – would be a future career option. Creative agencies are increasingly on the lookout for charismatic personalities to join their team, offering them brand partnerships and other attractive deals. Having a degree or not has no impact on your popularity. As someone who has recently applied for summer internship positions, I know that having a degree does not directly lead to a successful career. Many employers do value experience, which could mean volunteering, work experience or general experience of life. 5 10 3 Even so, having a degree can improve the chances of employment. Although a degree does not guarantee success, it does increase one’s chances of getting noticed, which is itself already an achievement, considering how much competition there is for jobs. Plus, a degree offers individuals extensive options to explore opportunities of their choice. They have attained necessary fundamental skills when procuring their degrees, which now give them avenues to experiment