GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment
You will begin the GMAT with the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). It’s composed of two thirty-minute essays; one asking you to analyze an issue and another to analyze an argument.
The essays are similar in that they both test your ability as a writer. The graders want to see you write clearly and articulately under the given time restrictions. You should aim to create a coherent piece, supporting ideas with relevant evidence while obeying grammar rules. Since you will not have the luxury of using Microsoft Word, you must proofread and spell check your work. However, if you need to shuffle paragraphs around, you can save time by using the cut and paste feature.
The first essay asks for your point of view on an issue. To support your argument, use examples from your life, current events, history, books (or pretty much whatever comes to mind and is relevant). Given your time restraints, you don’t really have time to waffle. Decide on a position and support it.
The second argument essay differs from the first in that you will be asked to critique an argument by assessing its claims. Rather than weighing in with your personal opinion, you should analyze the logical soundness and reasoning of the argument and , highlight the flaws. The GMAC advises you to consider the following as you write:
- What questionable assumptions underlie the thinking behind the argument?
- What alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion?
- What sort of evidence could help strengthen or refute the argument?
Because of your limited time, you should be ready to write quickly, but still have direction. We recommend spending a few minutes generating examples or bullet points for the essay, before you start writing.
What about length of the essay? We advise writing as much as you can, as coherently as you can. As this New York Times article “SAT Essay Test Rewards Length and Ignores Errors” discusses, there’s evidence that the longer an essay is the higher it is scored. Through a scientific experiment, an MIT professor found a strong correlation between the length of an essay and its score for the SATs, something the College Board refutes. No word yet if he plans to research a similar correlation for the GMAT. Writing a long essay does not give you carte blanche to neglect grammar and your coherent argument.
The essays are scored using a number system of 1 thru 6 and are not factored into your overall score. Even though some schools admit to barely glancing at the score, this does not mean you should completely neglect the essay.
And for our “duh” comments:
- Do not write something not related to the topics.
- Once you complete an essay and click the submit button, you cannot return to it.
- Practicing does make it easier and more familiar.
Add comment March 31st, 2008