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AWA Topics not from the list!!

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sravanth Just gettin' started!
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AWA Topics not from the list!! Post Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:08 pm
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  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    Hello,

    I gave my GMAT exam on 26-04-11. First, I would like to thank 'beatthegmat' community, which is the major source of my preparation.

    I knew that essays were my weak spot and I spent close to 40 hours on AWA section. I reviewed each and every AWA topic in GMAT Review 12th edition and jotted down my points. The obvious reason behind this exercise was to get a familiar feeling when see the essay topic in an exam.

    But, to my surprise, both the Issue and Argument topics that I received in the exam were not from the essay pool in the GMAT Review. I was very surprised and this, to some extent, might have even affected my later sections.

    Can someone please let me know if it's just a MYTH that the essays appear only from the GMAC pool of topics?? Or did I miss any updated set of topics from 13th edition?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you!

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    Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
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    Post Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:24 am
    sravanth wrote:
    Hello,

    I gave my GMAT exam on 26-04-11. First, I would like to thank 'beatthegmat' community, which is the major source of my preparation.

    I knew that essays were my weak spot and I spent close to 40 hours on AWA section. I reviewed each and every AWA topic in GMAT Review 12th edition and jotted down my points. The obvious reason behind this exercise was to get a familiar feeling when see the essay topic in an exam.

    But, to my surprise, both the Issue and Argument topics that I received in the exam were not from the essay pool in the GMAT Review. I was very surprised and this, to some extent, might have even affected my later sections.

    Can someone please let me know if it's just a MYTH that the essays appear only from the GMAC pool of topics?? Or did I miss any updated set of topics from 13th edition?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you!
    Are you sure that you saw new prompts? There are a lot of prompts on the official site.

    Under the heading of "Current Analytical Writing Assessment Topics," the official site (www.mba.com) tells us that:

    You may download the complete list of current Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Analysis of an Argument Topics and Analysis of an Issue Topics used during the administration of the GMAT exam


    The links are as follows:

    Issue: http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/test-structure-and-overview/~/media/Files/mba/NEWTheGMAT/AnalysisofanIssue100606.ashx

    Argument: http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/test-structure-and-overview/~/media/Files/mba/NEWTheGMAT/AnalysisofanArgument100606.ashx

    I don't know why the GMAC would say this and then turn around and then add extra prompts to the test. You might consider contacting them to dispute your score (if you're unhappy with it)

    Cheers,
    Brent

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    nimi_vora Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
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    Post Thu May 10, 2012 7:48 am
    I have the same question. I have not given the GMAT yet but have 16 days to go. I havent prepared anything about the essays yet. It will be great to know whether I should prepare only the topics given in the list or should be prepared to answer on any topic other than the list.

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    Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
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    Post Thu May 10, 2012 8:12 am
    nimi_vora wrote:
    I have the same question. I have not given the GMAT yet but have 16 days to go. I havent prepared anything about the essays yet. It will be great to know whether I should prepare only the topics given in the list or should be prepared to answer on any topic other than the list.
    The official GMAT site (www.mba.com) says that those are the complete lists of current topics used during the administration of the GMAT exam.

    If you're still not 100% convinced that the lists are complete, you should contact the test-makers.

    Cheers,
    Brent

    _________________
    Brent Hanneson - GMAT Prep Now instructor
    - Check out GMAT Prep Now’s online course at http://www.gmatprepnow.com/
    - Use our video course in conjunction with Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide
    - Watch hours of free videos on DS, RC and AWA
    - Our top 3 free videos:
    1) The Double Matrix method
    2) Calculating combinations in your head
    3) Managing your time on the GMAT

    Thanked by: nimi_vora
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    nimi_vora Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
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    Post Thu May 10, 2012 2:39 pm
    Thanks Brent. The suspicion arose because I have never given an exam where I know the essay topics in advance except in my early years of school Smile Too good to be true Smile But I believe this is the beauty of the GMAT Smile

    Thank you once again for the clarity.

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    Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
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    Post Thu May 10, 2012 2:47 pm
    nimi_vora wrote:
    Thanks Brent. The suspicion arose because I have never given an exam where I know the essay topics in advance except in my early years of school Smile Too good to be true Smile But I believe this is the beauty of the GMAT Smile

    Thank you once again for the clarity.
    The only glitch is that there are over 100 essay prompts for each section Smile

    Cheers,
    Brent

    _________________
    Brent Hanneson - GMAT Prep Now instructor
    - Check out GMAT Prep Now’s online course at http://www.gmatprepnow.com/
    - Use our video course in conjunction with Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide
    - Watch hours of free videos on DS, RC and AWA
    - Our top 3 free videos:
    1) The Double Matrix method
    2) Calculating combinations in your head
    3) Managing your time on the GMAT

    Study Smart! Use Beat The GMAT’s FREE 60-Day Study Guide in conjunction with GMAT Prep Now’s video course and reach your target score in 2 months! With two money-back guarantees, you can try us out risk-free.
    sravanth Just gettin' started!
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    Post Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:53 am
    thank you Brent.

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