Prepare for the GMAT Analytical Writing Section
The analytical writing assessment (AWA) section of the GMAT (Graduate Management Assessment Test) measures your aptitude for critical thinking and communication through two 30-minute writing tasks--analysis of an issue and analysis of an argument. For any potential MBA student, it's important to score well. Follow these steps to prepare for the GMAT analytical writing section.
Instructions
1. Visit MBA.com and download a list of the current topics being used during the GMAT exam. They are divided into topics for each section and available in PDF format.
2. Study the issues list carefully and choose a few topics for practice. Brainstorm ideas and make a list of experiences or observations that relate to the topics. The analysis of an issue portion of the test requires specific examples.
3. Familiarize yourself with the argument topics and research ones you are not comfortable discussing. The argument portion of the test requires you to evaluate and critique a specific argument and use supporting facts.
4. Conduct a practice session by randomly choosing a topic and writing a practice essay for each section. You only have 30 minutes for each question; you must be able to write the entire essay in this time.
5. Keep in mind that your essay is scored by both human grader and an electronic tool known as E-rater. Use a simple, clean structure when writing and common keywords such as "for example," "therefore," and other qualifying words often to score higher with the E-rater.
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