2024 KS BULL Issue 2

The views expressed in each essay are purely for the academic purposes of crafting a viable argumentative response. They do not necessarily reflect the personal opinions of any student or staff member, nor do they necessarily represent the perspective(s) of Raffles Institution. No portion of this collection may be reproduced or shared for any reason and by any means whatsoever. Note: The comments that follow each student response include both markers’ and editors’ comments.

KS Bull 2024 | Issue 2 © Raffles Institution Unauthorised copying, sharing & distribution prohibited 2 2 CONTENTS 2024 Year 6 GP Timed Practice | Paper 1 To what extent can popular music today be considered works of art? 1 Sivamuthu Nihidha Varshini | 24S03O 4 ‘Given the complexities of today’s world, only the educated should be allowed to vote. Do you agree? 2 Pan Haotian | 24A01B 7 Is it still wise to put our hopes in international organisations? 3 Chua Yu Jie | 24A01B 10 4 Ernest Tan En-Rae | 24S03M 13 5 Wong Kheng Hshin | 24S06O 17 2024 Year 5 GP Timed Practice | Paper 1 To what extent does social media promote undesirable behaviour? 6 Amanda Lim De Ying | 25A01B 21 There is no point in fighting for gender equality today.’ Do you agree? 7 Chen-June Kee Fay | 25A01B 24 Schools fail to adequately prepare students for adult life. How far is this true? 8 Matteo Jude Wee Sze Yu | 25S06D 27

KS Bull 2024 | Issue 2 © Raffles Institution Unauthorised copying, sharing & distribution prohibited 3 2 2024 Year 6 KI Timed Practice | Paper 2 | Question 1 9 Passage 30 Responses 10 Lau Ken Ern | 24A01A 32 11 Soh Jun Hee | 24A01A 35 12 Emma-Ruth Oh | 24S07A 37 2024 Year 6 KI Timed Practice | Paper 2 | Question 2 13 Passage 39 Responses 14 Lau Ken Ern | 24A01A 40 2024 Year 6 KI Timed Practice | Paper 2 | Question 3 15 Passage 42 Responses 16 Wong Xing Le | 24A01A 43 Editorial Team 45

KS Bull 2024 | Issue 2 © Raffles Institution Unauthorised copying, sharing & distribution prohibited 4 2 Taylor Swift's Eras Tour has taken the world by storm, with fans flying across the globe and spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, on tickets to the Eras Tour and their outfits. Of course, it is not Taylor Swift alone who has been going on tours to perform. Other popular singers like Olivia Rodrigo, Laufey and various other musicians have been holding concerts worldwide. However, these fans are often met with criticism from non-fans on the superficial nature of popular music, and how it is a waste of time, energy and money to be travelling to the popular singers’ concerts, and to listen to their songs. Now, this begs the question, can popular music be considered works of art, given the commercial nature of it? Well, I for one believe that popular m usic can be considered works of art given that it ca