I Think, Therefore I Take KI — Please Mind the Platform Gap: H2 Knowledge and Inquiry

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By Dara Tan and Joshua Tan (27A01A)

This article is part of a series of revisions to Raffles Press’ Please Mind the Platform Gap, intended to refresh dated information while retaining the core structure. For our previous feature on H2 KI, please click here.

All information provided here is accurate as of the time of writing.

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of RI’s academic management and should not be used as a substitute for formal academic counselling.

Knowledge and Inquiry (KI) is a subject not often talked about in JC. Whenever we tell our friends that we take KI, we are often asked, “KI? What does it stand for?” and “What’s that subject about?” Its small batch size (this year sees fewer than 30 students across the entire 2027 cohort) and rather niche, abstract focus may leave those considering it confused.

Fret not, for we are here to clear up any confusion you might have regarding this obscure and mysterious subject.

What is KI?

KI is an H2 subject that focuses on the study of knowledge, otherwise known as epistemology. Its rather pretentious name aside, the central topic we focus on in KI can be remembered simply as NaCoK, or the Nature and Construction of Knowledge. KI discusses questions like what knowledge is, what makes knowledge reliable, and how we gain knowledge.

KI is a rather interesting H2, since it can be taken as a contrasting subject for both Arts and Science stream students. For example, if you are taking a science stream combination like PCM_, instead of taking Econs, you can replace it with KI. Or if you are taking an Arts stream course, you can take KILME (KI, Lit, Math and Econs) or even HELKI (History, Econs, Lit and KI), with KI replacing Math. Note that it can no longer replace General Paper (GP) as a subject, and GP is a compulsory subject for all JC students.

The KI Syllabus

So, what does studying knowledge actually look like? The KI curriculum begins with a unit on critical thinking and logic, where you are introduced to argument forms like modus ponens and logical fallacies like ad hominem. The next unit is on general epistemology, where you will learn theories on the source of knowledge, perception, types of justification, and truth, before diving into six specific fields to learn more about NaCoK in the following areas: Math, Science, Social Science, Ethics, History and Aesthetics.

Each domain raises its own questions: Can math be objective? Do universal moral judgments exist? Can knowledge be gained from art? Given the small class sizes, lessons tend to be discussion-centric. And due to the complexity of some units, the amount of content the KI syllabus covers is actually relatively little compared to subjects like History.

*A face you’ll (hopefully) be making often in KI class*

Simply learning these ideas, however, is not enough. The KI exam will test your ability to apply these theories to subject domains beyond the six that we learn, as well as your basic critical thinking.

The exam consists of three papers. The first paper consists of 2 essays (don’t worry, you get 3 hours); the first one on general epistemology, while the second focuses on NaCoK in a specific subject domain. For example, an essay 1 question could be “Critically assess the view that we cannot construct knowledge from experience alone”, while an essay 2 question could be “Critically assess the view that there is no such thing as absolute moral truth”, with a focus on the knowledge domain of ethics.

The second paper requires you to reconstruct and evaluate the strength of arguments presented to you in three unseen passages, while also bringing in relevant content knowledge for the longest passage, testing your critical thinking abilities. The third paper, however, is the most unique. Over the course of six months in Year 6, you will be tasked with writing a 3000-word independent study (IS) on the nature and construction of knowledge in ANY domain you have an interest in (things like neurobiology, film studies, and even love have been explored), contributing to a whopping 40% of your A-level grade.

The Pros and Cons of Taking KI

In order to take KI, you must pass a selection test. Since there is no such thing as H1 KI, you cannot drop to an H1 should you find yourself struggling with the subject. As such, this diagnostic test acts as a safeguard to ensure that only those able to cope with KI will take it.

The test consists of an MCQ and an essay section, where you write an essay in response to a dialogue. The MCQ questions primarily deal with basic logic questions, while the essay examines your ability to articulate and express your reasoning and arguments. You don’t need to study for it, nor do we think it would be possible to—the content tested is very hard to prepare for, but it will determine if you can take KI, which is why we recommend taking the test organically to see if you will be able to cope with the subject’s demands.

KI itself is quite a contentious subject, since some universities in the UK may not consider it an H2 subject, meaning that in order to apply, you’ll need to make sure you keep your other subjects up to speed.

Furthermore, the IS you have to write in Y6 is frequently a limiting factor for many KI students intending to take an H3 in Y6. The opportunity to explore a NaCoK issue in any domain of your interest opens up wonderful possibilities for anyone, but the high demands of this paper and the thin line between writing a KI paper and simply a paper on the subject of your choice make it a challenge for even the best of us.

Still, KI does offer the opportunity to study and explore different knowledge domains from an entirely new perspective. Instead of simply dealing with the content of the subject, we take a more “meta” view of knowledge, looking at how such knowledge is constructed and maintained.

All in all, the ultimate deciding factor in your choice to take KI would simply be if you think you would enjoy it. KI is a subject where genuine interest and passion will play a large part in your capability and in your ability to cope with the subject as a whole.

Note: There will be a KI syllabus change for those taking the 2028 A Levels. The assessment formats remain unchanged, but the answering techniques and even what is covered may slightly differ. For a more detailed breakdown, please refer to the following article: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/jc-philosophy-subject-knowledge-and-inquiry-to-get-syllabus-refresh-in-2027.