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GMAT Essay – List of AWA Topics – 50 Practice Questions on GMAT AWA 2023

Posted by Suheb Hussain | Jan 25, 2023 | GMAT Focus Edition , GMAT IR and AWA , GMAT Preparation

This document contains practice questions that will help you improve the AWA section or the GMAT essay section. Discuss in your GMAT essay how well-reasoned you find the argument. Here are some ways you can do that while writing your GMAT essay for the AWA section. In your discussion, be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

We also recommend you read this article on how to score a perfect 6 on the GMAT AWA.

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GMAT Essay practice question 1

• The following appeared as part of an article in a trade magazine:

“During a recent trial period in which government inspections at selected meat-processing plants were more frequent, the number of bacteria in samples of processed chicken decreased by 50 percent on average from the previous year’s level. If the government were to institute more frequent inspections, the incidence of stomach and intestinal infections throughout the country could thus be cut in half. In the meantime, consumers of Excel Meats should be safe from infection because Excel’s main processing plant has shown more improvement in eliminating bacterial contamination than any other plant cited in the government report.”

Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.

GMAT Essay practice question 2

2. The following appeared as part of an annual report sent to stockholders by Olympic Foods, a processor of frozen foods:

“Over time, the costs of processing go down because as organizations learn how to do things better, they become more efficient. In color film processing, for example, the cost of a 3-by-5-inch print fell from 50 cents for five-day service in 1970 to 20 cents for one-day service in 1984. The same principle applies to the processing of food. And since Olympic Foods will soon celebrate its 25th birthday, we can expect that our long experience will enable us to minimize costs and thus maximize profits.”

GMAT AWA practice question 3

3. The following appeared in a memorandum from the business department of the Apogee Company:

“When the Apogee Company had all its operations in one location, it was more profitable than it is today. Therefore, the Apogee Company should close down its field offices and conduct all its operations from a single location. Such centralization would improve profitability by cutting costs and helping the company maintain better supervision of all employees.”

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GMAT Essay practice question 4

4. The following appeared in a memorandum issued by a large city’s council on the arts:

“In a recent citywide poll, 15 percent more residents said that they watch television programs about the visual arts than was the case in a poll conducted five years ago. During these past five years, the number of people visiting our city’s art museums has increased by a similar percentage. Since the corporate funding that supports public television, where most of the visual arts programs appear, is now being threatened with severe cuts, we can expect that attendance at our city’s art museums will also start to decrease. Thus some of the city’s funds for supporting the arts should be reallocated to public television.”

GMAT Essay practice question 5

5. The following appeared in an announcement issued by the publisher of The Mercury , a weekly newspaper:

“Since a competing lower-priced newspaper, The Bugle , was started five years ago, The Mercury ’s circulation has declined by 10,000 readers. The best way to get more people to read The Mercury is to reduce its price below that of The Bugle , at least until circulation increases to former levels. The increased circulation of The Mercury will attract more businesses to buy advertising space in the paper.”

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GMAT Essay practice question 6

6.  The following appeared in a report presented for discussion at a meeting of the directors of a company that manufactures parts for heavy machinery:

“The falling revenues that the company is experiencing coincide with delays in manufacturing. These delays, in turn, are due in large part to poor planning in purchasing metals. Consider further that the manager of the department that handles purchasing of raw materials has an excellent background in general business, psychology, and sociology, but knows little about the properties of metals. The company should, therefore, move the purchasing manager to the sales department and bring in a scientist from the research division to be manager of the purchasing department.”

GMAT Essay practice question 7

7. The following appeared in a research paper written for an introductory economics course:

“For the past century, an increase in the number of residential building permits issued per month in a particular region has been a reliable indicator of coming improvements to that region’s economy. If the monthly number of residential building permits issued rises consistently for a few months, the local unemployment rate almost always falls and economic production increases. This well-established connection reveals an effective method by which a regional government can end a local economic downturn: relax regulations governing all construction so that many more building permits can be issued.”

Discuss how well reasoned . . .etc.

GMAT Essay practice question 8

8.  The following appeared in a memorandum to the work-group supervisors of the GBS Company:

“The CoffeeCart beverage and food service located in the lobby of our main office building is not earning enough in sales to cover its costs, and so the cart may discontinue operating at GBS. Given the low staff morale, as evidenced by the increase in the number of employees leaving the company, the loss of this service could present a problem, especially since the staff morale questionnaire showed widespread dissatisfaction with the snack machines.

Therefore, supervisors should remind the employees in their group to patronize the cart—after all, it was leased for their convenience so that they would not have to walk over to the cafeteria on breaks.”

GMAT Essay practice question 9

9. The following appeared in a memorandum written by the chair of the music department to the president of Omega University:

“Mental health experts have observed that symptoms of mental illness are less pronounced in many patients after group music-therapy sessions, and job openings in the music-therapy field have increased during the past year. Consequently, graduates from our degree program for music therapists should have no trouble finding good positions. To help improve the financial status of Omega University, we should, therefore, expand our music-therapy degree program by increasing its enrollment targets.”

GMAT Essay practice question 10

10. The following appeared in a memorandum from the vice president of Gigantis, a development company that builds and leases retail store facilities:

“Nationwide over the past five years, sales have increased significantly at outlet stores that deal exclusively in reduced-price merchandise. Therefore, we should publicize the new mall that we are building at Pleasantville as a central location for outlet shopping and rent storage space only to outlet companies. By taking advantage of the success of outlet stores, this plan should help ensure full occupancy of the mall and enable us to recover quickly the costs of building the mall.”

11. The following appeared in a memorandum from the business planning department of Avia Airlines:

“Of all the cities in their region, Beaumont and Fletcher are showing the fastest growth in the number of new businesses. Therefore, Avia should establish a commuter route between them as a means of countering recent losses on its main passenger routes. And to make the commuter route more profitable from the outset, Avia should offer a 1/3 discount on tickets purchased within two days of the flight. Unlike tickets bought earlier, discount tickets will be nonrefundable, and so gain from their sale will be greater.”

12. The following appeared in a speech by a stockholder of Consolidated Industries at the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting:

“In the computer hardware division last year, profits fell significantly below projections, the product line decreased from 20 to only 5 items, and expenditures for employee benefits increased by 15 percent. Nevertheless, Consolidated’s board of directors has approved an annual salary of more than $1 million for our company’s chief executive officer. The present board members should be replaced because they are unconcerned about the increasing costs of employee benefits and salaries, in spite of the company’s problems generating income.”

13.  The following appeared as part of a business plan by the Capital Idea investment firm:

“In recent years the worldwide demand for fish has grown, and improvements in fishing technology have made larger catches and thus increased supply possible: for example, last year’s tuna catch was 9 percent greater than the previous year’s. To capitalize on these trends, we should, therefore, invest in the new tartfish processing plant on Tartfish Island, where increasing revenues from tourism indicate a strong local economy.”

14. The following appeared as part of an article in a weekly newsmagazine:

“The country of Oleum can best solve the problem of its balance of trade deficit by further increasing the tax on its major import, crude oil. After Oleum increased the tax on imported crude oil four months ago, consumption of gasoline declined by 20 percent. Therefore, by imposing a second and significantly higher tax increase next year, Oleum will dramatically decrease its balance of trade deficit.”

15. The following appeared in a memorandum from the human resources department of HomeStyle, a house remodeling business:

“This year, despite HomeStyle’s move to new office space, we have seen a decline in both company morale and productivity, and a corresponding increase in administrative costs. To rectify these problems, we should begin using a newly developed software package for performance appraisal and feedback. Managers will save time by simply choosing comments from a preexisting list; then the software will automatically generate feedback for the employee. The human resources department at CounterBalance, the manufacturer of the countertops we install, reports satisfaction with the package.”

16. The following appeared in a memorandum written by the managing director of the Exeunt Theater Company:

“Now that we have moved to a larger theater, we can expect to increase our revenues from ticket sales. To further increase profits, we should start producing the plays that have been most successful when they were performed in our nation’s largest cities. In addition, we should hire the Adlib Theater Company’s director of fund-raising, since corporate contributions to Adlib have increased significantly over the three years that she has worked for Adlib.”

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17. The following appeared in a memorandum from a regional supervisor of post office operations:

“During a two-week study of postal operations, the Presto City post office handled about twice as many items as the Lento City post office, even though the cities are about the same size. Moreover, customer satisfaction appears to be higher in Presto City, since the study found fewer complaints regarding the Presto City post office. Therefore, the postmasters at these two offices should exchange assignments: the Presto City postmaster will solve the problems of inefficiency and customer dissatisfaction at the Lento City office while the Lento City postmaster learns firsthand the superior methods of Presto City.”

18. The following appeared in a memorandum from the human resources department of Diversified Manufacturing:

“Managers at our central office report that their employees tend to be most productive in the days immediately preceding a vacation. To help counteract our declining market share, we could increase the productivity of our professional staff members, who currently receive four weeks paid vacation a year, by limiting them to a maximum of one week’s continuous vacation time. They will thus take more vacation breaks during a year and give us more days of maximum productivity.”

19. The following appeared in a memorandum from the marketing department of a children’s clothing manufacturer:

“Our HuggyBunny brand is the bestselling brand of children’s clothing. Parents everywhere recognize the HuggyBunny logo as a mark of quality, and most of our customers show great brand loyalty. Sales reports have shown that parents are more likely to buy children’s clothes with the familiar HuggyBunny brand and logo than otherwise identical clothes without it. Therefore, if we use the HuggyBunny brand name and logo for the new line of clothing for teenagers that our company will soon be introducing, that clothing will sell better than it would if we labeled it with a new brand name and logo.”

20. The following appeared in a memorandum from the president of Aurora, a company that sells organic milk (milk produced without the use of chemical additives):

“Sales of organic food products in this country have tripled over the past five years. If Aurora is to profit from this continuing trend, we must diversify and start selling products such as organic orange juice and organic eggs in addition to our regular product line. With the recent increase of articles in health magazines questioning the safety of milk and other food products, customers are even more likely to buy our line of organic products. And to help ensure our successful expansion, we should hire the founder of a chain of health-food stores to serve as our vice president of marketing.”

21. The following appeared as part of an article in a newsletter for farmers:

“Users of Solacium, a medicinal herb now grown mainly in Asia, report that it relieves tension and promotes deep sleep. A recent study indicates that a large number of college students who took pills containing one of the ingredients in Solacium suffered less anxiety. To satisfy the anticipated demands for this very promising therapeutic herb and to reap the financial benefits, farmers in this country should begin growing it.”

22. The following appeared as part of the business plan of the Capital Idea investment firm:

“Across town in the Park Hill district, the Thespian Theater, Pizzazz Pizza, and the Niblick Golf Club have all had business increases over the past two years. Capital Idea should, therefore, invest in the Roxy Playhouse, the Slice-o’- Pizza, and the Divot Golf Club, three new businesses in the Irongate district. As a condition, we should require them to participate in a special program: Any customer who patronizes two of the businesses will receive a substantial discount at the third. By motivating customers to patronize all three, we will thus contribute to the profitability of each and maximize our return.”

23. The following appeared in a memorandum from the owner of Carlo’s Clothing to the staff:

“Since Disc Depot, the music store on the next block began a new radio advertising campaign last year, its business has grown dramatically, as evidenced by the large increase in foot traffic into the store. While the Disc Depot’s owners have apparently become wealthy enough to retire, profits at Carlo’s Clothing have remained stagnant for the past three years. In order to boost our sales and profits, we should, therefore, switch from newspaper advertising to frequent radio advertisements like those for Disc Depot.”

24. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a River City newspaper:

“The Clio Development Group’s plan for a multilevel parking garage on Dock Street should be approved in order to strengthen the economy of the surrounding area. Although most of the buildings on the block would have to be demolished, they are among the oldest in the city and thus of little current economic value. Those who oppose the project should realize that historic preservation cannot be the only consideration: even Athens or Jerusalem will knock down old buildings to put up new ones that improve the local economy.”

25. The following appeared in a memorandum from the publisher to the staff of The Clarion , a large metropolitan newspaper:

“During the recent campaign for mayor, a clear majority of city readers who responded to our survey indicated a desire for more news about city government. To increase circulation, and thus our profits, we should therefore consistently devote a greater proportion of space in all editions of The Clarion to coverage of local news.”

26. The following appeared in a corporate planning memorandum for a company that develops amusement parks:

“Because travel from our country to foreign countries has increased dramatically in recent years, our next project should be a ‘World Tour’ theme park with replicas of famous foreign buildings, rides that have international themes, and refreshment stands to serve only foods from the country represented by the nearest ride. The best location would be near our capital city, which has large percentages of international residents and of children under the age of 16. Given the advantages of this site and the growing interest in foreign countries, the ‘World Tour’ theme park should be as successful as our space-travel theme park, where attendance has increased tenfold over the past decade.”

27.  The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a River City newspaper:

“The Clio Development Group should not be permitted to build a multilevel parking garage on Dock Street since most of the buildings on the block would have to be demolished. Because these buildings were erected decades ago, they have historic significance and must, therefore, be preserved as economic assets in the effort to revitalize a restored riverfront area. Recall how Lakesburg has benefited from business increases in its historic downtown center. Moreover, there is plenty of vacant land for a parking lot elsewhere in River City.”

28. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a local newspaper:

“Our city council’s neglect of the impoverished Railroad Flats neighborhood has left businesses with little incentive to locate there. Building a new professional football stadium in the neighborhood would solve this problem. Thousands of football fans would travel to the area to see games, and they would buy from local merchants, encouraging new businesses to open. So our city council should move quickly to fund the construction of a professional football stadium in Railroad Flats in order to help the neighborhood develop a thriving economy.”

29. The following appeared in a memorandum from the director of marketing for a pharmaceutical company:

“According to a survey of 5,000 urban residents, the prevalence of stress headaches increases with educational level, so that stress headaches occur most often among people with graduate-school degrees. It is well established that, nationally, higher educational levels usually correspond with higher levels of income. Therefore, in marketing our new pain remedy, Omnilixir, we should send free samples primarily to graduate students and to people with graduate degrees, and we should concentrate on advertising in professional journals rather than in general interest magazines.”

30. The following appeared as part of an editorial in the Waymarsh city newspaper:

“Last year the parents of first graders in our school district expressed satisfaction with the reading skills their children developed but complained strongly about their children’s math skills. To remedy this serious problem and improve our district’s elementary education, everyone in the teacher-training program at Waymarsh University should be required to take more courses in mathematics.”

31. The following appeared in a memorandum from the business office of the Lovin’ Cupful, a national restaurant chain:

“The Lovin’ Cupful franchises in our northeast region have begun serving customers Almost, a brand new powdered instant tea, in place of brewed tea. Waiters report that only about 2 percent of the customers have complained and that customers who want refills typically ask for ‘more tea.’ It appears, then, that 98 percent of the customers are perfectly happy with the switch, or else they cannot tell powdered instant from brewed tea. Therefore, in order to take advantage of the lower price per pound of Almost, all of our restaurants should begin substituting it for brewed tea.”

32. The following appeared as a memorandum from the vice-president of the Dolci candy company:

“Given the success of our premium and most expensive line of chocolate candies in a recent taste test and the consequent increase in sales, we should shift our business focus to producing additional lines of premium candy rather than our lower-priced, ordinary candies. When the current economic boom ends and consumers can no longer buy major luxury items, such as cars, they will still want to indulge in small luxuries, such as expensive candies.”

33. The following appeared in a memorandum from the director of research and development at Ready-to-Ware, a software engineering firm:

“The package of benefits and incentives that Ready-to-Ware offers to professional staff is too costly. Our quarterly profits have declined since the package was introduced two years ago, at the time of our incorporation. Moreover, the package had little positive effect, as we have had only marginal success in recruiting and training high-quality professional staff. To become more profitable again, Ready-to-Ware should, therefore, offer the reduced benefits package that was in place two years ago and use the savings to fund our current research and development initiatives.”

34. The following appeared in a memorandum from the assistant manager of Pageturner Books:

“Over the past two years, Pageturner’s profits have decreased by 5 percent, even though we have added a popular café as well as a music section selling CDs and tapes. At the same time, we have experienced an increase in the theft of merchandise. We should, therefore, follow the example of Thoreau Books, which increased its profits after putting copies of its most frequently stolen books on a high shelf behind the payment counter. By doing likewise with copies of the titles that our staff reported stolen last year, we too can increase profitability.”

35. The following appeared in a memorandum to a team developing accounting software for SmartPro Software, Inc.:

“Currently, more professional accountants use SmartPro accounting software than any other brand. However, in the market for personal accounting software for non-professionals to use in preparing their income tax returns, many of our competitors are outselling us. In surveys, our professional customers repeatedly say that they have chosen SmartPro Software because our most sophisticated software products include more advanced special features than competing brands. Therefore, the most effective way for us to increase sales of our personal accounting software for home users would clearly be to add the advanced special features that our professional software products currently offer.”

36. The following appeared in a memorandum written by the assistant manager of a store that sells gourmet food items from various countries:

“A local wine store made an interesting discovery last month: it sold more French than Italian wine on days when it played recordings of French accordion music, but it sold more Italian than French wine on days when Italian songs were played. Therefore, I recommend that we put food specialties from one particular country on sale for a week at a time and play only music from that country while the sale is going on. By this means we will increase our profits in the same way that the wine store did, and we will be able to predict more precisely what items we should stock at any given time.”

37. The following appeared in a memo to the Saluda town council from the town’s business manager:

“Research indicates that those who exercise regularly are hospitalized less than half as often as those who don’t exercise. By providing a well-equipped gym for Saluda’s municipal employees, we should be able to reduce the cost of our group health insurance coverage by approximately 50 percent and thereby achieve a balanced town budget.”

38. The following appeared as part of a letter to the editor of a local newspaper:

“Bayview High School is considering whether to require all of its students to wear uniforms while at school. Students attending Acorn Valley Academy, a private school in town, earn higher grades on average and are more likely to go on to college. Moreover, Acorn Valley reports few instances of tardiness, absenteeism, or discipline problems. Since Acorn Valley requires its students to wear uniforms, Bayview High School would do well to follow suit and require its students to wear uniforms as well.”

39. The following appeared as part of a memorandum from the loan department of the Frostbite National Bank:

“We should not approve the business loan application of the local group that wants to open a franchise outlet for the Kool Kone chain of ice cream parlors. Frostbite is known for its cold winters, and cold weather can mean slow ice cream sales. For example, even though Frostbite is a town of 10,000 people, it has only one ice cream spot—the Frigid Cow. Despite the lack of competition, the Frigid Cow’s net revenues fell by 10 percent last winter.”

40. The following appeared in a letter from a staff member in the office of admissions at Argent University:

“The most recent nationwide surveys show that undergraduates choose their major field primarily based on their perception of job prospects in that field. At our university, economics is now the most popular major, so students must perceive this field as having the best job prospects. Therefore, we can increase our enrollment if we focus our advertising and recruiting on publicizing the accomplishments of our best-known economics professors and the success of our economics graduates in finding employment.”

41. The following appeared as part of a business plan created by the management of the Take Heart Fitness Center:

“After opening the new swimming pool early last summer, Take Heart saw a 12 percent increase in the use of the center by its members. Therefore, in order to increase membership in Take Heart, we should continue to add new recreational facilities in subsequent years: for example, a multipurpose game room, a tennis court, and a miniature golf course. Being the only center in the area offering this range of activities would give us a competitive advantage in the health and recreation market.”

42. The following appeared as part of an article in the book section of a newspaper:

“Currently more and more books are becoming available in electronic form—either free-of-charge on the Internet or for a very low price-per-book on compact disc.* Thus literary classics are likely to be read more widely than ever before. People who couldn’t have purchased these works at bookstore prices will now be able to read them for little or no money; similarly, people who find it inconvenient to visit libraries and wait for books to be returned by other patrons will now have access to whatever classic they choose from their home or work computers. This increase in access to literary classics will radically affect the public taste in reading, creating a far more sophisticated and learned reading audience than has ever existed before.”

*A compact disc is a small portable disc capable of storing relatively large amounts of data that can be read by a computer.

43. The following appeared as an editorial in a magazine concerned with educational issues:

“In our country, the real earnings of men who have only a high-school degree have decreased significantly over the past 15 years, but those of male college graduates have remained about the same. Therefore, the key to improving the earnings of the next generation of workers is to send all students to college. Our country’s most important educational goal, then, should be to establish enough colleges and universities to accommodate all high school graduates.”

44. The following appeared in an editorial from a newspaper serving the town of Saluda:

“The Saluda Consolidated High School offers more than 200 different courses from which its students can choose. A much smaller private school down the street offers a basic curriculum of only 80 different courses, but it consistently sends a higher proportion of its graduating seniors on to college than Consolidated does. By eliminating at least half of the courses offered there and focusing on a basic curriculum, we could improve student performance at Consolidated and also save many tax dollars.”

45. The following appeared as part of an article in a trade magazine for breweries:

“Magic Hat Brewery recently released the results of a survey of visitors to its tasting room last year. Magic Hat reports that the majority of visitors asked to taste its low-calorie beers. To boost sales, other small breweries should brew low-calorie beers as well.”

46. The following appeared in a memorandum sent by a vice-president of the Nadir Company to the company’s human resources department:

“Nadir does not need to adopt the costly ‘family-friendly’ programs that have been proposed, such as part-time work, work at home, and job-sharing. When these programs were made available at the Summit Company, the leader in its industry, only a small percentage of employees participated in them. Rather than adversely affecting our profitability by offering these programs, we should concentrate on offering extensive training that will enable employees to increase their productivity.”

47. The following appeared in a letter to prospective students from the admissions office at Plateau College:

“Every person who earned an advanced degree in science or engineering from Olympus University last year received numerous offers of excellent jobs. Typically, many graduates of Plateau College have gone on to pursue advanced degrees at Olympus. Therefore, enrolling as an undergraduate at Plateau College is a wise choice for students who wish to ensure success in their careers.”

48. The following was excerpted from an article in a farming trade publication:

“Farmers who switched from synthetic to organic farming last year have seen their crop yields decline. Many of these farmers feel that it would be too expensive to resume synthetic farming at this point, given the money that they invested in organic farming supplies and equipment. But their investments will be relatively minor compared to the losses from continued lower crop yields. Organic farmers should switch to synthetic farming rather than persist in an unwise course. And the choice to farm organically is financially unwise, given that it was motivated by environmental rather than economic concerns.”

49. The following appeared as part of an article in a computer magazine:

“A year ago Apex Manufacturing bought its managers computers for their homes and paid for telephone connections so that they could access Apex computers and data files from home after normal business hours. Since last year, productivity at Apex has increased by 15 percent. Other companies can learn from the success at Apex: given home computers and access to company resources, employees will work additional hours at home and thereby increase company profits.”

50. The following appeared in the editorial section of a local paper:

“Applications for advertising spots on KMTV, our local cable television channel, decreased last year. Meanwhile, a neighboring town’s local channel, KOOP, changed its focus to farming issues and reported an increase in advertising applications for the year. To increase applications for its advertisement spots, KMTV should focus its programming on farming issues as well.”

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How to write your GMAT AWA Essay [Effectively]

INTRODUCTION

Hello there!

If you’ve found your way to this blog, we assume that you have begun to think about that often-neglected section of the GMAT – the AWA!

If wishes could come true, we’re guessing that GMAT aspirants would have wished away the AWA section away by now!

The AWA involves staring at a blank page and cursor and thinking up stuff to write, not an easy task for many people.

It also consumes a lot of mental bandwidth at the very beginning of the test.

To top it off, it does not even add to your final score!

We can understand why it isn’t your favorite section on the GMAT 🙂

But here’s the good news! There are not many shortcuts to mastering GMAT Quant and Verbal, but there are shortcuts to cracking the AWA section.

By the time you finish reading this guide, you will know what these hacks are. You will learn how to write an effective AWA essay that gets you a good score and leaves you charged for the real test that lies ahead.

This blog will teach you –

• What you need to know BEFORE you start preparing for the AWA
• How to use the 30 minutes allotted to AWA to maximum effect
• How to use a template to make the AWA writing process simpler

Besides this, you will find 8 sample AWA essays to observe and learn from.

Happy reading! 🙂

7 Things to remember before you start prepping for the AWA

Before you dive into AWA preparation, there are a few things you should know about the AWA. Many of these facts will ease your AWA fears and bring a smile to your face!

1. Why is the AWA section on the GMAT?

Each section of the GMAT is carefully constructed ( at the expense of millions of dollars, we kid you not!), to test your readiness for an MBA program and for your post-MBA career. One of the skills you will definitely need post-MBA is an ability to analyze an argument impartially and convey your perspective clearly.

This is what the AWA tests you on.

2. On the AWA, you need to be a lawyer, that is, you need to find faults with the given argument. You do not need to be a journalist, that is, you do not need to write about all possible perspectives of an issue.

Also remember, that this is an analysis, not an opinion piece. Do not bring YOUR perspective and your opinions into the essay. Your only goal is to analyse the given argument.

3. Unlike the Quant and Verbal sections, where your thumb-rule should be to get as high a score as possible, we’d suggest that you do not expend too much mental energy on the AWA, trying to score a 6 on 6.

Getting a perfect 6 will look good on your GMAT score card, and will sound great as you’re telling your friends about it. But it will not be the make-or-break factor in your application. A 4 or a 5 is good enough.

4. The AWA is graded by an E-reader application and by a human reader. Since there is an element of automated grading, you can rig the test to an extent. We’ve found that if you write a substantial essay of over 500 words, and if you structure the argument well ( check our CrackVerbal template in the following chapter), you are almost guaranteed to get a 4+ score!

5. Assuming that you prepare for the GMAT over a course of three months, we recommend that you practice writing 5 to 10 essays, and make sure you get feedback for all of them. If you cover this much practice ground, you’re good to go!

6. One of the best things about the AWA section is that you know all of the questions beforehand (yes, they’re all up there on the GMAC site – Analytical Writing Section ). So you do not have to go hunting for ‘authentic’ AWA essay questions.

7. Now you can choose the order in which you want to take up the sections before starting the test. It is advisable to keep in mind the order that would be helpful for you and prepare for the AWA based on that strategy. This is a recent change to the GMAT test structure. It was introduced in July 2017. We have done a detailed analysis of what this means to an Indian GMAT test-taker in the this blog

8. We saved the coolest point for last 🙂

The AWA lends itself very easily to the use of an essay template. No matter what the argument prompt is, you can bet that there will be at least 3 glaring errors of logic in it. You can, therefore, use a template to structure your AWA essay. Using a template takes most of the stress away from the AWA section.

In the few minutes before you start, you can jot down the template on your scratchpad, so that you don’t have to remember it anymore. Also, because you can plan many of your sentences beforehand, you can get at least a 100 words down before you even read the question!

There are a lot of templates on the internet – probably the most famous one being the Chineseburned AWA template.

At CrackVerbal, we have our own template for the AWA, a modified version of the Chineseburned template. We call it the CrackVerbal AWA Template on Steroids! 🙂

The AWA Writing Process

1. Write your templatized response

This should take you about 5 minutes:

Type out your prepared template response. Below is a sample. We definitely do not recommend that you use the same words. What you can do, however, is read a few templates on the net, and then write your own. Since you have written it yourself, it will be that much easier to memorise it.

CRACKVERBAL AWA TEMPLATE

The argument claims that < restate the argument >. Stated in this way the argument fails to take into account a few key factors which could call the conclusion to question. It rests on some assumptions, for which there is no clear evidence. Therefore, the argument is unconvincing and falls apart at the seams.

Paragraph 1:

1. Firstly, ( ) 2. This statement is a stretch and not substantiated in any way. 3. The argument would have been much clearer if ( )

Paragraph 2:

1. Second ( ). This is again a very weak and unsupported claim as the argument ( ). 2. For example, 3. This argument would have sounded a lot more convincing if 4. In addition, it would have been strengthened ever further if the argument provided evidence that

Paragraph 3:

1. Finally, the argument concludes that 2. However, what is not clear here is ( ) 3. If there had been evidence to support ( )

In summary, the argument fails to convince because of the faulty assumptions aforementioned. If the argument had drawn upon examples as suggested, and thereby plugged in the holes in the reasoning, it would have been far sounder on the whole.

2. Brainstorm

Now that you have put the pre-planned portion of the essay down, it’s time to read the AWA prompt and wear your thinking hat. GMAT, in its politically correct, non-partisan way, says ‘Discuss how well-reasoned you find this argument’. Remember however, that an AWA argument is never well-reasoned!

There are always a couple of glaring flaws in logic you can pounce on. If these flaws do not occur to you immediately, because of test-day stress, do not assume that you have been given a particularly sound argument. There is no such thing on the AWA!

If you’re unable to be critical, imagine that the author of the argument is somebody you dislike..a teacher you hated at college, or that guy who overtook you and almost dented your car this morning! There, now you’re in the right frame of mind to attack the argument 🙂

Before you do so, you need to understand the three elements of the argument – Conclusion, Premise and Assumptions.

Let us look at an example, and detect these three elements.

“Most companies would agree that as the risk of physical injury occurring on the job increases, the wages paid to employees should also increase. Hence it makes financial sense for employers to make the workplace safer: they could thus reduce their payroll expenses and save money.”

The conclusion is the decision/statement that the author has arrived at. In this case, the conclusion is the last sentence – “Hence it makes financial sense for employers to make the workplace safer: they could thus reduce their payroll expenses and save money.”

The premises are the building blocks of facts on which the conclusion rests. In other words, a premise is what is offered as support for the conclusion. In this case, the premise is – Most companies would agree that as the risk of physical injury occurring on the job increases, the wages paid to employees should also increase.

Assumptions are the unstated, unwritten premises that plug the gap between the written premises and the conclusion. It is the assumptions that you need to attack on the AWA!

How do you attack assumptions?

Remember that an assumption can be incorrect for a variety of reasons. Here are a few types of incorrect assumptions –

1. The Sampling Assumption – The sampling argument assumes that a small group is representative of a much larger group to which it belongs.

2. The illogical analogy assumption – The illogical analogy states that because something applies to A, it applies to B also.

3. The Causal Assumption – The Causal Assumption confuses correlation with causation. That means, just because ‘A’ usually occurs after ‘B’ occurs, does not necessarily imply that B happens because of A.

4. The Data Bias – This occurs when the data for a statistical inference itself is drawn from a sample that is not representative of the population under consideration. This is a case of faulty data leading to faulty assumptions.

5. The Non Sequitur – This simply means, finding a connection where there is none. Non Sequitur means “does not follow,” which is short for: the conclusion does not follow from the premise.

Don’t let these categories overwhelm you. We’ve put them down here to get you thinking. However, you can find faulty assumptions with ease, even if you have no clue what a non sequitur is!

As you brainstorm, you will need to jot down your thoughts on the scratchpad. Keep it crisp and brief. Make sure you have these things down –

1. Conclusion + Premise: 2. Flawed Assumption #1: 3. Flawed Assumption #2: 4. Flawed Assumption #3:

For each assumption, also make a cursory note of why it is flawed, an example that talks about why it is flawed, and what additional data would strengthen the argument ( or if you are convinced that you can remember these additional details without having to make a note of them, you can get on with the writing! )

This should take you about 15 minutes:

Here is where you fill in your templatized response with specific details.

The only detail you need to add to the first paragraph is a summary of the argument that is presented. In the above template, your summary should go here ->

1. Start off by pointing out the first flawed assumption. 2. Explain why this assumption is flawed. 3. Give an example that supports the flaw. 4. Explain what further information could have strengthened this argument.

1. Start off by pointing out the second flawed assumption. 2. Explain why this assumption is flawed. 3. Give an example that supports the flaw. 4. Explain what further information could have strengthened this argument.

Paragraph 4:

1. Start off by pointing out the third flawed assumption. 2. Explain why this assumption is flawed. 3. Give an example that supports the flaw. 4. Explain what further information could have strengthened this argument.

Paragraph 5:

This is the concluding paragraph. You already have it down in your template! 🙂

4. Proofread

Are you wondering if three minutes is really enough time to proof-read a 500 word essay?

Here’s the deal – The AWA section is about whether you can analyse an argument and discuss it in an articulate manner. It is not a test of grammar and spelling. Hence, the GMAT will excuse minor errors in spelling and grammar.

However, you should understand that a human reader is going to be reviewing your work, and any human reader will have an unconscious bias against bad grammar and spellings. Hence, you want to keep your essay as error-free as possible, without worrying about it too much.

Three minutes should be able time for you to quickly glance through the document and make sure you haven’t made any obvious errors.

Voila! 🙂 Your AWA essay is ready!

Also Read: GMAT Section Selection – Everything you need to know

Sample AWA Essays

Sample Essay 1

”Most companies would agree that as the risk of physical injury occurring on the job increases, the wages paid to employees should also increase. Hence it makes financial sense for employers to make the workplace safer: they could thus reduce their payroll expenses and save money.”

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument.

For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlying the thinking and what alternative explanations or counter examples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

Introduction:

This argument states that it makes financial sense for employers to make the workplace safer because lower wages could then be paid to employees. This conclusion is based on the premise that as the risk of physical injury increases, the wages paid to employees should also increase. However, this argument makes several unsupported assumptions. For example, the argument assumes that the costs associated with making the workplace safe do not outweigh the increased payroll expenses due to hazardous conditions.

Body Paragraph 1

The first issue to be addressed is whether increased labor costs justify large capital expenditures to improve the work environment. Clearly one could argue that if making the workplace safe would cost an exorbitant amount of money in comparison to leaving the workplace as is and paying slightly increased wages than it would not make sense to improve the work environment. For example, if making the workplace safe would cost $100 million versus additional payroll expenses of only $5,000 per year, it would make financial sense to simply pay the increased wages. No business or business owner would pay all that extra money just to save a couple dollars and improve employee health and relations. To consider this, a cost benefit analysis must be made. I also feel that although a cost benefit analysis should be the determining factor with regard to these decisions making financial sense, it may not be the determining factor with regard to making social, moral and ethical sense.

Body Paragraph 2

Finally one must understand that not all work environments can be made safer. For example, in the case of coal mining, a company only has limited ways of making the work environment safe. While companies may be able to ensure some safety precautions, they may not be able to provide all the safety measures necessary. In other words, a mining company has limited ability to control the air quality within a coal mine and therefore it cannot control the risk of employees getting black. In other words, regardless of the intent of the company, some jobs are simply dangerous in nature.

In conclusion, while at first it may seem to make financial sense to improve the safety of the work environment sometimes it truly does not make financial sense. Furthermore, financial sense may not be the only issue a company faces. Other types of analyses must be made such as the social ramifications of an unsafe work environment and the overall ability of a company to improve that environment (i.e., coal mine). Before any decision is made, all this things must be considered, not simply the reduction of payroll expenses.

Sample Essay 2

The following appeared in a memorandum issued by a large city’s council on the arts.

“In a recent citywide poll, fifteen percent more residents said that they watch television programs about the visual arts than was the case in a poll conducted five years ago. During these past five years, the number of people visiting our city’s art museums has increased by a similar percentage. Since the corporate funding that supports public television, where most of the visual arts programs appear, is now being threatened with severe cuts, we can expect that attendance at our city’s art museums will also start to decrease. Thus some of the city’s funds for supporting the arts should be reallocated to public television.”

Discuss how well reasoned… etc.

Introduction

In this argument the author concludes that the city should allocate some of its arts funding to public television. The conclusion is based on two facts: (1) attendance at the city’s art museum has increased proportionally with the increases in visual-arts program viewing on public television, and (2) public television is being threatened by severe cuts in corporate funding. While this argument is somewhat convincing, a few concerns need to be addressed.

To begin with, the argument depends on the assumption that increased exposure to the visual arts on television, mainly public television, has caused a similar increase in local art-museum attendance. However, just because increased art-museum attendance can be statistically correlated with similar increases in television viewing of visual-arts programs, this does not necessarily mean that the increased television viewing of arts is the cause of the rise in museum attendance.

Moreover, perhaps there are other factors relevant to increased interest in the local art museum; for instance, maybe a new director had procured more interesting, exciting acquisitions and exhibits during the period when museum attendance increased, in addition, the author could be overlooking a common cause of both increases. It is possible that some larger social or cultural phenomenon is responsible for greater public interest in both television arts programming and municipal art museums.

Body Paragraph 3

To be fair, however, we must recognize that the author’s assumption is a special case of a more general one that television viewing affects people’s attitudes and behavior. Common sense and observation tell me that this is indeed the case. After all, advertisers spend billions of dollars on television ad time because they trust this assumption as well.

In conclusion, I am somewhat persuaded by this author’s line of reasoning. The argument would be strengthened if the author were to consider and rule out other significant factors that might have caused the increase in visits to the local art museum.

Sample Essay 3

The following appeared in a report presented for discussion at a meeting of the directors of a company that manufactures parts for heavy machinery.

“The falling revenues that the company is experiencing coincide with delays in manufacturing. These delays, in turn, are due in large part to poor planning in purchasing metals. Consider further that the manager of the department that handles purchasing of raw materials has an excellent background in general business, psychology, and sociology, but knows little about the properties of metals. The company should, therefore, move the purchasing manager to the sales department and bring in a scientist from the research division to be manager of the purchasing department.”

In response to a coincidence between falling revenues and delays in manufacturing, the report recommends replacing the manager of the purchasing department. The grounds for this action are twofold. First, the delays are traced to poor planning in purchasing metals. Second, the purchasing manager’s lack of knowledge of the properties of metals is thought to be the cause of the poor planning. It is further recommended that the position of the purchasing manager be filled by a scientist from the research division and that the current purchasing manager be reassigned to the sales department. In support of this latter recommendation, the report states that the current purchasing manager’s background in general business, psychology, and sociology equip him for this new assignment. The recommendations advanced in the report are questionable for two reasons.

To begin with, the report fails to establish a causal connection between the falling revenues of the company and the delays in manufacturing. The mere fact that falling revenues coincide with delays in manufacturing is insufficient to conclude that the delays caused the decline in revenue. Without compelling evidence to support the causal connection between these two events, the report’s recommendations are not worthy of consideration.

Second, a central assumption of the report is that knowledge of the properties of metals is necessary for planning in purchasing metals. No evidence is stated in the report to support this crucial assumption. Moreover, it is not obvious that such knowledge would be required to perform this task. Since planning is essentially a logistical function, it is doubtful that in-depth knowledge of the properties of metals would be helpful in accomplishing this task.

In conclusion, this is a weak argument. To strengthen the recommendation that the manager of the purchasing department be replaced, the author would have to demonstrate that the falling revenues were a result of the delays in manufacturing. Additionally, the author would have to show that knowledge of the properties of metals is a prerequisite for planning in purchasing metals.

Sample Essay 4

The following appeared in an announcement issued by the publisher of The Mercury, a weekly newspaper.

“Since a competing lower-priced newspaper, The Bugle, was started five years ago, The Mercury’s circulation has declined by 10,000 readers. The best way to get more people to read The Mercury is to reduce its price below that of The Bugle, at least until circulation increases to former levels. The increased circulation of The Mercury will attract more businesses to buy advertising space in the paper.”

A newspaper publisher is recommending that the price of its paper, The Mercury, be reduced below the price of a competing newspaper, The Bugle. This recommendation responds to a severe decline in circulation of The Mercury during the 5-year period following the introduction of The Bugle. The publisher’s line of reasoning is that lowering the price of The Mercury will increase its readership, thereby increasing profits because a wider readership attracts more advertisers. This line of reasoning is problematic in two critical respects.

While it is clear that increased circulation would make the paper more attractive to potential advertisers, it is not obvious that lowering the subscription price is the most effective way to gain new readers. The publisher assumes that price is the only factor that caused the decline in readership. But no evidence is given to support this claim. Moreover, given that The Mercury was the established local paper, it is unlikely that such a mass exodus of its readers would be explained by subscription price alone.

There are many other factors that might account for a decline in The Mercury’s popularity. For instance, readers might be displeased with the extent and accuracy of its news reporting, or the balance of local to other news coverage. Moreover, it is possible The Mercury has recently changed editors, giving the paper a locally unpopular political perspective. Or perhaps readers are unhappy with the paper’s format, the timeliness of its feature articles, its comics or advice columns, the extent and accuracy of its local event calendar, or its rate of errors.

In conclusion, this argument is weak because it depends on an oversimplified assumption about the causal connection between the price of the paper and its popularity. To strengthen the argument, the author must identify and explore relevant factors beyond cost before concluding that lowering subscription prices will increase circulation and, thereby, increase advertising revenues.

Sample Essay 5

The following appeared as part of an article in a magazine devoted to regional life.

“Corporations should look to the city of Helios when seeking new business opportunities or a new location. Even in the recent recession, Helios’s unemployment rate was lower than the regional average. It is the industrial center of the region, and historically it has provided more than its share of the region’s manufacturing jobs. In addition, Helios is attempting to expand its economic base by attracting companies that focus on research and development of innovative technologies.”

In this argument corporations are urged to consider the city of Helios when seeking a new location or new business opportunities. To support this recommendation, the author points out that Helios is the industrial center of the region, providing most of the region’s manufacturing jobs and enjoying a lower-than-average unemployment rate. Moreover, it is argued, efforts are currently underway to expand the economic base of the city by attracting companies that focus on research and development of innovative technologies. This argument is problematic for two reasons.

To begin with, it is questionable whether the available labor pool in Helios could support all types of corporations. Given that Helios has attracted mainly industrial and manufacturing companies in the past, it is unlikely that the local pool of prospective employees would be suitable for corporations of other types. For example, the needs of research and development companies would not be met by a labor force trained in manufacturing skills. For this reason, it’s unlikely that Helios will be successful in its attempt to attract companies that focus or research and development of innovative technologies.

Another problem with the available work force is its size. Due to the lower than average unemployment rate in Helios, corporations that require large numbers of workers would not find Helios attractive. The fact that few persons are out of work suggests that new corporations will have to either attract new workers to Helios or pay the existing workers higher wages in order to lure them away from their current jobs. Neither of these alternatives seems enticing to companies seeking to relocate.

In conclusion, the author has not succeeded in providing compelling reasons for selecting Helios as the site for a company wishing to relocate. In fact, the reasons offered function better as reasons for not relocating to Helios. Nor has the author provided compelling reasons for companies seeking new business opportunities to choose Helios.

Sample Essay 6

The following appeared in the health section of a magazine on trends and lifestyles.

“People who use the artificial sweetener aspartame are better off consuming sugar, since aspartame can actually contribute to weight gain rather than weight loss. For example, high levels of aspartame have been shown to trigger a craving for food bydepleting the brain of a chemical that registers satiety, or the sense of being full. Furthermore, studies suggest that sugars, if consumed after at least 45 minutes of continuous exercise, actually enhance the body’s ability to burn fat. Consequently, those who drink aspartame-sweetened juices after exercise will also lose this calorie-burning benefit. Thus it appears that people consuming aspartame rather than sugar are unlikely to achieve their dietary goals.”

In this argument the author concludes that people trying to lose weight are better off consuming sugar than the artificial sweetener aspartame. To support this conclusion the author argues that aspartame can cause weight gain by triggering food cravings, whereas sugar actually enhances the body’s ability to burn fat. Neither of these reasons provides sufficient support for the conclusion.

The first reason that aspartame encourages food cravings is supported by research findings that high levels of aspartame deplete the brain chemical responsible for registering a sense of being satedHidden text (sated, sating ), or full. But the author’s generalization based on this research is unreliable. The research was based on a sample in which large amounts of aspartame were administered; however, the author applies the research findings to a target population that includes all aspartame users, many of whom would probably not consume high levels of the artificial sweetener.

The second reason that sugar enhances the body’s ability to burn fat is based on the studies in which experimental groups, whose members consumed sugar after at least 45 minutes of continuous exercise, showed increased rates of fat burning. The author’s general claim, however, applies to all dieters who use sugar instead of aspartame, not just to those who use sugar after long periods of exercise. Once again, the author’s generalization is unreliable because it is based on a sample that clearly does not represent all dieters.

To conclude, each of the studies cited by the author bases its findings on evidence that does not represent dieters in general; for this reason, neither premise of this argument is a reliable generalization. Consequently, I am not convinced that dieters are better off consuming sugar instead of aspartame.

Sample Essay 7

The following appeared in the editorial section of a corporate newsletter.

“The common notion that workers are generally apathetic about management issues is false, or at least outdated: a recently published survey indicates that 79 percent of the nearly 1,200 workers who responded to survey questionnaires expressed a high level of interest in the topics of corporate restructuring and redesign of benefits programs.”

Based upon a survey among workers that indicates a high level of interest in the topics of corporate restructuring and redesign of benefits programs, the author concludes that workers are not apathetic about management issues. Specifically, it is argued that since 79 percent of the 1200 workers who responded to survey expressed interest in these topics, the notion that workers are apathetic about management issues is incorrect. The reasoning in this argument is problematic in several respects.

First, the statistics cited in the editorial may be misleading because the total number of workers employed by the corporation is not specified. For example, if the corporation employs 2000 workers, the fact that 79 percent of the nearly 1200 respondents showed interest in these topics provides strong support for the conclusion. On the other hand, if the corporation employs 200,000 workers, the conclusion is much weaker.

Another problem with the argument is that the respondents’ views are not necessarily representative of the views of the work force in general. For example, because the survey has to do with apathy, it makes sense that only less apathetic workers would respond to it, thereby distorting the overall picture of apathy among the work force. Without knowing how the survey was conducted, it is impossible to assess whether or not this is the case.

A third problem with the argument is that it makes a hasty generalization about the types of issues workers are interested in. It accords with common sense that workers would be interested in corporate restructuring and redesign of benefits programs, since these issues affect workers very directly. However, it is unfair to assume that workers would be similarly interested in other management issues—ones that do not affect them or affect them less directly.

In conclusion, this argument is not convincing as it stands. To strengthen it, the author would have to show that the respondents account for a significant and representative portion of all workers. Additionally, the author must provide evidence of workers’ interest other management topics—not just those that affect workers directly.

Sample Essay 8

The following appeared in the opinion column of a financial magazine.

“On average, middle-aged consumers devote 39 percent of their retail expenditure to department store products and services, while for younger consumers the average is only 25 percent. Since the number of middle-aged people will increase dramatically within the next decade, department stores can expect retail sales to increase significantly during that period. Furthermore, to take advantage of the trend, these stores should begin to replace some of those products intended to attract the younger consumer with products intended to attract the middle-aged consumer.”

Based on an expected increase in the number of middle-aged people during the next decade, the author predicts that retail sales at department stores will increase significantly over the next ten years. To bolster this prediction, the author cites statistics showing that middle-aged people devote a much higher percentage of their retail expenditure to department-store services and products than younger consumers do. Since the number of middle-aged consumers is on the rise and since they spend more than younger people on department-store goods and services, the author further recommends that department stores begin to adjust their inventories to capitalize on this trend. Specifically, it is recommended that department stores increase their inventory of products aimed at middle- aged consumers and decrease their inventory of products aimed at younger consumers. This argument is problematic for two reasons.

First, an increase in the number of middle-aged people does not necessarily portend an overall increase in department-store sales. It does so only on the assumption that other population groups will remain relatively constant. For example, if the expected increase in the number of middle-aged people is offset by an equally significant decrease in the number of younger people, there will be little or no net gain in sales.

Second, in recommending that department stores replace products intended to attract younger consumers with products more suitable to middle-aged consumers, the author assumes that the number of younger consumers will not also increase. Since a sizable increase in the population of younger consumers could conceivably offset the difference in the retail expenditure patterns of younger and middle- aged consumers, it would be unwise to make the recommended inventory adjustment lacking evidence to support this assumption.

This argument is unacceptable. To strengthen the argument the author would have to provide evidence that the population of younger consumers will remain relatively constant over the next decade.

We hope that our strategies help you conquer GMAT AWA with enough and more energy to spare for the sections that follow!

Now that you’ve figured out how to tackle the AWA section, do you want to put theory to practice and get your AWA essay graded?

Our experts here at CrackVerbal will evaluate and grade your AWA essay and give you specific, actionable feedback.

GMAT Prep Online Guides and Tips

The best gmat essay template to help you ace the awa.

The essay portion of the GMAT, known as the Analytical Writing Assessment, probably doesn’t resemble the kinds of essays that you’ve written for college.  Luckily, the essay task itself and the prompts that you’ll encounter for it are fairly formulaic. This means that your approach to writing the essay can be boiled down into a template . A template is like a blueprint or a model: it gives you a predesigned, customized format and structure.  You’ve likely written outlines for essays before—the GMAT essay template is similar but a bit more detailed, as anything that is standard can be pre-written out, so that all you have to do is fill in the specifics. 

If you’ve already done some research, you know that there are several variations of GMAT essay templates out there—both individual high scorers and a few test prep companies have offered up their own template styles, based on the approaches they like best. In this post, we’ll go over what the GMAT essay assignment is, how a template can help you nail it, and give you a few example templates that reflect different kinds of approaches you can take. Finally, we’ll discuss how to make your own template based on what works best for you.

What Is the GMAT Essay Assignment?

For the Analytical Writing Assessment, you will be given a single, one-paragraph prompt containing some kind of argument. The prompts often center on debates from the business or political worlds and are sourced from the editorial and op-ed sections of magazines and newspapers, annual company reports, memorandums, proposals and the like.

While this prompt changes from test to test, the directions are always the same, so you should memorize them in advance. I’ve reproduced them for you below:

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Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

In other words, you have only one task for the GMAT essay: to write a critique of the given argument. Invariably, every single GMAT argument will have flaws —faulty assumptions, inadequate evidence, sampling or statistical issues, vague words (such as “many” or “few”), unsuitable comparisons, information or considerations that have been overlooked, and so on.

Many GMAT essay prompts will contain more than one of these flaws. Your critique should consist of an in-depth analysis that exposes them , and (if applicable) suggestions of ways to fix the flaws or otherwise improve the argument.

The best approach is to pick apart the prompt bit-by-bit : point out each flaw the author makes, challenge it using your own reasoning and specific counterexamples that support your claims, and suggest ways the author could fix the flaw and thereby improve the validity of their conclusion.

Do not present your own views on the argument at hand. Regardless of the prompt, you should always make the case that the given argument is flawed—not whether or not you agree with it.

What Does a GMAT Essay Need to Get a Top Score?

In designing a functional GMAT AWA template, you should take into account how you’re graded on the essay, what the score range is, and what skill areas a top-scoring essay will demonstrate mastery over.

As you may already know, your GMAT AWA essay is  graded on a scale of 0-6 in half-point increments , once by a human reader (usually an English or Communications professor) and once by a computerized grading program called E-Rater. If the two different scores differ by less than one point, the two scores will be averaged to get your final scaled score. If they differ by greater than one point, a second human reader will step in.

Both the human reader and E-Rater grade holistically, with  four skill areas  taken into account: content (relevant, persuasive ideas, reasoning, and examples); organization (using an organized and cohesive structure to present your argument); language use (diction and syntax), and grammar .

In other words, to get a 6, you’ll need:

• A targeted, accurate analysis of the given argument’s main flaws , with excellent reasoning and supporting examples, and suggestions for how to fix the flaws or otherwise improve the argument.
• A logical organization —introduction, conclusion, and body paragraphs in which the progression of your ideas makes sense, and skillful use of transition words and phrases.
• An excellent command of grammar.
• Varied sentence structures —avoid using any sentence stem (EG, “this is not true because”) over and over again.
• Sophisticated, precise vocabulary and some display of very basic economic terms (only when called for—this includes concepts like supply and demand, capital expenditure, and so on).

How a GMAT Essay Template Helps

While a GMAT writing template can’t really help with grammar, it can address   all of the other considerations by providing a detailed blueprint for your essay.  An effective GMAT essay template will include the following features:

• The structure of your essay, paragraph by paragraph
• The kind of content that should be in each paragraph
• Varied and sophisticated pre-written sentence stems (as in, the beginning part of a sentence) for the main kinds of flaws

You don’t have to (and shouldn’t) do anything very creative or innovative in your AWA response —the top-scoring essays are fairly standard, often sharing the same basic structure and similar kinds of analyses. Therefore, a GMAT AWA template is an incredibly useful tool for ensuring that you address every moving piece of the argument and successfully perform the written and analytical task required of you.

In short, a GMAT writing template gives you a proven plan of action to take with you on test day, so that you can write an essay that hits all the right notes while conserving mental energy for the sections that matter most: the Integrated Reasoning, Quant and Verbal sections.

Example GMAT Essay Templates

Slight variations aside, there are essentially two main styles of template for the GMAT essay: one that saves suggestions for improvement for the end, and one that includes them in each body paragraph (one for each “flaw”).

No matter which template you’re using, you should always spend about five minutes planning and outlining your essay before diving into the writing. This includes identifying the flaws that you’re going to discuss and the order in which you’re going to discuss them , so you don’t find yourself having to rewrite or reorganize halfway through.

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Sample GMAT AWA Template 1: Flaw-by-Flaw

The first method is to dedicate each body paragraph, two to three in total, to analyzing a different flaw of the given argument. This analysis includes suggestions for improvement within each body paragraph. I’ve included some sample sentence stems that I myself have written, so you can see them in action.

• EG: “This argument makes the case that ____________ “
• OPTIONAL: Acknowledge that the author’s case isn’t all bad
• [Introduce your examples in the blank space: insufficient evidence, assumptions that may not apply, etc.. Do this in the order in which you will discuss them.]
• Introduce one of the specific flaws
• EG, for insufficient evidence: “The fact that ______ does not necessarily support the claim that _______. In fact, this evidence could warrant numerous other conflicting claims, including that _______.
• EG: “____ is an example of a successful company in the same industry whose strategy is based on the opposite premise: that ______.”
• EG: “Some additional evidence that would fix this issue and truly bolster the argument is _________ “
• EG: “Overall, this plan of action rests on too many logical fallacies to be viable for _____ ” [company X]
• OPTIONAL: Re-acknowledge that the author’s side has some merit
• Briefly recapitulate your reasoning (using new words)

Sample GMAT AWA Template 2: Save Improvements for the End

You might find that not every flaw can be fixed, or that some of your suggestions for improvement cover more than one flaw. If this is often the case for you, consider starting with this second template instead, as it saves the suggestions for the end of the essay.

• EG, for insufficient evidence: “The fact that ______ does not necessarily support the claim that _______. In fact, this evidence could warrant numerous other conflicting claims, including that _______.”
• EG: “Moreover, ____ is a prime example of a successful organization in the same industry whose strategy is based on the exact opposite premise: that ______.”
• EG: “In conclusion, while it may seem to make sense for ______, this plan of action as presented rests on too many logical fallacies to be viable for _____ ” [company/organization X]
• EG: “One way to fix the sampling issue is to ______ “

A slight variation on this:  Sometimes you can’t find three different flaws in the prompt to discuss. In this case, feel free to use the conclusion outline from the first sample template, and  make your third body paragraph devoted to improvements instead .

How to Make Your Own GMAT Essay Template

In writing your own essays, you may find that one of the templates given above works best for you, or you may find it more effective to combine different elements of each. The most important thing is to formulate and practice with a set GMAT essay template well before you take the real test.

Try each template out as is (excluding my sentence stems) on a different essay prompt. Afterward, take a stab at grading your own essay , and then jot down notes on what went well and what didn’t work for you as much. Does the essay seem to “flow” better when you leave the flaws for the conclusion? Alternatively, it easier to just go flaw-by-flaw, including a suggestion to mitigate each (if you can come up with one) in each body paragraph, and having a shorter conclusion instead? Are there any turns of phrases that were particularly clever, that you might want to reuse on other essays?

Once you’ve practiced writing two different essays and reviewed your post-essay notes, you should be able to come up with a template that works for you, including some clever canned sentences or sentence stems that you can reuse for the common flaws across prompts , like the ones I used above. Once you’ve formulated a template of your own,  practice with it on two to three more essays to see how it holds up in action . Note that your template is never going to work 100% perfectly: a little flexibility should be baked in, so that you can vary your wording a bit from prompt to prompt.

Pre-Writing Your Essay and an Important Note on Avoiding Plagiarism

It’s totally okay to use a GMAT essay template, and it’s even okay to create those sentence stems for preemptively constructing your critique— what’s not okay is using the exact wording or specific ideas that were written by another person.  For example, you can use the “summarize the issue, acknowledge the author’s point, and state your thesis about how the argument is flawed” template for your introduction, but you shouldn’t use the sentence that I gave you illustrating this thesis in action (“Though this argument is compelling at face value, its conclusion is ultimately untenable because it rests on ______ “).

The same goes for anything you’ve read online or in a test prep book: while it’s a great idea to Google and read other essays on the practice prompts that you find challenging during your prep , you shouldn’t use anyone else’s words if you encounter such a prompt on test day.

In short, everything you write has to be your own words, but they can be your own words that you yourself came up with beforehand.  And there are some key advantages to doing a bit of pre-writing beforehand: that way, you can just plug in the specific details from the prompt. You can even plan your transition words ahead of time, as I did in some of the examples above.

However, as you’ll notice when you get going on your essay prep, the templates are not always one-size-fits-all . You may find an argument that doesn’t fit the mold, in which case you’ll have to improvise a bit.

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For example, here’s a real GMAT essay prompt from the list of official prompts released by the GMAC:

The following appeared in the editorial section of a local newspaper:

“The profitability of Croesus Company, recently restored to private ownership, is a clear indication that businesses fare better under private ownership than under public ownership.”

Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.

The big problem with this argument, unlike other GMAT arguments, is that it doesn’t support its conclusion at all. It’s more or less just a conclusion—there’s very little specific flawed reasoning to work off of. So, in your essay, you might focus mostly on what else you would need to evaluate the argument—like all the different kinds of reasoning and evidence that the author would need to further support this conclusion.

The Bottom Line: Using a GMAT AWA Template

Ultimately, you should use the sample templates above as a jumping-off point to formulate your own GMAT AWA template. And you should be comfortable with your template (and the plan-of-attack baked into it) well before test day.

Still—it’s a good idea to expect the unexpected. Practice using your template on a wide array of GMAT prompts,  not just ones that deal with plans-of-actions for corporate, which are the most common. Writing more than six essays is likely overkill, but going through four to five practice essays on a variety of different topics will help you test out your GMAT writing template and ensure a top score on the real thing.

What’s Next?

Now that you’re well-versed in GMAT writing templates, check our guide to the best GMAT writing prompts to get going on your AWA practice (coming soon).

We also have a more in-depth guide to format, scoring, and tips for the GMAT AWA .

Alternatively, if you’re just getting started with your overall GMAT prep, you may want to go over what to expect on the all the other sections of the GMAT .

Happy studying!

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Author: Jess Hendel

Jess Hendel is a Brooklyn-based academic advisor, test prep tutor, and content writer for PrepScholar. A graduate of Amherst College, she has several years of experience writing content and designing curricula for the top e-learning organizations. She is passionate about leveraging new media and technology to help students around the world achieve their potential. View all posts by Jess Hendel

The GMAT AWA: Understanding the Format and How to Prepare

The GMAT AWA consists of a single long-form essay, and is an assessment of your ability to analyze and critique a flawed argument. It can be quite an intimidating section for many GMAT candidates, particularly those who are non-native speakers. After several sections of relatively straightforward multiple-choice questions , being asked to write a free-form essay can be extremely daunting.

If you understand the format of the GMAT AWA, however, you stand a much better chance of acing it – native speaker or not. In fact, there have been cases of non-native candidates getting 6.0 on the AWA multiple times, simply because they prepped properly and because they knew the GMAT AWA format inside out.

During the course of this article, we’ll talk you through the GMAT AWA. What is it? How is it structured? And how can you prepare for it?

Table of Contents

What is the AWA?

AWA stands for “Analytical Writing Assessment”. The candidate is given a flawed argument, and 30 minutes in which to craft a long-form response to that argument.

The AWA is notable in several ways. Firstly, it’s not multiple choice like all other sections of the GMAT . Because it’s long-form, it’s scored in a different way to the other sections (which are easier to grade; in Quant and Verbal, you’re either right or you’re wrong). It’s actually double-marked – once by a human examiner, and once by computer. If there’s a disparity between those two scores greater than 1.0, a second human assessor is asked to re-mark it.

Secondly, your AWA score is not factored into your overall GMAT score , but is instead a discrete standalone score. It’s scored from 0-6, and is scored in half-point increments (e.g. 0.5, 1, 1.5, etc.). 

Are AWA Scores Important?

AWA scores are often considered to be of secondary importance in comparison to the main GMAT score . And while this is often the case, the AWA should not be completely disregarded. Many business schools do indeed have cutoffs for the AWA as well as the main score – often around 4.0-4.5. It’s therefore a good idea to make sure that you adequately prepare for the AWA, and that you aim for 4.5 or higher to be safe.

How is the AWA Scored?

The AWA rubric takes into account three general areas:

Linguistic Ability

The criterion that is perhaps the most unnerving for non-native speakers, this measures your knowledge of technical written English. It includes such minutiae as spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Examiners are cognizant of the fact that not everybody is a native speaker, and so there is a little leeway. However, it generally pays to be aware of these factors, and to try to ensure that your writing is as accurate as possible.

Presentation and Organization

This criterion assesses your ability to present your arguments in a clear and coherent manner, effectively use transitions, and your introduction, main body and conclusion can be readily identified. The clearer and better laid-out your essay, the higher your score will be here.

Logical Analysis

The assessor will examine the quality of your arguments when considering this portion of the rubric. They will also assess how relevant your supporting arguments and examples are to the wider point you’re trying to make.

What Kind of Arguments Appear on the GMAT AWA?

As previously mentioned, you’re tasked with analyzing and critiquing a “flawed argument” on the AWA. But not all arguments are flawed in the same way, and a big part of critiquing an argument is understanding how, exactly, it’s flawed.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways in which those flaws present themselves.

Unclear Language

This refers to the use of ambiguous or vague wording such as “many”, “more”, “some,” “less” etc. to make a point without reference to substantiating evidence. For example, the assertion “many people prefer hamburgers to hot dogs” is ultimately meaningless without further information. What percentage of people? What is the source of this assertion? What proof is there that this is true?

Sloppy Sample Usage 

This refers to the use of statistics to reach faulty conclusions. It can include such issues as using overly small sample sizes to reach broad conclusions, or using statistics in an inappropriate or misleading manner.

An example of this would be claiming that 70% of a movie’s Google reviews are negative, and therefore the movie was poorly received overall. This does not take into account viewers who didn’t write reviews, and other contextualizing factors e.g. whether or not there was a group of people incentivized to negatively review the movie who skewed the resultant reviews on Google.

Inaccurate or Inappropriate Comparisons

This fallacy involves the comparison of two things with the assumption that they are sufficiently similar for the comparison to be accurate, when this is not necessarily the case. An example would be claiming the following: “cars kill more people than guns, but nobody suggests banning cars!”

The comparison fails to take into account the myriad differences between a gun and a car, both practical (a car’s primary purpose is not to cause injury) and legal (people must take a test to be licensed to operate a car).

Correlation and Causation

 This is a very common logical fallacy, and involves making the assumption that A causes B, rather than accounting for the fact that although A may be related to B, that doesn’t mean it causes it.

An example would be claiming that because people who eat ice cream often get sunburned, then ice cream causes sunburn. While there is a positive correlation between people who eat ice cream and people who get sunburned, this argument misreads the relationship between the two and doesn’t account for the true reason that the two are related – both of these things happen more frequently because it’s sunny.

What are you Required to do in AWA Essays?

You now have an idea of the kind of faulty reasoning typically presented in AWA arguments, but how do you address that faulty reasoning? What is actually required of you when crafting your response to said arguments?

After presenting the argument, an AWA essay will typically ask you to do some or all of the following:

• Discuss to what extent you find the argument well-reasoned;
• Assess the argument’s line of reasoning, as well as how well the argument is supported with evidence;
• Identify and critique faulty assumptions;
• Offer counterexamples or alternate explanations that weaken, undermine or rebut the original argument;
• Explore how the original argument might have been made stronger, either by offering logical support or providing evidence that helps better contextualize it.

Preparing for the AWA

The AWA can, as mentioned, seem extremely daunting. There’s no simple “right” or “wrong” answer, and because it’s completely up to you to craft your response, it seems that there’s a lot that can go wrong.

The truth is that the AWA may seem extremely free-form, but your answer is actually tightly controlled by the argument presented, the parameters set after the argument, and the typical structure of an essay. These restrictions will help you to establish a strategy – and inform the nature of your preparation.

Here’s how to best go about your GMAT AWA preparation.

Ensure you Fully Understand the Directions  

It’s impossible to start working on your essay if you don’t fully comprehend what is expected of you. That’s why it’s imperative that you carefully read over the paragraph that follows the stated argument, and ensure that you know what you need to do in order to construct your response essay in the manner required.

It’s a good idea to identify any of the phrases mentioned in the “what are you required to do…” section above, as these will assist you in figuring out how to answer the question.

What does this mean when you’re preparing for the AWA? It means that you should check out plenty of practice questions and use the directions when crafting your response. You can then compare your response to top answers submitted by other, successful candidates, or submit your response for peer evaluation on GMAT forums.

Work On Recognizing Assumptions

A key skill in answering AWA questions well is figuring out the assumptions inherent to the faulty arguments you’re being asked to critique. The assumption is the gap between the premise of an argument (the starting point) and the conclusion.

Consider the argument: “Company A is spending twice as much on advertising as competitors, and will therefore see an increase in customers in coming months”. The assumption here is that advertising expenditure directly leads to an increase in customers, which is not necessarily true and can be weakened by your critiques or evidence to the contrary.

If you can nail identifying the assumption, you’re halfway towards deconstructing it – and acing your AWA essay .

Memorize the Different Types of Flaws

The flaws we covered earlier are the most common types that you’ll see cropping up on the AWA. It’s therefore a good idea to thoroughly familiarize yourself with all of them; that way, you’ll be able to quickly identify them on test day, and get to writing your rebuttal more quickly.

Establish a Basic Essay Template and Practice Using it

A handy tip for your GMAT AWA preparation is to drill essay-writing into your head (and hand) so thoroughly that it becomes second nature for you to produce them. If you have a solid scaffold for essay-writing firmly entrenched in your head, you don’t need to waste time in your test trying to figure out the best way to structure one.

A typical – and effective – essay structure might look something like this:

Paragraph #1 (Introduction)

Restate the argument in your own words. Point out the ways in which the argument is flawed – does it paint a misleading picture of the situation? Does it incorrectly use terminology or rely upon leaps of logic to reach its conclusion? Does it rely upon unsubstantiated assumptions?

After identifying the flaws in the argument, state the order in which you plan to examine them.

Paragraphs #2-3 (Body Text)

Restate the first flaw that you felt undermined the argument. Expound upon the flaw and point out why, specifically, this flaw weakens the argument. If possible, offer a way in which this flaw might be ameliorated or avoided.

Paragraph #4 (Improvements) 

If you have the time, suggest a few improvements that would make the argument a stronger one. Explain that in the absence of such improvements, the argument’s flaws are fatal. 

Paragraph #5 (Conclusion)

Conclude by restating the flaws you found and why they weaken the argument irreparably. If appropriate, restate factors that might have strengthened the argument, and explain that in their absence the argument is an unconvincing one.

Get into the habit of structuring your essays in this way, and you’ll soon find that you unconsciously reproduce this format every time you write a practice essay.

Check out our full guide on how to structure your essay to get a 6.0 score!

Practice Sketching Essay Outlines

Once you have your structure in place, you should work on briefly sketching out an outline of your essay before you begin. Using scratch paper (which you’ll have in the actual test), take a minute or two to write out your introduction, body text, improvements and conclusion. Under each one, bullet-point the gist of what you intend to write out.

With the outline written out in brief, you’ll be able to write out your actual essay that much faster.

Take Actual Practice Tests and Stick to the Time Limit

Practice makes perfect, and one of the ways to shake off test-day nerves and nail the AWA is to make it feel like just another day at the office. How can you do that? By replicating test-day conditions and practicing operating within them as often as possible.

There is plenty of practice questions available online that are representative of the kinds of questions you’ll find on the test itself. By practicing these questions, you can give yourself the best possible shot at turning out a 6.0-worthy essay when you finally walk into that test room.

Get Feedback

One of the tricky things about the AWA is that there is no answer key online, so you can’t just do a practice test and get immediate feedback by marking it yourself. Sure, you can try to apply the rubric yourself after the fact, but are you going to be able to do so in an objective and accurate manner? There’s a reason the real thing is marked by both computer and a human examiner (possibly two!). How, then, are you supposed to get feedback?

An excellent way to do this is to submit your practice essays on GMAT forums such as this one. By sharing your answers with both people are have already passed their GMAT and your peers, you’ll be able to get feedback on your essays that you simply wouldn’t be able to give yourself. It can help you to identify weaknesses in your own essay-writing approach and be of use in tightening up your responses.

Develop Your Writing Style

When it comes to writing clearly and accurately, something that can help a lot is avoiding repetition and mixing things up as often as you can. Use synonyms instead of repeating the same words over and over (for instance, instead of repeating ‘strong’, use words like ‘persuasive’, ‘powerful’ or ‘potent’), and try to mix up sentence structures as often as possible.

If you can hit upon a fresh and engaging writing style, you’ll make the assessor more engaged by what you’re saying – and, in turn, ensure that you bump up your scores in that ‘linguistic ability’ portion of the rubric.

Don’t Make Common AWA Errors

Some AWA candidates end up making the same mistakes made by the very arguments they’re critiquing. Faulty or weak assumptions, vague language, improperly made comparisons, causation vs. correlation fallacies, and overly confident conclusions that are not supported by evidence are just a few of the pitfalls into which some candidates can fall.

Make sure you are not one of them by properly supporting any arguments you make and avoiding logical fallacies. It’s also important not to overstate any conclusions you reach; a conclusion is only as strong as the evidence supporting it.

Proofread When You’ve Finished

Try to make sure that you have a few minutes left over at the end to go over your essay and check for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors . It doesn’t matter how good your written English is; we all make mistakes, and we’re more likely to make mistakes when we’re writing quickly and under pressure. A couple of minutes spent reading over your responses can make a huge difference in your overall score, so be sure to incorporate it into your routine!

When preparing for the AWA, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed and make this section of the GMAT feel like an obstacle that’s simply insurmountable for you. While this is understandable, it’s avoidable if you follow the advice outlined in this article, and prepare yourself for the AWA by developing good habits and getting plenty of practice in.

If you can do this, then you’ll quickly find that the AWA is just one more section to the GMAT – and, like any other section, sufficient preparation removes a lot of the scariness from the equation.

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GMAT AWA Topics – Sample Prompts

Before you start.

Remember that the AWA is testing your ability to effectively critique an argument being presented. There will be some common fallacies used in the prompts that you will need to address. Familiarize yourself with these flawed arguments so that you can quickly identify them as you write your essay:

Inappropriate Comparisons – comparing two things which are not necessarily similar, thus leading to a flawed conclusion. You will notice that in an inappropriate comparison, the argument will only note the similarities between two things with no explanation of why the differences do not change the outcome.

Example: "Dogs are highly motivated by food, which is a useful tool for training. Using this same method, you can help to encourage your children to repeat positive behaviors." This argument does not address early childhood development, nor does it address dog psychology – the person assumes that if a solution worked in one situation, it will work in the other.

Vague Language – using words such as "many", "few", "some", "more", or "less" without further qualification is often too vague to make a cogent point.

Example: "In Chicago, more people voted to add bike lanes than people did in Aurora, so it is clear that the citizens in Chicago are more pro-bike than the citizens in Aurora." This argument does not explain what 'more' means. Is it by percentage? Does it refer to raw number of votes, and if so, does it take into account the number of voters in Chicago vs. the number of voters in Aurora?

Correlation vs Causation – this common fallacy asserts that because something occurred, it must be a consequence of some specific variable observed before the result.

Example: "Students in Neighborhood A have higher test scores on average that students in Neighborhood B. Therefore, it is clear that the schools in Neighborhood A are better than the schools in Neighborhood B." This argument is flawed because it assumes the only meaningful variable in test scores was the school the children attend. This argument does not consider other various factors, such as poverty, school resources, home situations, and the parents' abilility to supplement educational opportunities, etc.

Sampling Issues – a case in which statistics are used inappropriately to compare unlike populations or to draw broad conclusions using a small sample.

Example: "56% of the reviews of Company A are negative, which shows that most customers are very unhappy with the service provided." The problem with this argument is that it does not address the percentage of overall customers who have written reviews. How do we know that this is representative of all customers vs. those who are upset about an issue and take the time to write a review?

Now that you have reviewed some common flawed arguments you may encounter, it is time to get started practicing!

Sample Prompt 1

The following appeared in the health section of a magazine on trends and lifestyles:

"People who use the artificial sweetener aspartame are better off consuming sugar, since aspartame can actually contribute to weight gain rather than weight loss. For example, high levels of aspartame have been shown to trigger a craving for food by depleting the brain of a chemical that registers satiety, or the sense of being full. Furthermore, studies suggest that sugars, if consumed after at least 45 minutes of continuous exercise, actually enhance the body’s ability to burn fat. Consequently, those who drink aspartame-sweetened juices after exercise will also lose this calorie-burning benefit. Thus, it appears that people consuming aspartame rather than sugar are unlikely to achieve their dietary goals."

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion, be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

Sample Prompt 2

The following appeared in the opinion column of a financial magazine:

"On average, middle-aged consumers devote 39 percent of their retail expenditure to department store products and services, while for younger consumers the average is only 25 percent. Since the number of middle-aged people will increase dramatically within the next decade, department stores can expect retail sales to increase significantly during that period. Furthermore, to take advantage of the trend, these stores should begin to replace some of those products intended to attract the younger consumer with products intended to attract the middle-aged consumer."

Sample Prompt 3

The following appeared as part of an editorial in an industry newsletter:

"While trucking companies that deliver goods pay only a portion of highway maintenance costs and no property tax on the highways they use, railways spend billions per year maintaining and upgrading their facilities. The government should lower the railroad companies’ property taxes, since sending goods by rail is clearly a more appropriate mode of ground transportation than highway shipping. For one thing, trains consume only a third of the fuel a truck would use to carry the same load, making them a more cost-effective and environmentally sound mode of transport. Furthermore, since rail lines already exist, increases in rail traffic would not require building new lines at the expense of taxpaying citizens."

Sample Prompt 4

The following was excerpted from the speech of a spokesperson for Synthetic Farm Products, Inc.:

"Many farmers who invested in the equipment needed to make the switch from synthetic to organic fertilizers and pesticides feel that it would be too expensive to resume synthetic farming at this point. But studies of farmers who switched to organic farming last year indicate that their current crop yields are lower. Hence their purchase of organic farming equipment, a relatively minor investment compared to the losses that would result from continued lower crop yields, cannot justify persisting on an unwise course. And the choice to farm organically is financially unwise, given that it was motivated by environmental rather than economic concerns."

Sample Prompt 5

The following is part of a business plan created by the management of the Megamart grocery store:

"Our total sales have increased this year by 20 percent since we added a pharmacy section to our grocery store. Clearly, the customer’s main concern is the convenience afforded by one-stop shopping. The surest way to increase our profits over the next couple of years, therefore, is to add a clothing department along with an automotive supplies and repair shop. We should also plan to continue adding new departments and services, such as a restaurant and a garden shop, in subsequent years. Being the only store in the area that offers such a range of services will give us a competitive advantage over other local stores."

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GMAT AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment) | A complete guide

Ever wondered how a 30-minute essay can influence your path to business school and future career discover the significance of the gmat awa (analytical writing assessment) section, from its scoring metrics to essential tips for success. keep scrolling to learn more, table of contents, introduction, what is gmat awa , scoring metrics , first impressions matter , a test of your communication skills , critical thinking , pattern for gmat awa , factors to consider , structure is key , time management , vocabulary and style , key takeaways .

If you’re preparing for the GMAT , you’ve likely heard about the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). This section may not be the first thing on your mind, but it plays a significant role in your overall performance. The GMAT AWA section tests your ability to think critically and communicate your ideas. 

So, how important are the AWA scores, and what exactly is the GMAT AWA task? This guide will answer these questions and provide actionable tips for GMAT analytical writing. 

The GMAT AWA, or Analytical Writing Assessment in GMAT, is more than just a writing task – it measures your ability to think critically and articulate your thoughts. You have 30 minutes to write an essay that analyzes an argument presented to you. The topics can vary, but they all require you to dissect an argument rather than give your personal opinion. 

The GMAT AWA section is scored separately from the Quantitative and Verbal sections and has a score range from 0 to 6. The scoring is done in half-point increments. Two independent readers evaluate your essay, focusing on the quality of your analysis and the clarity of your writing.

Why is GMAT AWA Important? 

There are a few reasons why the AWA GMAT section plays a vital role if you are considering getting admitted to a top business school.

When it comes to business school applications, first impressions are crucial. Your GMAT AWA score is often the first piece of academic information that admissions committees see. A strong performance in this section can set a positive tone for the rest of your application. 

In the business world, the ability to communicate effectively can make or break deals. The GMAT AWA section serves as a testament to your ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and effective manner. It’s not just about writing well; it’s about making your points logically and persuasively. 

Critical thinking is a skill beyond the classroom and is highly valued in the business world. The GMAT AWA section is designed to assess this skill by requiring you to analyze an argument rigorously. Your ability to identify logical flaws or assumptions in the argument can demonstrate a level of critical thinking that admissions committees find appealing. 

Introduction to the GMAT AWA Task 

The GMAT AWA task differs from your typical essay assignment. Unlike other writing tasks where you might be asked to take a stance, here, your job is to critique an argument. You’re not expected to agree or disagree but to dissect the argument’s logic. This is a nuanced task that tests both your analytical skills and your ability to communicate complex ideas. 

• Read the prompt: The first step is to read the argument presented thoroughly. Take a couple of minutes to understand its structure and the points it’s trying to make. This will form the basis of your critique. 
• Plan your essay: Before you start writing, jot down the key points you want to cover. Outline your essay into sections like the introduction, body, and conclusion to ensure a coherent flow of ideas. 
• Write: Stick to a clear structure when writing. Your introduction should outline what the argument is and what you plan to discuss. The body should delve into the details of your analysis, and the conclusion should summarise your points and suggest areas where the argument could improve. 
• Review: Remember to consider the power of a final review. Spend the last few minutes going through your essay to correct any grammatical errors and to ensure your argument flows logically.

Several factors are to be considered when preparing for the GMAT AWA, as the scores of this section are not only looked at by the schools you apply to but also by different sectors such as- 

• Business Schools:   Business schools have different criteria; some may emphasize AWA scores more than others. It is crucial to research your target schools’ specific requirements regarding GMAT AWA scores. 
• Scholarships:  A strong GMAT AWA score can sometimes tip the scales in your favor when it comes to scholarship decisions. Scholarships are competitive, and every point on your GMAT score can make a difference. 
• Employment:  While the GMAT AWA score is primarily for academic purposes, don’t be surprised if future employers, especially in consulting or roles that require robust communication skills, take a look at your AWA scores. 

Tips for GMAT Analytical Writing 

So, you’ve got a handle on what the GMAT AWA section is all about. Now comes the part where you need to put that knowledge into practice. Here are some tips for improving your performance in GMAT analytical writing. 

• Introduction: Your introduction should serve as a roadmap for your essay. Start by paraphrasing the argument presented in the prompt. Clearly state what aspects of the argument you’ll be discussing. This sets the stage for your analysis. 
• Body: The body of your essay should be divided into paragraphs, each focusing on a different aspect of the argument. Whether it’s a flaw or a strength, discuss it in detail, providing evidence to support your analysis. 
• Conclusion: Your conclusion should be more than just a summary of what you’ve discussed. It should offer insights into how the argument could be improved or what aspects are as strong as they are. This shows a depth of understanding and analytical ability. 
• Planning: Before you dive into writing, spend around 5 minutes planning your essay. This initial investment of time can make the writing process much smoother. 
• Writing: You have 20 minutes for the actual writing. Stick to the structure you’ve planned and keep an eye on the clock. Time can fly when you’re engrossed in writing.
• Review: The last 5 minutes should be reserved for revising and proofreading. Even the best arguments can be undermined by simple errors, so take advantage of this step. 
• Be clear: Jargon and complex sentences can muddle your argument. The goal is to communicate your analysis as clearly as possible. Simplicity often trumps complexity when it comes to clarity. 
• Be concise: Long-winded explanations can lose the reader. Get to the point and stay focused on your argument. Every sentence should serve a purpose. 
• The GMAT AWA section is a 30-minute essay task that tests your ability to analyse an argument critically.
• Your AWA score is often the first academic metric that admission committees see.
• The GMAT AWA task requires you to critique an argument, not to give your opinion.
• Avoid overcomplicating your essay, straying from the prompt, and making grammatical or spelling errors. 

The GMAT AWA section might seem like a small part of the GMAT exam, but it holds significant weight. From showcasing your critical thinking to your ability to communicate, the AWA section is more than just an essay, it’s a snapshot of your potential. So, give it the attention it deserves, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving it. 

If you have any doubts or questions regarding GMAT AWA or any study abroad test preparations, please drop your queries in the comments section below, or feel free to contact us to connect with our experts.

Like this article? Read next: GMAT retake exam | Policy details & strategies to score well

Q1. How is the AWA GMAT section scored? 

Ans- The AWA GMAT section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6 in half-point increments. 

Q2. Is the AWA GMAT score included in the overall GMAT score?

Ans- No, the AWA score is separate and is not included in the overall GMAT score, which ranges from 200 to 800. 

Q3. How can I improve my AWA GMAT score? 

Ans- Practice makes perfect. Regularly practicing under timed conditions can help you get a better grasp of the section.

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Category: GMAT AWA

GMAT Analytical Writing: All About the GMAT Essay and How to Prepare For It

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GMAT AWA: Structure, Score, Samples, Books and Tips

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Content Curator | Updated On - Aug 23, 2023

The GMAT AWA is a 30-minute writing task. GMAT analytical writing tests a candidate's capacity for logical reasoning and the ability to offer arguments in support of those reasons. Candidates will be required to compose an essay and analyse the logic behind a particular argument for an analytical writing evaluation. The GMAT essay topics can be anything of broad interest in business or a wide range of other topics. More than any specific subject expertise, the ability to write analytically is required. The GMAT AWA score might be between 0 and 6. The results for the GMAT AWA essay are noted individually on the scorecard. The IR, Verbal, Quantitative, and Total GMAT scores are unaffected by the GMAT AWA results because they are calculated individually for MCQ sections.

What is GMAT Analytical Writing?

Analytical Writing Assessment GMAT comes up with a critical analysis of the argument and assesses a flawed argument. Candidates need to think critically before writing an essay. Aspirants must organize their ideas to give them a well-structured form. Aspirants must give accurate supporting facts along with analytical writing assessment GMAT examples. GMAT scores are required for pursuing MBA, however, applicants can also consider for MBA in UK without GMAT . The time limit of GMAT analytical writing is 30 minutes. GMAT's actual score of 800 does not determine the AWA in GMAT score. AWA score is an individual score that ranges from 0 to 6. The GMAT AWA questions and score is based on half-point increments (i.e 0-0.5, 0.5-1, 1-1.5, etc). Candidates' score is assessed and ranked by both human and computer. Candidates receive the official GMAT scores and GMAT AWA scores from GMAC in less than 15 days of attending the exam. In case of any discrepancies in the score determined by the computer and human, the score gets evaluated by the second human.

What Does GMAT AWA Assess? 

GMAT AWA score is assessed on the basis of 4 categories:

GMAT AWA Structure

GMAT AWA section of GMAT exam pattern discusses the candidates’ ability to reason logically for the argument. Candidates need to go through the line of reasoning to give an accurate use of evidence for that argument. Here, illustrated below are the details of the GMAT AWA template:

• Introduction:

The introduction follows by restating the argument of the GMAT essay topics. Candidates need to detect the flaws of the argument. The views of the candidates need to be stated. Aspirants must discuss their views in detail in the next paragraphs.

First paragraph: Candidates must mention the information of the argument critically. Candidates need to state their viewpoint to support that information by citing an example.

Second paragraph: This paragraph deals with the second reason for the candidates’ viewpoint regarding the argument. Candidates need to give an example in support of their viewpoint.

Third paragraph: The third paragraph depicts certain questions regarding the argument. Candidates’ inability to answer questions weakens the argument due to insufficient evidence.

Fourth paragraph: Candidates must depict the facts that are absent to support their argument to strengthen it.

• Conclusion:

Candidates must conclude the reasons for the flawed argument. Candidates must state the reasons that could be responsible to strengthen the argument.

GMAT AWA Topics

GMAT essay topics deal with various kinds of subjects like economics, leadership, social issues, politics, environment and marketing. Candidates do not need to have any prior knowledge about the AWA Sample Essays GMAT topics. Candidates must have a proper understanding of the essay by analyzing the line of reasoning. Understanding GMAT exam pattern is crucial as scoring good in GMAT allows applicants to avail  MBA Scholarship in Canada . 

GMAT Analysis of an Argument

The GMAT analytical writing exam assesses a test taker's ability to analyze, think analytically, and write an essay in 30 minutes. Here, one must discuss the cause for the prompt's poor arguments and work on it by. GMAT is a crucial as it is the major part of MBA requirements in USA . 

• Examining the provided argument
• Recognizing the theme of an argument and arranging the points of view appropriately
• Making a structured presentation of the solution
• Consider the different points of view.
• Answers should be supported by appropriate examples and data.
• Effective grammar utilisation is required.

Here, given below GMAT AWA examples for offering guidance to the candidates. This also includes GMAT essay examples: 

GMAT Essay Sample 1:

GMAT Essay Sample 2:

GMAT Essay Sample 3:

GMAT Essay Sample 4:

GMAT Essay Sample 5:

GMAT Analysis of An Issue

In GMAT Analysis of An Issue, candidates will be presented with a problem and asked to analyse it and explain your thoughts on it using examples from their own experience, observations, or reading. These issues are classified into two types. Without appropriate GMAT, applicants can also consider MBA in UK without work experience .  (i) One in which two opposing viewpoints on an issue are presented and you are asked to adopt a position in favour of one of them and defend that position. (ii) One in which only one point of view is presented and you are asked whether you agree or disagree with it and then asked to defend your stance.

Here, given below GMAT Analysis of An Issue Example for offering guidance to the candidates:

GMAT AWA Template

Here are the template to solve the GMAT AWA prompts is tabulated below:

GMAT AWA Score 

Candidates must go through the GMAT AWA scoring guide before attending the GMAT essay. This will enable the candidates to gather knowledge regarding the difference between a “Limited” and an “Outstanding” essay. Candidates will be able to write in a better way by analyzing the GMAT AWA scoring guide.

GMAT AWA Tips 

Analytical Writing Assessment GMAT offers guidance to candidates to write an essay. GMAT online classes for AWA helps candidates to get a better understanding. Here are certain  tips for GMAT AWA to assist the candidates to score a perfect 6 in the GMAT AWA section:

• GMAC offered a writing tool named “ GMAT Write ”. It is a AWA GMAT score practice tool that offers 2 distinctive essays. Candidates can write 4 GMAT essays on this tool for strengthening their writing skills. The GMAT AWA score calculator determines the candidates' scores on the basis of a scoring algorithm.
• GMAT essay template are available over the internet which can be consdiered by applicants for practice.
• Candidates need to be focused on writing the critique of the argument. Candidates should not present their thoughts regarding the subject matter.
• Candidates need to detect multiple assumptions for writing the AWA GMAT essays.
• Candidates must derive a conclusion based on the thesis statement. The thesis statement is the synopsis of the content of the essay.
• Candidates must be confident in writing the GMAT AWA sample. Candidates need to use third-person pronouns to write the essay. Phrases like “somewhat”, “rather”, “pretty”, “might be”, and “maybe” should not be used in AWA GMAT essays.
• Candidates need to be concise in writing the essay. Candidates must apply purposeful words to get better GMAT scores.

GMAT AWA Books

There are several GMAT books for AWA to strengthen the writing skills of candidates. Candidates can go through GMAT AWA sample essays with answers from these books. Here, given below the list of books for the candidates to practice writing essays:

• GMAT Analytical Writing: Solutions to the Real Argument Topics - Check PDF
• Writing Skills for the GRE and GMAT Tests - Check PDF
• Manhattan Review GMAT Analytical Writing Guide [6th Edition] - Check PDF
• GMAT AWA Essay Template - Check PDF
• Analytical Writing and Essays for Admission to Foreign Universities

GMAT AWA Sample Papers

GMAT samples for AWA helps students to nderstand the format and qestion types. Here are the GMAT argument essay sample qestions for candidates to get a proper idea about the pattern. Candidates can check the below GMAT AWA practice PDFs:

Ques. What is AWA in GMAT?

Ques. Does the AWA score impact my overall GMAT score?

Ques. How much time do I have for each AWA essay?

Ques. Can I use a calculator during the AWA section?

Ques. How important is the AWA score for business school admissions?

Ques. Can I skip the AWA section on the GMAT?

Ques. How should I structure my AWA essays?

Ques. Are there sample AWA prompts available for practice?

Ques. Can I use personal anecdotes in the AWA essays?

Ques. Can I request a re-score of my AWA essays if I'm not satisfied with my score?

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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